Antonio Guterres to be 9th UN Secretary-General

Portugal’s former Prime Minister, Antonio Guterres, 67, will replace Ban Ki-moon who steps down at the end of 2016 2017-

Ban Ki-moon, South Korea: Elected in 2007 – serves two five-year terms marked by low-key style and aloof image 2007-2016

Achievements include overseeing global climate- change deal, promoting
women’s rights and ambitious new development goals

Kofi Annan, Ghana: Becomes secretary- general in 1996 after U.S. vetoes
Boutros-Ghali’s bid for second term

Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for revitalizing UN – including reform of Secretariat, shoring up funding, expanding peacekeeping and setting global goals to tackle poverty 1997-2006

Annan falls out with U.S. over Iraq War in 2003, and is later caught up in Oil for Food scandal

Boutros Boutros Ghali, Egypt: Elected with strong support from France after other candidates fail to win enough support 1992-1996

Leads world body during chaotic years marked by war in former Yugoslavia and famine and genocide in Africa

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Peru:1982-1991 Elected as compromise candidate after China opposes third term for Waldheim and U.S. vetoes Tanzania’s Salim Ahmed Salim

Re-elected 1986. Helps negotiate ceasefire that ends Iran-Iraq war in 1988

Trygve Lie, Norway: Elected in 1946 as compromise candidate after U.S. and Soviet Union block each other’s choice at start of Cold War 1946-1952

Term extended by three years in 1950 but resigns in 1952, largely because of Soviet resentment over his support of UN military intervention in Korean War

Dag Hammarskjöld, Sweden: Elected in 1953 after China vetoes Soviet candidate – India’s Vijayalakshmi Pandit – and Soviet Union vetoes America’s choice – Canada’s Lester Pearson 1953-1961

Killed in plane crash in 1961 en route to Congo, where UN had established first peacekeeping mission

U Thant, Myanmar: Appointed to serve out remainder of Hammarskjöld’s
term – confirmed for full five-year term in 1962. Re-elected in 1966 1961-1971

Criticised both West and East for actions and attitudes he considered threatened world peace

Kurt Waldheim, Austria: First candidate to campaign openly for job. Elected in 1971 despite initial vetoes by China and Britain 1972-1981

Reputation tarnished after leaving office when it emerges he served as
Nazi officer in Balkans during WWII. Files stored in UN archive

Sources: UNSG2016, Encyclopaedia Britannica

Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images