Ecuadorian Diplomat Ivonne A-Baki Announces Candidacy for UN Secretary-General

Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki has declared her intention to run for the position of UN Secretary-General, seeking to succeed António Guterres. Nominated by the Pacific island nation of Tonga, A-Baki stated her readiness to "contribute to renewing the UN Charter's fundamental promise to save future generations from the scourge of war."

A-Baki brings a wealth of experience to her candidacy, having previously served as Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Trade and as its ambassador to the United States and Qatar. She played a pivotal role in negotiating the 1998 peace agreement between Ecuador and Peru, which ended a decades-long border conflict. Her background, with parents from Lebanon, uniquely connects Latin America and the Middle East, a point she emphasizes as distinguishing her from other candidates.

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to renewing the UN Charter's fundamental promise to save future generations from the scourge of war

She is also known for championing an initiative to halt oil extraction in Ecuador's Yasuní National Park in exchange for international payments, though this project was discontinued in 2013. A-Baki highlighted her experience in mediating a peace agreement between two sovereign UN member states as another unique qualification. Her candidacy brings the total number of contenders to succeed Guterres, whose second term ends December 31, to five women and three men.

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the only candidate whose origin connects Latin America and the Middle East, as well as the only applicant who has participated in mediating a peace agreement between two sovereign UN member states