The United Nations has formally launched the process to select its next Secretary-General, who will succeed António Guterres when his second term ends in December 2026.
The new Secretary-General will assume office in January 2027 for a five-year term, renewable once.
As global attention turns to the race, the UN has renewed calls for gender balance at the highest level of its leadership. In a recent letter to Member States, the United Nations expressed regret that no woman has ever served as Secretary-General and strongly encouraged governments to consider nominating qualified women candidates.
Against this backdrop, many Sierra Leoneans are asking whether President Julius Maada Bio will nominate the country’s highest-ranking UN official, Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura, as part of efforts to further rebrand Sierra Leone’s international image and contribute to breaking the UN’s long-standing glass ceiling.
Several prominent women have publicly expressed interest in the position. These include Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Rebeca Grynspan, former Vice-President of Costa Rica and current Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Both are expected to be nominated by their respective governments.
Meanwhile, the Argentine government has officially nominated Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), making him the first confirmed candidate in the race.
In a December 2025 interview with Truth Media, Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura made it clear that while the role of UN Secretary-General is not one she actively seeks, she would be prepared to serve if called upon by her country.
She emphasized her deep gratitude to Sierra Leone, noting that she has benefited from both local and international scholarships and has received support from former President Ernest Bai Koroma as well as current President Julius Maada Bio throughout her career at the United Nations.
However, Bangura stressed that the decision to nominate a candidate does not rest with her, but with national governments. She explained that if Sierra Leone were to nominate her, the process would be long, complex, and highly diplomatic. It would require extensive consultations within ECOWAS, endorsement from African Union member states, and the establishment of a global campaign team to promote her candidacy internationally.
She also noted that, under UN rules, she would be legally required to step aside from her current role as Under-Secretary-General to avoid any undue advantage a requirement she described as difficult but necessary.
Despite these challenges, Bangura did not entirely rule out the possibility, stating that if Sierra Leoneans genuinely wish for her to help break the glass ceiling, she would be unable to dismiss such a call outright.
Profile: Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura
Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura is a prominent Sierra Leonean politician, social activist, and senior United Nations official widely respected for her work in governance, human rights, conflict resolution, and women’s rights.
How the UN Selects Its Secretary-General
The selection of the UN Secretary-General is governed by Article 97 of the UN Charter, which states that the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
Key steps in the process include:
The successful candidate will begin a five-year term in January 2027, with the possibility of one renewal. While there is no formal term limit, no Secretary-General has served more than two terms.
In a joint letter launching the process, the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council called for candidates with “proven leadership and managerial abilities, extensive experience in international relations, and strong diplomatic, communication, and multilingual skills,” emphasizing the need for integrity and a firm commitment to the UN Charter.
The UN Charter defines the Secretary-General as the Organization’s chief administrative
officer, while also empowering the officeholder to bring threats to international peace and security directly to the attention of the Security Council.
Beyond administration, the Secretary-General serves as the UN’s moral voice—balancing the interests of Member States while upholding the principles of peace, human rights, and international cooperation. The role involves constant engagement with world leaders, extensive global travel, and the annual presentation of a comprehensive report on the work and priorities of the United Nations.
With renewed global pressure for gender equality, multiple female contenders, and growing public scrutiny, the 2026–2027 selection process could mark a historic turning point.
Whether Sierra Leone will put forward Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura and whether the UN will finally elect its first woman Secretary-General remains an open and closely watched question.