Candidates for the position of United Nations Secretary-General will take part on Thursday in a public debate in New York aimed at presenting their visions to member states and civil society.
Among them is former Senegalese President Macky Sall, whose candidacy has received official backing from Dakar as he seeks to advance in the race to succeed António Guterres.
Candidates vying for the position of UN Secretary-General are participating on Thursday in a public meeting in New York, marking another step in the selection process for António Guterres’ successor.
Former President Sall’s candidacy is being officially supported by Senegal.
Titled “UN Town Hall: The Next Secretary-General,” the meeting will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the UN General Assembly Hall. It will provide candidates with an opportunity to engage directly with member states and civil society representatives on the priorities and challenges facing the next head of the organisation.
Organised by the Office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the event also aims to enhance transparency in the selection process and allow the public to better understand the stakes surrounding the succession.
A process overseen by the UNGA
The selection of the next UN Secretary-General follows a procedure based on Article 97 of the United Nations Charter and guided by General Assembly resolutions on the revitalisation of its work.
On September 5, 2025, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 79/327, which sets out the principles governing the selection and appointment of the UN Secretary-General, including transparency, inclusiveness and the involvement of member states.
The process was officially launched on November 25, 2025, through a joint letter from the President of the General Assembly and the President of the UN Security Council inviting member states to submit candidates.
Under the established rules, nominations must be submitted by a member state or a group of member states. Each candidate is required to provide a vision statement, a curriculum vitae and information on campaign financing.
As part of this process, the UN General Assembly presidency organises interactive dialogues with candidates, broadcast on UN WebTV, allowing member states and the public to learn about their priorities and policy proposals.
Macky Sall backed by Dakar
Sall Senegal’s former president (2012–2024) is being backed by the Senegalese authorities who made this known on Monday.
Following a meeting held on July 17 at the Presidential Palace in Dakar, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye decided that “Senegal will give its full support” to his predecessor’s candidacy, according to a statement from the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs.
The Senegalese head of state also instructed the government and the country’s diplomatic network to mobilise efforts to promote Sall’s candidacy among UN member states.
Macky Sall officially announced his candidacy during that meeting and outlined the progress of his international campaign to succeed António Guterres, whose mandate expires on December 31, 2026.
His campaign has taken him to several capitals and diplomatic centres, including Banjul, Beijing and Athens, as well as to the United Nations headquarters in New York, where he met with several permanent representatives.
Six officially registered candidates
The official list of candidates includes six figures: Macky Sall, nominated by Burundi on March 2, 2026; former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, initially backed by Chile, Brazil and Mexico; International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, proposed by Argentina; UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, presented by Costa Rica; former General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa, nominated by Antigua and Barbuda; and former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, whose candidacy was submitted by Guyana.
Candidate Virginia Gamba, nominated by the Maldives in March 2026, withdrew her candidacy a few weeks later.
Interactive dialogues with candidates were held in April, June and July 2026 under the auspices of the General Assembly. Macky Sall took part in the hearing on April 22.
Following this public phase, the Security Council will review the candidates before making a recommendation to the General Assembly. The final decision will be taken by all UN member states, in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
The next Secretary-General will assume office on January 1, 2027, succeeding António Guterres, who has led the organisation since 2017.
AC/Sf/lb/as/APA