On Thursday 9 July in Manama, President Macky Sall was received by Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani. With this stop, the campaign for the next UN Secretary-General reached the Gulf.

The candidate reported on the meeting on his social platforms, describing constructive exchanges on the challenges of multilateralism, the dialogue of civilisations, the reform of the United Nations, and the need to revitalise the Organisation's role in conflict prevention and peaceful settlement.

Manama extends a series of meetings. In ten days, President Macky Sall has met China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens and, in New York, the permanent representatives of China, the United States and France to the United Nations. In all four regions he has carried the same message: a reformed, effective UN that rebuilds trust among member states.

The dialogue of civilisations, raised in Manama, holds a particular place in this approach. For the candidate, great challenges such as peace and security or artificial intelligence require listening to every region and every culture, and to each member state whatever its size. His official vision statement, filed with the United Nations, gives that role to a Secretary-General who acts as facilitator and bridge-builder.

According to the Security Council Report, Council members are continuing their private consultations with candidates in July, ahead of the first straw polls expected in the last week of the month. Six candidates are competing to succeed António Guterres, whose term ends on 31 December 2026.

President Macky Sall is the only declared African candidate in the race. No African has led the Organisation since Kofi Annan left office at the end of 2006. His July sequence follows a method of speaking to every region in turn without exclusive ties or alignment.

Between now and the straw polls, two weeks away, the Senegalese candidacy continues its meetings on the ground.

The full vision statement is available at www.mackysall.net.