UNESCO’s executive board has nominated an university professor and former tourism and antiquities minister, Khaled el-Anani, to be the agency’s next director.
If confirmed by the cultural agency’s general assembly next month in Uzbekistan, el-Anani will become the first UNESCO director-general from the Arab world.
As UNESCO has never never gone against a recommendation by its executive board, his appointment seems almost certain.
On Monday, he won a vote against his sole challenger, Firmin Edouard Matoko, an economist from the Republic of Congo who has promoted education in refugee camps.
El-Anani will succeed Audrey Azoulay of France, who served two four-year terms in office.
Who is Khaled el-Anani?
El-Anani, a 54-year-old trained Egyptologist, achieved significant recognition in the field before serving as Egypt’s minister of antiquities from 2016 to 2019. After the two positions were merged, he served as minister of tourism and antiquities for two more years.
As minister, he oversaw prestigious projects such as the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, the Jewish Temple and multiple ancient discoveries.
At present, he is a professor of Egyptology at a public university in Cairo.
His bid for the UNESCO leadership was supported by the African Union and Arab League, among others.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has called his nomination a “historic success” for his country.
El-Anani has pledged to continue UNESCO’s fight against and religious intolerance.
Financial problems loom for UNESCO
El-Anani’s nomination comes as UNESCO faces likely budget shortfalls following the citing an alleged anti-Israel bias and accusing the body of promoting “divisive” causes.
The US currently contributes 8% of UNESCO’s overall funding.
El-Anani has said he would seek to regain the US as a member. “The current challenge is the budget. That is going to be the priority of all of us,” he told reporters after the vote.
UNESCO, which stands for UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and is based in Paris, chooses and protects sites it designates as sites.
It also promotes education for girls throughout the world, fosters Holocaust awareness and funds scientific research in developing countries, in addition to other activities.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
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