As the UN searches for a leader, more than 200 centres close in Somalia
Rodrigues Birkett led the secretary-general poll as UNICEF reported aid-driven closures in Somalia and Washington planned an 850 million dollar payment.
Geopolitics··Midday
Rodrigues Birkett received 8 encourage votes in the second poll
The UN Security Council held its second non-binding straw poll to choose a successor to António Guterres, whose second term ends on 31 December 2026. Guyana's candidate, Rodrigues Birkett, led with 8 encourage votes, 3 discourage votes and 4 abstentions. Rebeca Grynspan received 7 encourage and 4 discourage votes, while International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi drew 7 encourage and 6 discourage votes. Once the council narrows the field it will recommend a candidate to the General Assembly; the formal vote requires 9 votes and any permanent member can use a veto.[1]
UNICEF said closures in Somalia could rise to 618 centres
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said humanitarian funding cuts had closed more than 200 health and nutrition centres in Somalia and that the number could rise to 618 in the worst case. Admissions of children with severe acute malnutrition and complications to stabilisation centres increased by 32 per cent from last year. Elder attributed the rise to the loss of preventive and community-based nutrition services rather than to more children becoming ill. UN News reported that about 1 million people could lose access to nutrition services, while nearly 1.9 million children in Somalia are expected to experience malnutrition this year.[2]
Washington planned 850 million dollars against 5 billion dollars in arrears
According to notifications seen by The Associated Press, the US State Department plans to transfer 725 million dollars to the UN regular budget and 125 million dollars to peacekeeping work in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The total of 850 million dollars would be the largest payment since the Trump administration made its support conditional on sweeping reform. The UN says that, of Washington's roughly 5 billion dollars in arrears, more than 2 billion dollars belongs to the regular budget and 3 billion dollars to peacekeeping. The administration paid nothing in 2025 and transferred 160 million dollars in February.[3]
