Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal, has officially declared his candidacy for the role of United Nations Secretary-General.
On Monday, the UN confirmed that Sall, who governed Senegal from 2012 to 2024, was nominated for the position by Burundi.
While Sall achieved notable milestones during his presidency, he continues to face domestic criticism, particularly over allegations that his administration concealed the full scale of Senegal’s fiscal challenges.
This year, the United Nations will select a new Secretary-General to succeed Antonio Guterres, with the five-year term set to begin on 1 January 2027.
Although the Secretary-General role traditionally rotates among regional groups, the election of Guterres, a Portuguese national, in 2016 was expected to mark Eastern Europe’s turn.
Following that sequence, Latin America is next in line for consideration.
Sall joins two formally nominated contenders: former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, who currently serves as director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Costa Rica has also nominated its former vice president, Rebeca Grynspan, though her official candidacy letter has yet to be submitted to the UN.
The election is taking place amid growing calls for the UN to select the first female Secretary-General in the organization’s 80-year history.
The Security Council is expected to begin the selection process by the end of July.
