Former Senegalese President Macky Sall will return to Senegal on Friday for his first public visit since leaving office, seeking to bolster support for his campaign to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Sall, who has been living in Morocco since completing his second and final presidential term in 2024, is scheduled to meet President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Dakar before continuing consultations on his candidacy, according to media reports.
The visit comes months after Sall officially entered the race to succeed UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second five-year term ends on Dec. 31, 2026.
Burundi formally submitted Sall’s candidacy on March 2 on behalf of the African Union under the chairmanship of President Évariste Ndayishimiye, as part of a broader effort to secure the top UN post for an African candidate. No African has led the United Nations since former Ghanaian Secretary-General Kofi Annan completed his tenure in 2006.
The next UN Secretary-General will begin a five-year term on Jan. 1, 2027. The selection process includes informal dialogues with candidates, followed by a series of Security Council straw polls before a recommendation is sent to the 193-member UN General Assembly for approval.
Sall’s candidacy, however, has faced political and diplomatic hurdles. While Burundi submitted his nomination under the African Union’s chairmanship, reports indicate that some AU member states questioned the nomination process and have yet to endorse him, highlighting divisions over whether Africa should unite behind a single candidate.
The former president has also encountered criticism at home. Opponents have cited concerns over his administration’s handling of Senegal’s public finances and governance during his 2012–2024 presidency, while some political groups have voiced opposition to his international bid.
Despite the challenges, Sall has continued to campaign for the position, presenting his candidacy as part of Africa’s long-standing call for greater representation in global governance.
Other figures widely seen as potential contenders for the UN’s top post include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, although the list of candidates could expand before the selection process begins.
Under the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council, where any of the five permanent members can block a candidate through a veto. The successful candidate must also secure broad support in the General Assembly.
