Egypt’s Khaled el-Enany elected UNESCO director-general amid US row

UNESCO’s executive board voted on Monday to appoint Khaled el-Enany, Egypt’s former antiquities and tourism minister, as the organisation’s next director-general. He will replace French incumbent Audrey Azoulay after her two four-year terms.

The decision comes as UNESCO faces criticism over alleged anti-Israel bias, prompting the United States to announce its withdrawal, effective at the end of 2026. The US, which contributes eight percent of UNESCO’s overall funding, did not participate in Monday’s vote.

El-Enany, 54, said his priority will be addressing the organisation’s budget challenges and returning the United States to UNESCO. “The current challenge is the budget. That is going to be the priority of all of us,” he told reporters, adding he would promote “technical” deliberations rather than politicisation.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi described the appointment as a “historic success” for the country and wished El-Enany success in his “noble mission.”

Historic appointment and next steps

Only two candidates remained in the race after a Mexican contender withdrew in August. El-Enany won 55 of the 57 votes cast, defeating Republic of Congo’s Firmin Edouard Matoko. He will take office on November 14 if the UNESCO General Assembly ratifies his appointment on November 6 in Uzbekistan.

If confirmed, El-Enany will be the first director-general from an Arab country and the second from an African nation, after Senegal’s Amadou Mahtar Mbow (1974–1987).

Since announcing his bid more than two years ago, El-Enany said he visited 65 countries and met 400 people over 30 months in campaigning for the role.

(With agency inputs)