Who will be the next UN boss? Contenders from small nations list for position

As António Guterres’s term is due to end on December 31, the Security Council is privately considering candidates for the UN’s tenth secretary-general. James Alix Michel says the next leader should show moral courage, build bridges among major powers, and put climate and ocean health at the heart of global security. He also calls for tangible reforms, including a fairer Security Council and a financial system that rewards resilience in vulnerable countries. In the UN’s 81-year history, no woman has held the post, he notes.