Senegal on Monday officially declared its support for the candidacy of former President Macky Sall for the post of UN Secretary General.
This was after a meeting between Mr Sall and his successor Bassirou Diomaye Faye, on July 17 at the presidential
Palace.
In a statement the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, the Senegalese authorities indicate
that President Faye has decided that “Senegal will provide its full support” to Sall’s candidacy to head the United Nations.
The former head of state (2012-2024) was received on Friday July 17 by President Faye, to whom he officially presented his candidacy and the evolution of his campaign with a view to succeeding António Guterres, whose mandate expires on December 31, 2026.
According to the statement, this meeting took place “in a climate marked by cordiality and republican courtesy”, testifying to the attachment of the head of state to dialogue, to the continuity of the state and to coming together around the higher interests of the Senegalese nation.
Following this interview, the Senegalese leader instructed the government and the country’s entire diplomatic network to fully mobilise in order to promote Macky Sall’s candidacy among United Nations member states.
Before the publication of the government statement, Macky Sall himself reacted to this meeting on Monday through a message published on his social media page.
“I warmly thank HE President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for our friendly and constructive meeting on July 17, 2026 at the Palais de la Republique (State House), as part of my visits and consultations in relation to my candidacy for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations,” he wrote.
The former Senegalese president added that he was delighted with their “in-depth discussions on major issues of contemporary multilateralism”.
This step comes as part of a diplomatic offensive led for several weeks by Macky Sall to obtain support for his candidacy.
After Dakar, he went to Banjul, where he was received by Gambian President Adama Barrow, continuing his consultations with African leaders.
During this meeting, Macky Sall pleaded for mobilisation of the continent around the major challenges of the United Nations, in particular peace and security, human rights and sustainable development.
His campaign also recently took him to Beijing, where he met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi;
The process of appointing the next Secretary General of the United Nations has entered a decisive phase. After the public hearings of the candidates, the UN Security Council will have to hold consultations before recommending a name to the UN General Assembly.
Six candidates are officially running for the position: Macky Sall, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi, Secretary General of UNCTAD Rebeca Grynspan, former President of the General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA