A la Une

Morocco to lead un general assembly’s opening session

By sahel-express / June 3, 2026

Diplomacy

Morocco to lead un general assembly’s opening session

The Kingdom of Morocco has been selected by lot to occupy the first seat at the podium during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, set to commence in September at the organization’s headquarters in New York.

United Nations General Assembly hall with wooden desks arranged in semicircles

The honor of opening the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly has been bestowed upon Morocco through a traditional lot-drawing ceremony held Tuesday in New York. Secretary-General António Guterres conducted the draw, which followed established protocols for selecting the first speaker in each session.

«Secretary-General Guterres has just announced the country that will take the first seat in the General Assembly Hall for the upcoming session. That country is Morocco», confirmed the UN spokesperson during a press briefing, highlighting the significance of this decision.

The same plenary session also marked the election of Khalilur Rahman, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, as President of the 81st General Assembly. Additionally, member states elected vice-presidential representatives, including the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Egypt, Afghanistan, and Gabon.

The United Nations General Assembly serves as the world’s largest multilateral forum, bringing together all 193 member states. Each nation holds equal voting power, and the Assembly plays a pivotal role in shaping global policies, including approving the UN budget, electing non-permanent members of the Security Council, and appointing the Secretary-General.

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