Regulation
UNESCO Appoints New Director
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has nominated Khaled el-Enany, former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities and Tourism, as its next director. The executive board approved El-Enany’s nomination on Monday with a vote of 55 to 2, surpassing the candidacy of Édouard Firmin Matoko from the Republic of Congo.
This appointment, pending ratification by UNESCO’s 194-member general assembly in November in Uzbekistan, will mark El-Enany as the first director from an Arab nation and the second from Africa. If confirmed, he will succeed Audrey Azoulay of France, who has completed two four-year terms as Director-General.
Notably, the United States abstained from the voting process. In June, the U.S. announced its intention to withdraw from UNESCO by the end of next year, citing allegations of bias against Israel. El-Enany has expressed his determination to encourage the United States to reconsider its position, given that it contributes 8% to the organization’s budget.
El-Enany, aged 54, has a background as an Egyptologist and served as Minister under President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi from 2016 to 2022.
