Selection and Appointment Process
The next Secretary-General
The process of selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General has been formally initiated with the publication of a joint letter from the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council.
About the process
In accordance with Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. The selection and appointment process is also guided by General Assembly resolutions, most recently resolution 79/327 .
Learn more about the previous selection and appointment processes by clicking on the names below:
António Guterres,
appointed in 2016 and 2021
Ban Ki-moon,
appointed in 2006 and 2011
Kofi Annan,
appointed in 1996 and 2001
Boutros Boutros-Ghali,
appointed in 1991
Javier Perez de Cuellar,
appointed in 1981 and 1986
Kurt Waldheim,
appointed in 1971 and 1976
U Thant,
appointed in 1962 and 1966
Dag Hammarskjöld,
appointed in 1953 and 1957
Trygve Lie,
appointed in 1946 and 1950