Ugandan contender urges UN overhaul, cites St. Francis’s prayer

Olara Otunnu, Uganda’s nominee for the United Nations secretary-general post, used a dialogue with member states and NGOs to stress that the U.N. must continue its reform agenda and restore its moral standing. Citing the Prayer of St. Francis, he urged the body to replace hatred with love and darkness with light. The 75-year-old former under-secretary-general, who previously served as a special representative for children and armed conflict, is one of eight candidates vying to succeed Antonio Guterres after two terms.

The candidacy pool also includes Ivonne Baki, Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Macky Sall, Rebeca Grynspan, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Rafael Grossi. Denmark, chair of the Security Council, plans a second informal poll on Friday, following an initial straw poll that placed Grynspan in the lead. The process may require several rounds of voting and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent council members.