Exclusive: U.S., Israel, and European Powers Move to Back Hailemariam Desalegn for UN Secretary-General Bid

ADDIS ABABA – The momentum for a historic African leadership bid at the United Nations is reaching a fever pitch. Sources close to the matter have confirmed to Ethio Insight that the United States is no longer the sole superpower courting former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn for the position of UN Secretary-General.

New intelligence suggests a growing international coalition, including Israel and several unnamed European nations, has officially signaled support for Hailemariam to enter the race. This multi-continental backing suggests a strategic consensus that the next leader of the global body must be a seasoned statesman capable of bridging the widening chasm between Western interests and the Global South.

A Coalition of “Trust and Stability”

The reported support from Israel, alongside the U.S. and European powers, underscores Hailemariam’s unique position as a moderate, pragmatic diplomat. During his tenure as Prime Minister (2012–2018) and his subsequent role as a global envoy, Hailemariam maintained a rare balance: championing Pan-African sovereignty while fostering deep security and developmental ties with traditional Western allies and Middle Eastern powers.

For European nations, Hailemariam represents a “safe pair of hands” who understands the complexities of migration, regional security in the Red Sea corridor, and the urgent necessity of the European Green Deal’s global application.

Strengthening the Bid: The Statesman’s Resume

To his international backers, Hailemariam’s “ability to run” is not just based on his past title, but on his tireless post-premiership activity. Since his historic voluntary resignation in 2018 the first of its kind in modern Ethiopia he has systematically built a profile that mirrors the UN’s core pillars:

• The Security Pillar: His membership on the International Crisis Group board and his role in the African Union’s high-level missions have proven his ability to mediate in “hot zones.”
• The Development Pillar: As Chairman of AGRA and TradeMark Africa, he manages the very systems of food security and trade that the UN is currently struggling to reform.
• The Moral Pillar: His background as an educator and his recent ordination as a priest in the Apostolic Church provide a “moral compass” narrative that resonates with those seeking a UN leader with personal integrity and a commitment to peaceful coexistence.

Strategic Global Positioning

The international community’s push for his candidacy is viewed by many as a move to stabilize the Horn of Africa by elevating one of its most respected figures. By backing Hailemariam, countries like the U.S. and Israel are betting on a leader who has firsthand experience with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations, regional counter-terrorism, and the delicate diplomacy of the African Union.

His recent invitation to lead the African delegation to the 2025 U.S. Presidential Inauguration served as a “soft launch” for his global standing, signaling to the world that he remains a preferred partner for the world’s most powerful capitals.

Strengthening the Bid: Why Hailemariam?

World leaders are not just backing a former politician; they are backing a “Global Statesman” who has spent the last seven years building a resume specifically designed for the UN’s core pillars:

Hailemariam remains a symbolic figure for democratic integrity. In 2018, he became the first leader in modern Ethiopian history to voluntarily resign to allow for political reforms. This act of placing national interest over personal power remains the strongest “moral currency” for his candidacy in New York.

Technical and Intellectual Depth

Hailemariam’s academic background as a water and environmental engineer provides the technical literacy required to lead the UN in an era of climate catastrophe. Unlike career politicians, his leadership of the Horn of Africa Climate Security Initiative (HACSI) demonstrates a data-driven approach to solving the resource scarcities that drive modern conflict.

A New Africa on the Global Stage

With backing from the U.S., Israel, and Europe, Hailemariam Desalegn is no longer just a regional candidate; he is a global frontrunner. His bid represents a “New Africa” one that does not seek power through force, but through institutional excellence and diplomatic consensus.

As the UN prepares for its next chapter, the world seems to be looking toward the man who knew when to step down in Ethiopia, to see if he will now step up for the world.

If he accepts the call, he will not only be running as a candidate of Ethiopia but as a consensus choice for a global community desperate for a leader who values institutional stability over populist rhetoric. For Ethio Insight readers, the question is no longer if Hailemariam has the capacity to lead, but whether the world is ready for an African Secretary-General who has already mastered the art of letting go of power for the greater good.

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