Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – The bid of former Senegalese president Macky Sall to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations has gained significant momentum after the African Union moved closer to endorsing his candidacy.
The development emerged during the first meeting of the Bureau of the Conference of the African Union chaired by Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye in his capacity as the bloc’s new rotating chairperson.
The meeting, held by videoconference on 26 March 2026, reviewed the process of selecting an African candidate for the position of UN Secretary-General.
According to information released after the meeting, the bureau validated a draft decision supporting Sall’s candidacy, potentially paving the way for an official endorsement from the continent unless a last-minute objection is raised by member states.
If confirmed, the move would represent a major step toward consolidating African backing for the former Senegalese leader as the global body prepares to choose the successor to current Secretary-General António Guterres, whose mandate ends in December 2026.
Growing International Support
Diplomatic signals suggest that support for Sall’s candidacy may be expanding beyond the African continent. Sources indicate that the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie is preparing a resolution in favor of the former Senegalese president.
In addition, several Muslim-majority countries and states in the Middle East are reportedly backing the Senegalese candidate, adding to the growing coalition around his bid.
Attention is now turning to the official position of Senegal, which, as a member of both the African Union and the Francophonie, is expected to play a central role in mobilizing diplomatic support.
Field of Candidates Narrows
The race for the top UN job has recently tightened following the withdrawal of the candidacy of Argentine scholar and former UN under-secretary-general Virginia Gamba. Her nomination had been submitted by the Maldives, which notified both the President of the UN General Assembly and the President of the Security Council of its decision to withdraw.
The announcement was confirmed in a note issued by the Office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly.
With Gamba’s withdrawal, four candidates remain in the race to lead the United Nations from January 1, 2027. They include former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, nominated by Brazil and Mexico after Chile withdrew its own nomination; Rafael Grossi, nominated by Argentina; and economist Rebeca Grynspan, nominated by Costa Rica.
The next UN Secretary-General will assume office on January 1, 2027, succeeding Guterres, who has served as the ninth leader of the organization since January 2017.
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