Sall
ADDIS ABABA: The African Union has endorsed former Senegalese president Macky Sall as Africa’s candidate for the next United Nations Secretary-General, in a renewed push to present a single continental nominee for the powerful global post.
In a communication issued after a Bureau of the Assembly meeting chaired by Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye, the AU said it would adopt the decision through a “silence procedure” unless more than one-third of member states objected by March 27.
“The Assembly shall take all its decisions by consensus,” the AU Commission said, adding that the draft decision backing Sall would stand if no sufficient objections were raised.
The Assembly “expresses its firm support” for Ndayishimiye for presenting the candidacy and “decides to fully support” Sall as the African candidate, while urging global stakeholders — including members of the U.N. Security Council — to give it favourable consideration.
Context and stakes
The endorsement comes as the race to succeed current U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second term ends in 2026, begins to take shape.
The position rotates informally among regions, and many African leaders argue it is the continent’s turn to lead the United Nations after decades without holding the office.
Africa has long complained of underrepresentation in top global governance roles despite its 54-member voting bloc at the U.N. General Assembly.
Previous attempts to field a unified African candidate have faltered due to divisions among member states, weakening the continent’s bargaining power in the Security Council, where the final recommendation is decided.
The AU’s latest move signals an effort to avoid that fragmentation by rallying early around a single figure.
The Commission said the push reflects “the imperative of African solidarity and the need for Africa to speak with one voice.”
Sall, who stepped down as Senegal’s president in 2024 after two terms, is being positioned as a consensus candidate with strong diplomatic credentials.
The AU cited his “recognized leadership experience” and “commitment to seeking consensus among nations and global powers.”
The timeline is tight. The President of the U.N. General Assembly has set April 1 as the deadline for submitting candidates to participate in interactive dialogues later that month, a key stage in the selection process.
Ultimately, the U.N. Security Council — particularly its five permanent members with veto power — will determine whether Africa’s unified bid can translate into a formal nomination.
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