United Nations, September 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The race to choose the next United Nations Secretary-General is gaining prominence at the General Assembly, with leaders calling for a stronger and more effective global organisation and the Bahamas backing Guyana’s candidate Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for the top post.
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis endorsed Rodrigues-Birkett, highlighting the fact that all nine UN Secretaries-General since the organisation’s founding in 1945 have been men. No Caribbean national has previously held the position.
Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s UN Ambassador, was formally nominated by her government and took part in the UN General Assembly’s interactive dialogue with member states in June. The UN’s official selection process lists her among the candidates for the post.
The next Secretary-General will take charge as the UN faces conflicts, geopolitical tensions, financial constraints and demands for institutional reform. Several leaders addressing the General Assembly have outlined what they want from António Guterres’ successor.
Czech President Petr Pavel said the incoming UN chief would have to navigate growing geopolitical competition and fragmentation, stressing that diplomacy is particularly important between adversaries.
Germany called for far-reaching reform and said the UN must bridge the gap between the responsibilities member states assign to it and the resources and authority they provide. China, meanwhile, said the next Secretary-General should uphold the UN Charter, independence, integrity and fairness.
US President Donald Trump presented a different approach, pointing to his administration’s efforts to reduce the UN budget and workforce while arguing that the organisation should not advance policies imposed by unelected international officials.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticised the Security Council’s inability to prevent or resolve conflicts, while French President Emmanuel Macron also called for institutional reform and warned against a return to “the law of the jungle”.
The gender question is a significant part of the selection debate. The joint UN process document notes that no woman has ever served as Secretary-General and encourages member states to consider women candidates.
Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. The Council’s five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — therefore have a decisive role in the process.
Guterres is due to complete his second term on December 31, 2026. The new Secretary-General is expected to assume office on January 1, 2027.
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