Africa today hosts the largest number of UN peacekeeping operations, and it has not held the office of Secretary-General since Kofi Annan, who served from 1997 to 2006. As the only declared African candidate to succeed António Guterres, President Macky Sall speaks for that continent. With the Security Council phase opening, his candidacy must turn this legitimacy into influence.
Legitimacy rests first on the facts. Africa brings together fifty-four member states, more than a quarter of the General Assembly. Most peace and security mandates play out on its soil. An experienced African candidacy answers that reality through the fit between the candidate's profile and the Organisation's challenges.
President Macky Sall's record adds twelve years as Head of State and the chairmanship of the African Union in 2022. He spoke for the continent in the health crisis as in the food and energy crises. From this practice of multilateral negotiation comes the candidate's vision: an inclusive, impartial and action-oriented United Nations, attentive to every member state, large as well as small.
Influence is measured at the Security Council. In the last week of July, its fifteen members hold their first straw polls, gauging support for each candidacy before the recommendation to the General Assembly. Senegal's official support, announced on 20 July, gives the candidacy its national foundation: the Government and Senegal's entire diplomatic network carry the message to the capitals and to New York.
Six candidacies have been submitted to date. The coming week will show whether continental legitimacy translates into support at the Council, in a race that remains open and where no clear front-runner has emerged.
Africa at its heart, the world in its sights.
Learn more: www.mackysall.net