Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Ecuadorian UN Candidate Baki Pledges Conflict Prevention and Renewal
Ivonne Baki is campaigning to become the next leader of the United Nations.
She says her experience living through Lebanon’s civil war shaped her commitment to peace.
Baki wants the United Nations to work harder to stop wars before they begin.
She says she would visit conflict zones and talk directly with people involved.
She also wants to renew the United Nations and make its Security Council more representative.
The current leader, Antonio Guterres, is expected to leave after two five-year terms.
Eight candidates are competing for the position, although more could join.
Baki was nominated too late to take part in the first informal poll.
The winner will need to avoid opposition from any of the five permanent Security Council members.
Ivonne Baki, one of eight candidates to succeed Antonio Guterres, pledged to prioritize conflict prevention.
Baki recalled surviving Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war with her three children as bombs fell around them.
She promised to use personal diplomacy and visit war zones and areas of tension to prevent conflicts.
Baki called for a United Nations renewal and a more representative Security Council.
A second informal poll is scheduled as candidates compete for a position requiring acceptance by the five permanent Security Council members.
- Who
- Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne Baki and seven other candidates are seeking to succeed United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
- What
- Baki pledged to focus on conflict prevention, personal diplomacy, United Nations renewal, and Security Council reform.
- When
- Baki made the pledges on August 20; a second informal Security Council poll was scheduled for Friday, with voting potentially continuing into October or later.
- Where
- She spoke at an informal dialogue with United Nations member states and civil society groups; her personal experience comes from living through Lebanon’s civil war, including in Beirut.
- Why
- The next secretary-general faces pressure to reform an organization critics describe as bloated and costly, while the selection process seeks a candidate acceptable to the Security Council’s permanent members.
- Candidate
- Ivonne Baki, an Ecuadorian diplomat aged 75
- Number of candidates
- Eight candidates were competing when Baki entered the race
- Current secretary-general
- Antonio Guterres is due to step down after two five-year terms
- Key priority
- Preventing conflicts before they erupt through direct engagement and personal diplomacy
- United Nations reform
- Baki pledged a renewal of the United Nations and a more representative Security Council
- Selection process
- The 15-member Security Council was due to hold a second informal poll
- Permanent members
- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States can veto the selection