UNESCO is choosing a new director who will face a big funding shortage after US exit
- On Monday, UNESCO's 58-member executive board in Paris chose Khaled El-Enany, an ex-minister from Egypt with a background in tourism and antiquities, to serve as the agency's next leader.
- The vote followed the United States' June announcement to withdraw from UNESCO, raising concerns about financial stability due to Washington's eight percent budget share.
- El-Enany won decisively, receiving 55 of the 57 votes cast, while challenger Édouard Firmin Matoko from the Republic of Congo secured only two votes and the United States did not participate.
- El-Enany indicated he would work to encourage the United States to rejoin UNESCO and emphasized his commitment to advancing the organization’s cultural objectives, even in light of difficulties related to funding and membership.
- UNESCO's general assembly will vote to ratify El-Enany's appointment at a meeting scheduled for November 6, with his term commencing November 14 if approved.
95 Articles
95 Articles
UNESCO has elected the Egyptian El-Enany as the new Director General.
As of today, UNESCO will have its first director from the Arab world, after the agency's executive board nominated the former Egyptian minister of tourism and antiquities, Khaled el-Anania, for the post.

UNESCO board backs Egyptian for chief after US row
UNESCO executives voted Monday to make an Egyptian ex-antiquities minister the UN culture body's next leader, as it grapples with accusations of pro-Israel bias that prompted the United States to say it would quit the organisation.


The former Minister of Antiguidances and Tourism of Egypt happens to French Audrey Azoulay and will be the first Arab to lead the United Nations organization for Education and Culture.
Khaled el-Enany and Firmin Matoko compete for UNESCO's top role
UNESCO’s executive board began voting Monday to select a new director-general, choosing between an Egyptian former antiquities minister and a Congolese economist in an election overshadowed by the U.S. withdrawal and a resulting budget crisis.
The Executive Council of Unesco has appointed on Monday Egyptian Khaled el-Enany to become its next executive director, who will have the heavy task of leading for the next four years the organization, accused of being politicized and shaken by the announced withdrawal of the United States.
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