Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The United Nations General Assembly has elected Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh as President for its 81st session. Rahman secured 99 votes against 91 for his competitor, Mr. Kakouris. A total of 190 ballots were cast, with no invalid votes or abstentions. The presidency for the 81st session rotates to the Asia-Pacific group and will begin on September 8, lasting one year. This period will include the selection of a successor to Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term ends on December 31, 2026.
Khalilur Rahman brings over four decades of diplomatic and multilateral experience to the role. He has been Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister since February, and previously served as National Security Adviser and High Representative on the Rohingya Issue. Rahman began his diplomatic career in 1979 and has held senior UN positions in New York and Geneva.
Upon accepting the presidency, Rahman said he took on the role "with humility and respect" amid challenges to confidence in the international system. He noted that trust in the UN is being tested by multiple factors that undermine its ability to deliver on promises.
The election took place during a period described by current General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock as exceptionally difficult for multilateral diplomacy, characterized by immense pressure and increasing difficulty in reaching consensus. Baerbock emphasized that the role of the General Assembly President now extends beyond procedural duties.
Baerbock warned that the international environment would likely remain challenging as the Assembly works on implementing the Pact for the Future, advancing UN reforms through the UN80 initiative, and addressing broad geopolitical divisions. Secretary-General Guterres highlighted ongoing global issues, including conflicts, divisions, rising inequality, climate change, slow progress on Sustainable Development Goals, declining humanitarian funding, and the difficulty of international institutions adapting since their 1945 frameworks.