The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) nominated former Egyptian tourism and antiquities minister Khaled el-Anani as its new chief on Monday, after the U.S. withdrew from it for a second time.
El-Anani, 54, was up against Édouard Firmin Matoko, 69, of Republic of Congo, but had been the favorite to win the secret ballot for a four-year term, having launched his campaign early in April 2023.
He had since built strong regional backing and international alliances.
If confirmed by UNESCO's general assembly next month, el-Anani will inherit an agency reeling from the Trump administration's recent decision to pull the United States out, portending a budget shortfall at the agency best known for its World Heritage sites around the globe.
El-Anani was seen as the front-runner for the position of director-general and won a vote Monday against his only challenger, Firmin Edouard Matoko, an economist from the Republic of Congo who promoted schooling in refugee camps.
