CAIRO – Foreign ministers from across the Arab world reached a unanimous decision Sunday to select Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy as the next leader of the Arab League, according to reports from Egyptian government media sources.
The ministers made their choice during a virtual meeting, selecting Fahmy to replace current Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit when his second term concludes in June 2026.
According to the Arab League’s governing charter, selecting a secretary-general requires support from at least two-thirds of member nations. Though the charter doesn’t specify which country the leader must come from, Egypt has traditionally filled the role, with the notable exception of Tunisia’s Chedli Klibi, who led the organization from 1979 through 1990. This pattern reflects Egypt’s position as home to the League’s main offices.
Fahmy brings significant diplomatic experience to the position, having served as Egypt’s top diplomat from June 2013 through July 2014. His international experience includes nearly a decade as Egypt’s representative to the United States from 1999 to 2008, and he also served as ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 1999.
The incoming secretary-general comes from a family with deep diplomatic roots – his father, Ismail Fahmy, held Egypt’s foreign minister position under President Anwar Sadat from 1973 to 1977, ultimately stepping down in protest of Sadat’s historic trip to Jerusalem.
Established in 1945, the Arab League serves as a coordinating body for 22 member nations, working to align their political, economic, and cultural initiatives throughout the region.
