Khaled El-Enany, Egypt's candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO, has secured the backing of Gabon following a diplomatic visit to Libreville alongside Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty.
Khaled El-Enany
Khaled El-Enany, Egypt's candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO, has secured the backing of Gabon following a diplomatic visit to Libreville alongside Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty.
This endorsement strengthens El-Enany’s campaign as he vies for the leadership of the global cultural and educational organization.
Supported by key international players, including France, Brazil, the African Union, and the Arab League, El-Enany’s candidacy underscores Egypt’s ambition to play a pivotal role in shaping UNESCO’s future. The upcoming elections, slated for late 2025, are expected to be highly competitive, with candidates from diverse nations seeking to lead the organization.
Egypt’s historical ties with UNESCO form a cornerstone of its campaign. As a founding member of the organization, Egypt is home to some of the world’s most iconic cultural heritage sites, such as the Pyramids of Giza and the temples of Luxor and Abu Simbel. This rich legacy positions Cairo as a natural advocate for cultural preservation and global educational collaboration.
El-Enany, a former Minister of Antiquities and a prominent figure in the field of cultural heritage, has been at the forefront of Egypt’s efforts to protect and promote its ancient treasures. His nomination reflects a commitment to leveraging Egypt’s storied past to influence UNESCO’s mission and priorities in the years ahead.
With growing support from African and Arab nations, as well as key international allies, El-Enany’s candidacy is poised to resonate on the global stage. However, the 2025 elections promise a challenging race, as UNESCO continues to navigate its role in addressing pressing global issues, including cultural preservation, education for all, and international cooperation in an era of rapid change.
By Bruno Finel
Human Rights Watch has accused an Abu Dhabi-based security company of recruiting Colombian private military contractors and deploying them to fight alongside Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) between 2024 and 2025, adding to what the rights group describes as a growing body of evidence of Emirati military support for the paramilitary group.
Farmers across Sudan say the hike in global fuel and fertilizer costs resulting from the Iran conflict will force them to cut back on planting this summer, restricting food production in a country where war has caused acute hunger.
In a post published Monday on Truth Social, President Donald Trump issued what amounts to a sweeping diplomatic ultimatum to the Arab and Muslim world: normalise with Israel through the Abraham Accords, or forfeit any role in the Iran agreement he is working to finalise.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.