South Africa (SA) has endorsed Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan as its preferred candidate to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations (UN).
This follows International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola’s remarks that SA will back a candidate from Latin America, in keeping with the UN’s tradition of regional rotation, while also supporting the election of the organisation’s first female Secretary General.
Lamola made the announcement during a recent media briefing in SA’s foreign policy priorities and preparations for the upcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit and confirmed Graynspan’s visit to SA.
This comes as the term of the current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, comes to an end in September.
His departure has triggered the process to elect a new UN Chief, with candidates stepping up diplomatic engagements to secure the backing of member states.
SA has now indicated that it will support a candidate from Latin America, in line with the UN’s tradition of regional rotation, while also backing the election of the organisation’s first female Secretary-General.
–ChannelAfrica–
