Paris – Zaytoun News
In a historic victory, Egypt’s candidate Dr. Khaled El-Anany has been elected Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by an overwhelming majority. According to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, the election took place yesterday during a session of UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris.
El-Anany becomes the first Egyptian and Arab, and only the second African, to hold the organization’s top post since its founding in 1945. He secured 55 votes out of 57, the highest tally ever received by a candidate in a competitive election for this position.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi congratulated El-Anany in a Facebook post, describing the victory as “a historic achievement that adds to Egypt’s diplomatic and cultural record, and to the accomplishments of Arab and African nations.” The president added:
“This well-deserved victory reflects Egypt’s civilizational stature and the world’s confidence in its capable sons who combine knowledge, experience, and dedication. We are confident that Dr. El-Anany will advance cultural dialogue and safeguard global heritage in a manner befitting Egypt’s legacy and the world’s ancient civilizations.”
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized that El-Anany’s election is “a tribute to Egypt’s enduring cultural and intellectual contributions, and to those of the Arab and African worlds over millennia.” He expressed gratitude to the Arab League, the African Union, and all nations that supported Egypt’s nominee, calling for collective efforts to protect heritage, promote knowledge, and strengthen peace and coexistence among civilizations.
Born in 1971, Dr. Khaled El-Anany is a distinguished Egyptologist and professor at Helwan University, with a PhD from Paul Valéry University Montpellier III in France. He has served as Director of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and later as Minister of Antiquities and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities (2016–2022). In 2024, he was appointed Special Ambassador for Cultural Tourism by the UN World Tourism Organization. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, El-Anany has received multiple international awards.
His appointment will be formally ratified on November 6 during UNESCO’s General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where all 194 member states will endorse his leadership.
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