Costa Rican diplomat and candidate for United Nations Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan has met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria, with discussions focusing on the future of multilateralism, the role of the Global South and cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union.
Grynspan shared details of the meeting, describing it as an opportunity to reaffirm a commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation and ensuring that global institutions become more representative and responsive to the challenges facing the international community.
Grynspan Engages President Ramaphosa in Pretoria
During her visit to Pretoria, Grynspan held discussions with President Ramaphosa on issues central to the future of the international multilateral system.
Among the key issues raised was the need for the United Nations to undergo change to ensure that it better reflects the realities and interests of its diverse membership, particularly countries of the Global South.
The discussions come as the United Nations prepares to select its next Secretary-General. Grynspan is among the candidates seeking to succeed António Guterres when his term ends in 2026.
Focus on a Stronger Voice for the Global South
A central theme of the engagement was the importance of strengthening the role and voice of the Global South in international decision-making.
Grynspan and Ramaphosa exchanged views on the need for a multilateral system that is more representative, responsive and better equipped to address contemporary global challenges.
The discussion reflects longstanding calls from countries across Africa and the wider Global South for greater representation within international institutions and reforms to global governance structures.
Grynspan’s own vision for the UN has placed significant emphasis on revitalising multilateralism and reforming the organisation so that it can respond more effectively to current global challenges. Her vision statement identifies durable peace and security, renewed international cooperation and institutional reform among its priorities.
United Nations and African Union Partnership
The meeting also considered the importance of a strong partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU).
According to Grynspan, discussions covered cooperation between the two organisations across three major areas: peace and security, development, and human rights.
Closer coordination between the UN and AU remains important as African countries continue to play a significant role in addressing conflicts, advancing sustainable development and strengthening continental and international cooperation.
Grynspan’s UN Secretary-General Candidacy
Grynspan’s engagement with President Ramaphosa comes during the international campaign to select the next UN Secretary-General.
A former Vice President of Costa Rica and former Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Grynspan brings extensive experience in international development, economics and multilateral diplomacy to her candidacy. She was nominated by Costa Rica for the position in March 2026.
South Africa has previously indicated its interest in seeing a woman elected as the first female UN Secretary-General, while also supporting the principle of regional rotation in the selection process.
Her engagement with South African leadership therefore takes place against the backdrop of an important debate over the future direction of the United Nations and the representation of developing countries within the global multilateral system.
A Conversation on the Future of Multilateralism
The Pretoria meeting highlighted shared interest in strengthening international cooperation at a time when multilateral institutions face growing pressure to adapt to changing global political, economic and security realities.
For South Africa, greater representation of the Global South and reform of international institutions remain important elements of its foreign policy outlook. For Grynspan, strengthening multilateralism and making the United Nations more effective and representative are central themes of her campaign for the organisation’s top diplomatic position.
The engagement with President Ramaphosa consequently adds another dimension to the international consultations surrounding the selection of the next UN Secretary-General.
