UN Secretary-General Race: Macky Sall Outlines Vision for Reform and Unity

Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has presented his vision for leading the United Nations, positioning himself as a candidate to succeed António Guterres. Addressing member states of the UN General Assembly on April 22, 2026, Sall detailed a roadmap aimed at revitalizing the global body.

In his opening remarks, Sall emphasized the urgent need to rebuild trust within the international system. He pledged to ease global tensions, bridge divisions, and restore confidence in multilateral cooperation. According to him, trust can only be achieved through consistency, fairness, and justice.

Drawing on over four decades of public service—including roles as a civil servant, Prime Minister, President of the National Assembly, and ultimately President of Senegal—Sall highlighted his commitment to inclusive dialogue. He stressed the importance of listening, consultation, and collective engagement among all member states to ensure the United Nations serves all nations equitably.

Sall also underscored his extensive diplomatic experience, citing longstanding interactions with global leaders across Africa, the G20, and various bilateral and multilateral platforms. He presented himself as a unifying figure capable of building bridges between nations, cultures, and civilizations.

On key policy priorities, Sall called for a comprehensive review of UN peacekeeping operations to enhance their effectiveness. He further pledged to uphold human rights as a central pillar of the organization’s agenda, reaffirming their universal nature. In his view, the UN must now embrace bold and decisive action to meet contemporary global challenges.

Despite his ambitions, Sall’s candidacy—backed by Burundi—has not received endorsement from the African Union. The Senegalese government has also yet to officially state its position on his bid.

Sall was the final candidate to participate in the UN’s informal dialogues with contenders. Other candidates include Rebeca Grynspan, Michelle Bachelet, and Rafael Grossi, all of whom have already presented their visions.

The selection process will move to the UN Security Council in July, where candidates will be reviewed behind closed doors before a recommendation is submitted to the General Assembly. The next Secretary-General is expected to be officially appointed in the autumn, with the new term beginning on January 1, 2027.