The UN General Assembly (UNGA) held separate interactive dialogues on 21 August with two candidates vying to become the next UN secretary-general — Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu and Ecuadoran diplomat Ivonne A-Baki — as the selection process for the world body's top post enters a critical phase.

Otunnu's Priorities: Conflicts, Reform, and AI

In Wednesday's dialogue, Olara Otunnu, nominated by Uganda, said the immediate priority must be tackling the proliferation of increasingly deadly conflicts that threaten to engulf entire regions. He pledged to work with member states to end the Ukraine crisis, address the Gaza crisis, and support the peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Otunnu also committed to working with the African Union and global partners to end the conflict in Sudan, support diplomatic efforts toward a comprehensive peace agreement in the Iran conflict, and strengthen counter-terrorism responses in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.

Beyond security, Otunnu vowed to rebuild consensus on human rights, reform the UN, alleviate its fiscal crunch through innovative financing, harness the opportunities of artificial intelligence, deepen cooperation between the UN and regional organisations, and reconnect the global public to the world body.

A-Baki's Vision: Renewal Over Reform

In Thursday's dialogue, Ivonne A-Baki, nominated by Tonga, drew a sharp distinction between management and leadership. 'A manager is someone who follows a mission statement. A leader is someone who follows a north star,' she said. 'My north star for this world body is not necessarily reform. It's renewal. Renewal of the promise of building peace and preventing war. Renewal of the promise to promote human dignity and social progress and renewal of the vision that the UN can be the one body where nations of the world can work together to achieve more than nations working alone.'

A-Baki committed to direct and delegated peacekeeping and peacemaking, modernisation of the Security Council, resolving development debt and unlocking finance, and safeguarding human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.

Where the Selection Process Stands

The UNGA began convening interactive dialogues with candidates in late April. Otunnu and A-Baki are among eight candidates who have now participated in the process, with the other six having completed their dialogues previously.

Current UN Secretary-General António Guterres' term expires at the end of 2026, and the next secretary-general is set to assume office on 1 January 2027. This comes amid growing calls from member states — particularly from the Global South — for a more assertive and reform-minded leadership at the UN, as the organisation faces mounting criticism over its inability to resolve major conflicts.

What Comes Next

The UNGA's dialogue process is consultative; the formal appointment of the secretary-general requires a recommendation from the Security Council, followed by approval by the General Assembly. With the permanent members of the Security Council holding veto power, the selection remains a deeply political exercise. Analysts note that both candidates' emphasis on AI governance and Security Council reform reflects the shifting priorities of a membership increasingly frustrated with the UN's structural limitations.