• Macky Sall has formally entered the race to become the next UN secretary-general, with his candidacy submitted by Burundi on behalf of the African Union.

• The current mandate of António Guterres ends on Dec. 31, 2026, and the new term begins on Jan. 1, 2027.

• The African Union has renewed calls for an African candidate to lead the UN, as no African has held the post since 2006.

The United Nations invited member states in November to submit candidates for the post of secretary-general. Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has joined the race alongside former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Argentine Rafael Grossi, who currently leads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Burundi, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union, formally submitted Sall’s candidacy. The move positions him as an official contender to replace António Guterres when the Portuguese diplomat’s mandate expires on Dec. 31, 2026.

The campaign aligns with a broader push within the African Union, where leaders have advocated for an African to lead the multilateral institution. No African has held the secretary-general post since 2006, despite the continent representing more than a quarter of UN member states and handling a significant share of the organization’s agenda, particularly in peacekeeping operations.

Against this backdrop, Sall’s candidacy could reinforce Africa’s ambition to expand its role in global governance. However, member states have not yet reached a formal consensus within the African Union, and additional candidates may emerge in the coming months.

Sall’s bid draws on his political and diplomatic experience. He served two terms as president of Senegal and chaired the African Union in 2022. During his AU presidency, he intensified diplomatic engagement with G20 partners and international financial institutions to improve African access to concessional financing amid the pandemic, the energy crisis and rising debt levels.

The selection of the next UN secretary-general comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts and a shifting global balance of power.

The successor to António Guterres will assume office on Jan. 1, 2027.

This article was initially published in French by Ingrid Haffiny

Adapted in English  by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum