By Jean-Pierre A.*
Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has officially been confirmed as a candidate for the post of United Nations Secretary-General, but it remains unclear whether the current Senegalese government will support his candidacy, amid notable silence from the leadership that succeeded him.
The conversation surrounding Sall’s bid—and whether Dakar would officially endorse him—emerged after the 39th Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa. According to media and social media reports, the candidacy of the former West African president for the world’s top diplomatic position was expected to feature on the AU summit’s agenda.
However, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye did not attend the summit, delegating Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko in his place. The crucial item was reportedly postponed to a later virtual meeting. According to the Senegalese newspaper Le Quotidien, in an article titled “AU: The Candidacy of Macky Sall to the UN — Sonko and Diomaye Remain Silent,” President Diomaye Faye appears to have found a convenient way to avoid commenting on Africa’s potential support for Sall’s candidacy.
The newspaper stated that “the Head of State did not give any instructions to his Prime Minister on this issue, thus preventing an African consensus on a name that was already virtually unanimously supported across Africa and the world.”
Burundi, the current holder of the African Union (AU) chairmanship, has submitted the candidacy of Macky Sall for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. His bid is now official following confirmation from the UN. However, it remains unclear whether Dakar will formally support his candidacy.
Previous African diplomats who have held the position include Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt and Kofi Annan of Ghana. If elected, Sall would become the third African to hold the world’s top diplomatic post.
Reports indicate that Sall addressed a letter to the Senegalese government on 9 February, weeks before the 39th AU summit, formally requesting its backing. M. Gueye, the author of the article in the daily paper, wrote that Dakar is deliberately avoiding the conversation around Sall’s possible endorsement for the UN’s top diplomatic post. “It appears from all this that the ruling duo in Dakar has taken steps to ensure that the issue of a possible candidacy by the former Senegalese president is not debated. This began with Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s absence from the summit,” he noted.
According to Le Quotidien, in his 9 February letter Sall informed his successor that he had been encouraged by several leaders of friendly countries, as well as heads of international organisations, to put forward his candidacy to succeed António Guterres as Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Details about the former Senegalese president’s possible bid began emerging in September 2025 following a podcast interview. At the time, Sall acknowledged that he was considering pursuing the role but emphasized that he would require strong backing from UN member states, particularly from Africa.
For now, Dakar’s official position on supporting its former head of state has not been publicly clarified. Sall has held various international roles that make him an experienced figure in global diplomacy. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Board of the Global Center on Adaptation.
Despite his international credentials, Sall’s final years in power could influence the current leadership’s decision on whether to endorse him.
His last term was marked by sustained protests, which were forcefully repressed by his government. The current Prime Minister, Sonko—then an opposition leader—was arrested and at times confined to his home in the capital, Dakar, by security forces.
Sall’s final years in office were also characterized by domestic tensions, including allegations of democratic backsliding and political repression. Some analysts argue that this record could complicate his appeal on the global stage. In 2024, Sall attempted to unilaterally postpone presidential elections, but the move ultimately failed, and the opposition coalition went on to win. The episode required international mediation to ease political tensions at the time.
Strong Profile for Multilateralism
Despite these controversies, some observers argue that during his presidency from 2014 to 2024, Sall positioned Senegal as a key diplomatic actor in Africa. He was involved in peacekeeping initiatives, climate negotiations, and diplomatic efforts concerning Africa’s relations with both Russia and Ukraine amid their conflict. The former head of state also publicly called for a lasting ceasefire.
In a recently televised talk show on Global Africa TeleSud discussing Sall’s possible UN candidacy, political analyst Abodu Fleur said Sall would be a strong candidate for the role, despite reports that he remains active in domestic politics.
“There are things that happen once in a lifetime. The world is at a crossroads. We are facing a crisis of multilateralism. We need a profile that unites. His profile is strong enough to lead the UN,” Fleur said.
Sall has reportedly engaged in quiet diplomacy, seeking endorsements and laying the groundwork for a potential campaign. Observers note that his recent travels and participation in high-level global forums have been interpreted as efforts to rally support and demonstrate his commitment to multilateralism.
“Macky Sall brought the African voice to the G20, and now the African Union has a seat at the G20,” Fleur commented, highlighting the former president’s continental and international experience.
“I believe all the boxes are ticked for the ideal profile for this prestigious institution,” he added. “His strength lies in his ability to speak with everyone.”
According to Fleur, the world is currently facing a crisis of multilateralism, and Africa must have a stronger voice at the negotiating table. “As you know, 80 percent of the issues discussed at the UN Security Council concern Africa,” the analyst said during the live television broadcast.
Sall, born in 1961, is a trained geologist and politician who held several key government positions before becoming president. Shortly after his election, he reduced the size of the presidential cabinet in an effort to cut costs.
One of his major campaign promises—to reduce the length of a presidential term—was fulfilled in 2016. The reform changed the term from seven to five years and limited presidents to two terms, as part of broader constitutional amendments submitted to the Constitutional Council in January 2016.
To date, the confirmed candidates for the UN Secretary General job are Macky Sall, Michell Bachelet former president of Chile and Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a veteran Argentine diplomat.
* Culled from March Issue of PAV Magazine.
