Ecuadorean diplomat Ivonne Baki, one of eight candidates seeking to become the next United Nations secretary general, has pledged to prioritise conflict prevention and lead a renewal of the global organisation.
Drawing on her experience of living through Lebanon’s 1975 to 1990 civil war, Baki said witnessing the conflict shaped her lifelong commitment to peace. She vowed to pursue active personal diplomacy and engage directly with parties in conflict to prevent crises from escalating.
Baki, 75, also called for reforms to make the UN Security Council more representative, arguing that its structure remains rooted in the geopolitical realities that followed World War Two.
She is seeking to succeed Antonio Guterres, who steps down at the end of 2026 after serving two five-year terms. A second informal Security Council poll on the candidates is scheduled for Friday, with avoiding a veto from any of the five permanent members crucial to securing the position.
A July straw poll placed Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan narrowly in the lead, followed by Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi. Baki, who was nominated only this week, was not included in that poll.
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