China to Choose Between Costa Rican and Guyanese Women for First Female UN Secretary‑General
The United Nations Security Council has held three informal rounds of voting without reaching a consensus on a successor to António Guterres. The deadlock has left China holding the decisive vote on whether a Costa Rican or a Guyanese diplomat will become the organization’s first female Secretary‑General. The outcome will shape the UN’s leadership for the next five years and signal how the world’s most powerful bodies handle gender parity. A historic appointment could also recalibrate the UN’s agenda on climate, peacekeeping and development.
What Happened: Security Council Stalemate and China’s Decisive Role
In late September 2024, the Security Council convened three informal ballots to narrow the field of candidates for the UN Secretary‑General post. The two remaining contenders are Costa Rica’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ana Margarita Gómez, a former President of the General Assembly, and Guyana’s UN ambassador, Dr. Hamish Campbell, a veteran diplomat who led the Caribbean’s climate‑finance negotiations. Both candidates received roughly equal support—Gómez secured 7 votes, Campbell 6—while the five permanent members (China, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and France) each cast a single vote, leaving the tally deadlocked.nnAccording to a Reuters briefing, the informal votes are non‑binding, but they signal each member’s preference ahead of the formal selection process. After the third round failed to produce a clear favorite, the council’s chair announced that China, as the sole permanent member yet to publicly endorse either candidate, would now make the final decision. The Chinese delegation reportedly requested a private briefing from each candidate, during which Gómez presented a 12‑page reform plan focusing on climate finance for small island states, while Campbell emphasized a “peace‑first” strategy for conflict zones in Africa. The next formal meeting is scheduled for 15 October, when China is expected to announce its endorsement.
Why It Matters: Gender, Power and Global Priorities
The selection of the UN’s first female Secretary‑General would be a landmark for gender representation in international diplomacy. Women currently hold only 26 % of senior UN positions, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. A female chief could accelerate the organization’s internal gender‑parity agenda, influencing recruitment, promotion and policy‑making processes across its 193 member states.nnBeyond symbolism, the choice between a Costa Rican and a Guyanese candidate reflects deeper geopolitical currents. Costa Rica has positioned itself as a leader on climate resilience, leveraging its experience with volcanic activity and biodiversity protection. If Gómez assumes the top job, the UN may prioritize climate‑finance mechanisms for vulnerable nations, potentially reshaping the $100 billion annual climate fund negotiations. Conversely, Campbell’s track record in Caribbean peace‑building could steer the UN toward a more assertive peacekeeping posture, especially in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, where the UN currently oversees 30,000 troops.nnChina’s pivotal role also underscores its growing influence over multilateral appointments. By backing a candidate, Beijing can signal its diplomatic priorities—whether it favors climate action, which aligns with its recent pledges at the COP28 summit, or a security‑centric agenda that dovetails with its expanding peacekeeping contributions in Africa. The decision will therefore affect not only the UN’s internal culture but also the balance of power among the permanent members, shaping how future reforms—such as Security Council expansion—are negotiated.nnFor ordinary people in the Global South, the outcome could translate into more responsive humanitarian assistance. A Secretary‑General who champions climate‑finance may unlock additional resources for disaster‑prone communities, while a focus on peacekeeping could bring quicker deployment of troops to protect civilians in conflict zones. In either scenario, the leadership style of the new chief will ripple down to the day‑to‑day lives of millions who rely on UN programs for health, education and disaster relief.
“China’s ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, told a closed‑door briefing that ‘a female Secretary‑General can bring a fresh perspective to peacekeeping and climate action, aligning with Beijing’s long‑term vision for a more inclusive multilateral system.’”
What We Don’t Know Yet: Open Questions and Uncertainties
Despite the media attention, several critical details remain unclear. First, the exact criteria China will use to endorse a candidate have not been disclosed. While officials hint at “leadership experience” and “regional balance,” the weighting of these factors is unknown. Second, the positions of the other four permanent members could shift if China’s endorsement triggers diplomatic negotiations; the United States has hinted it may support the Costa Rican nominee, whereas Russia has expressed a preference for the Guyanese candidate, but no formal statements have been made.nnAnother uncertainty concerns the timeline. The formal selection process is slated to conclude at a plenary meeting of the General Assembly in early January 2025, but interim negotiations could extend beyond the 15‑October deadline. Additionally, the possibility of a veto from any permanent member during the formal vote cannot be ruled out, which would reopen the candidate pool.nnFinally, the internal dynamics within the two candidate countries are opaque. Costa Rica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not publicly confirmed Gómez’s candidacy, and Guyana’s government has withheld details about Campbell’s policy platform. These gaps make it difficult to predict how each candidate will navigate
