UNESCO’s executive board has chosen Egypt’s former antiquities and tourism minister, Khaled el-Enany, as its next director general, marking a historic moment for the organization. El-Enany won the vote 55–2 over Congo’s Édouard Firmin Matoko and, if confirmed by UNESCO’s 194-member General Assembly in November, will become the agency’s first Arab and second African leader. A respected Egyptologist, El-Enany managed Egypt’s vital tourism and antiquities sectors from 2016 to 2022. His nomination comes amid tensions with the United States, which plans to exit UNESCO next year over alleged bias against Israel. El-Enany has already pledged to rebuild trust in the organization and work to bring Washington back into the fold.
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