At State House in Banjul, the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, received President Macky Sall. The audience focused on African unity and on the candidacy for United Nations Secretary-General, a few days before the Security Council's first straw polls.
The candidate summed up the spirit of the meeting in one sentence: "As Africans, we must work together and focus our efforts on the UN's key pillars: peace and security, human rights and sustainable development." He asked for the prayers and support of the Gambian President for his candidacy, the only declared African candidacy in the race.
Gambian and Senegalese media reported President Adama Barrow's support for the candidacy. Senegal and The Gambia, two immediate neighbours bound by geography, history and family, thus speak with one voice on the international stage.
In Banjul as in other capitals, President Macky Sall defends one conviction: Africa gains by moving forward united. No African has led the United Nations since Kofi Annan, from 1997 to 2006. Twenty years after the end of his term, the continent that hosts the largest number of peace operations puts forward a candidacy of experience, resting on the three pillars of the official vision: peace and development linked, a renewed multilateralism, a streamlined governance.
Straw polls in the Security Council are expected to begin in the last week of July. From Banjul to New York, the candidate's approach remains the same: listening to every state and serving unity, for a United Nations that is effective and faithful to its Charter.
The full vision statement is available at www.mackysall.net.