African-European Ministerial Meeting addresses Egyptian candidate Khaled Anani for post of UNESCO of Director-General

CAIRO – 23 May 2025: The final communiqué of the African-European Ministerial Meeting in Brussels tackled the African Union’s endorsement of Dr. Khaled El-Enany as a candidate for the position of of Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement on Friday.

The third African Union–European Union Ministerial Meeting, held on May 21, 2025, in Brussels, reviewed the progress made in implementing the Shared Vision 2030 for a renewed partnership between Africa and Europe. The meeting also set the stage for the upcoming seventh AU–EU Summit, to be held in Africa later this year, marking the 25th anniversary of the partnership.

The communiqué highlighted the European Union’s understanding of the African Union’s endorsement of Dr. El-Enany’s candidacy for the 2025–2029 term, the Ministry added.

This endorsement reflects a unified continental stance on the importance of African representation in leading international institutions, as well as confidence in the Egyptian candidate’s ability to advocate for Africa’s priorities within UNESCO, said the Egyptian Ministry.

Dr. El-Enany’s candidacy continues to gain international momentum, with Austria and Slovakia becoming the latest countries to officially declare their support last week, the Ministry continued.

The Executive Council of the African Union has endorsed the nomination of Egyptian candidate Dr. Khaled El-Enany for the position of UNESCO Director-General. The AU’s endorsement was announced during the 44th session of the Executive Council, held in Addis Ababa on February 14–15.