1996 United Nations Secretary-General selection

1996 United Nations Secretary-General selection

← 1991 19 November 1996 – 13 December 1996 2006 →

Candidate Kofi Annan Amara Essy Boutros Boutros-Ghali Country  Ghana  Ivory Coast  Egypt Best vote 14 / 15 11 / 15 14 / 15 Vetoes None Round Final closed session 13 December 1996 First open straw poll 10 December 1996 First closed session 19 November 1996

UN Secretary-General before election Boutros Boutros-Ghali Elected UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan

A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1996 at the end of Boutros Boutros-Ghali's first term. Boutros-Ghali ran unopposed for a second term and received the support of 14 of the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council. However, the United States vetoed his re-selection and eventually forced him to withdraw his candidacy.

The open selection then deadlocked as France vetoed all candidates from English-speaking countries, while the United States vetoed all candidates from French-speaking countries. France eventually changed its veto to an abstention, and Kofi Annan of Ghana was selected Secretary-General for a term beginning 1 January 1997. The 1996 selection marks the only time that a sitting Secretary-General was denied a second term.