Former Senegalese President Macky Sall will later on Wednesday state his case for being a candidate to replace Antonio Guterres when the Portuguese steps down as United Nations Secretary General at the end of the year.
Sall who led Senegal from 2012 to 2024, will be presenting his vision for the 193-member organisation.
The 64-year-old trained geological engineer, who was officially nominated by Burundi will outline his ambition for the world body as encapsulated in his blueprint entitled “Rebuilding Multilateralism for a Better World”.
He sees himself as the right reformer who would restore sanity and fairness to an organisation that is widely seen as mired in a ”systemic crisis” which is undermining its credibility and effectiveness.
The former mayor of Thies has decades of experience in public administration under his belt and will be wielding this reputation in front of member states.
The two-day auditioning session at the behest of the UN General Assembly also involves Sall’s rivals for the position, Michelle Bachelet and Rafael Mariano Grossi who auditioned on Tuesday.
Rebecca Grynspan will present her own case as a contender before Mr Sall’s audition.
The Senegalese government recently announced it was not backing Sall’s bid for the UN top job, accusing his regime of violently suppressing demonstrations in the years before his exit from power.
He is also accused of corruption and his detractors claim should his bid for the UN job be successful, the former prime minister would use his position to avoid prosecution at home.
African Union members also appear split over his candidacy.
WN/as/APA