Dr. Taghreed Hussein
Undersecretary, National Media Authority
Member, Foreign Relations Committee – The National Council for Women
On the glorious Victory Day, October 6, 2025, Egypt once again inscribed its name in history — not on the battlefield this time, but in the realm of culture, diplomacy, and global conscience.
Dr. Khaled El Anany, Egyptologist and former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, has been elected Director-General of UNESCO, becoming the first Arab and one of the few Africans ever to lead the world’s foremost cultural organization.
This moment transcends personal triumph. It is a testament to Egypt’s enduring soft power, a nation that has always led by the pen as much as by the sword — by the museum, the classroom, and the monument.
El Anany’s background — steeped in the sands of ancient Thebes and the wisdom of Pharaohs — harmonizes perfectly with UNESCO’s mission: to safeguard humanity’s shared heritage and uphold the dignity of cultural diversity.
His election carries messages layered in diplomacy and symbolism. It affirms that the Arab and African worlds are not merely participants in global culture — they are its architects and guardians.
Egypt’s diplomatic machine, through coordination and credibility, mobilized wide international support — proof that cooperation and trust remain the most persuasive forms of influence in an age of fragmentation.
El Anany’s leadership arrives at a pivotal hour. His mandate is ambitious — to turn ideals into tangible global progress, to ensure that the protection of heritage becomes the protection of humanity itself.
Thus, on Egypt’s day of victory, the nation delivers another — one of intellect and spirit.
It reminds the world that civilizations never die; they simply find new ways to lead.
