Gambiaj.com – (NEW YORK, United States) – The United Nations on Monday formally announced the candidacy of former Senegalese president Macky Sall for the post of Secretary-General, following his official nomination by the President of Burundi, who currently chairs the African Union.
Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, La Neice Collins, spokesperson for the 80th President of the United Nations General Assembly, confirmed that the nomination papers were received earlier in the day.
“The President of the General Assembly has received a new nomination for the Secretary-General selection process. It is Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal. He was nominated by the Republic of Burundi, who presented their papers this morning,” Collins told reporters.
She said the Presidents of the General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council will jointly inform Member States and circulate the official communication shortly, after which the information will be reflected on the UN’s website.
Sall, who governed Senegal from 2012 to 2024, also served as Chairperson of the African Union from February 2022 to February 2023. According to a source close to the former leader, the decision by Burundi to sponsor his candidacy reflects a continental approach aimed at strengthening Africa’s voice within global institutions.
“His fight, particularly as president of the African Union, was to carry Africa’s voice within international bodies,” the source said.
Sall’s entry brings the number of officially declared candidates to three. The others are former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and Argentine diplomat Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Costa Rica has also signaled its intention to nominate former vice president Rebeca Grynspan, although her candidacy has not yet been formally submitted.
The selection process for the next UN chief, whose five-year term will begin on January 1, 2027, was launched in November. Under established procedure, the Security Council is expected to begin deliberations by the end of July before forwarding its recommendation to the General Assembly for election.
The race is unfolding amid renewed calls from many member states for the appointment of the UN’s first female Secretary-General, adding further political weight to what is expected to be a closely contested process.
