The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization took a historic step on Monday, as its executive board voted overwhelmingly to appoint Khaled El-Enany, a former Egyptian antiquities and tourism minister, as its next director-general.
The decision, if ratified, will place Mr. El-Enany at the helm of the prestigious agency, making him the first leader from an Arab nation and only the second from Africa to hold the position. He is poised to succeed Audrey Azoulay of France, who is concluding her second four-year term.
The final appointment is expected to be a formality when it comes before UNESCO’s 194-member General Assembly for approval at a meeting in Uzbekistan this November.
A Decisive Mandate and a Diplomatic Challenge
Mr. El-Enany, a 54-year-old Egyptologist, secured a commanding 55 votes from the executive board, with just two ballots cast for his rival, Édouard Firmin Matoko of the Republic of Congo.
His ascent to the organization’s leadership comes at a time of significant diplomatic strain. The United States, a key financial contributor, abstained from the vote. The American delegation has long accused UNESCO of an anti-Israel bias and, in a move that echoes a previous withdrawal during the Obama administration, announced plans in June to leave the organization by the end of 2026.
In remarks following the vote, Mr. El-Enany identified the restoration of U.S. participation as a primary objective. The American departure carries a substantial financial impact, as Washington provides approximately 8 percent of the agency’s budget through its dues.
A Seasoned Steward of Heritage
The nominee brings a deep and relevant background to the role. For six years, from 2016 to 2022, Mr. El-Enany served in the cabinet of President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, first as minister of antiquities and later as the head of a combined ministry of tourism and antiquities.
His tenure overseeing Egypt’s unparalleled cultural treasures and its vital tourism industry provided him with direct experience in the very sectors that form a core part of UNESCO’s mission, the protection of world heritage and the promotion of cultural diplomacy.
His supporters hope that this practical experience, combined with his diplomatic ties across Africa and the Arab world, will equip him to navigate the complex political currents that often swirl around the Paris-based agency. His election is seen as a strategic move to bolster UNESCO’s engagement with the Global South.
The anticipated confirmation of Mr. el-Enany in November will mark a new chapter for UNESCO, one defined by both a symbolic shift in leadership and the pressing practical challenges of global diplomacy and funding.
