75岁的乌干达资深政治家奥拉拉·奥通努正式加入联合国下任秘书长竞选行列[1]。他的加入使竞选人数增至七人，其中还包括塞内加尔总统马基·萨尔、智利前总统米歇尔·巴切莱特、阿根廷的拉斐尔·格罗西、哥斯达黎加的蕾贝卡·格林斯潘、厄瓜多尔的玛丽亚·费尔南达·埃斯皮诺萨和圭亚那的卡罗琳·罗德里格斯·伯克特[1]。新任秘书长预计将于1月1日上任，接替任期将于年底结束的安东尼奥·古特雷斯[1]。
奥通努拥有丰富的联合国经验[1]。他曾在1980年至1985年间担任乌干达常任代表并任安理会主席，随后于1997年至2005年期间担任联合国主管儿童和武装冲突问题的副秘书长[1]。他还于2005年获得悉尼和平奖[1]。乌干达政府表示，奥通努正在纽约与联合国大会和安理会进行互动对话[1]。
联合国秘书长职位由15国安理会选举产生，其中五个常任理事国拥有否决权，最终由193国大会批准[1]。按照传统，秘书长职位按地区轮换，今年应为拉丁美洲的轮次[1]。
Olara Otunnu, a 75-year-old Ugandan veteran diplomat, has formally entered the competition to become the next United Nations secretary-general, succeeding Antonio Guterres whose term ends later this year [1]. Otunnu, who previously served as Uganda's permanent representative to the UN and held the position of Security Council president, is now among seven candidates vying for the position [1].
The other contenders in the race include Senegal's President Macky Sall, Chile's former President Michelle Bachelet, Argentina's Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica's Rebecca Grynspan, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, and Guyana's Carolyn Rodriguez-Burkett [1]. The selection process involves the 15-member Security Council, where five permanent members hold veto power, followed by approval by the 193-member General Assembly [1]. The new secretary-general is expected to assume office on January 1 [1].
Otunnu brings substantial international experience to his candidacy. He served as Uganda's permanent representative between 1980 and 1985 and later held the position of UN Deputy Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict from 1997 to 2005 [1]. He received the Sydney Peace Prize in 2005 [1]. The Ugandan government has confirmed that Otunnu is currently in New York conducting engagement dialogues with both the General Assembly and the Security Council [1]. Traditionally, the secretary-general position rotates among regions, with Latin America designated for this year's selection [1].