"Unesco is set to appoint its first director-general from the Arab world after Khaled el-Enany, an Egyptian academic and former government minister, was nominated by the executive board of the United Nations cultural agency on 6 October. This nomination will be put to a vote by all Unesco member states on 6 November at Unesco's general conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. If elected, El-Enany will replace Audrey Azoulay who has been in post since 2017 and served two terms in office."
"El-Enany is reportedly keen to bring the United States back into the Unesco fold after the US Department of State announced plans in July to withdraw from the organisation, describing its continued involvement as "not in the national interest of the United States". The country's withdrawal, which would result in a major budget shortfall for Unesco, is anticipated to take effect on 31 December 2026."
Khaled el-Enany was nominated by Unesco's executive board on 6 October to serve as director-general and would be the first person from the Arab world in the role if elected. The full Unesco membership will vote on 6 November at the general conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The executive board endorsed El-Enany 55 to 2 over Congolese economist Édouard Firmin Matoko. El-Enany aims to adopt an open-door policy, foster depoliticised technical deliberations, strengthen dialogue with governing bodies, bring the United States back, focus on cultural programmes, and continue efforts against antisemitism and religious intolerance. He is an Egyptology professor with museum and ministerial experience.
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