The race for the next UN Secretary-General enters its decisive phase. After the town hall that brought the six candidates before the member states, the process now moves to the Security Council, whose fifteen members hold their first straw polls at the end of July. Through these informal, secret ballots, the Council gauges, candidate by candidate, the support each contender commands to succeed António Guterres: every member marks "encourage", "discourage" or "no opinion".
Before delegations, UN staff and civil society, President Macky Sall set out a clear vision: an impartial United Nations, committed to preventive diplomacy, able to restore trust between member states, large and small. His first task, should he be called to the office, would be to rebuild that trust and place the Organisation back at the heart of resolving crises.
The only African candidate in the race, nominated by Burundi on 2 March 2026, President Macky Sall has carried Senegal's official candidacy since 20 July, with the Government and the country's entire diplomatic network mobilised in the words of the communiqué. Africa has not held the office of Secretary-General since Kofi Annan: this candidacy seeks to reopen that prospect, in the service of all members.
Experience gives the ambition its foundation: twelve years as Head of State, the chairmanship of the African Union in 2022, the continent's voice carried through the food, health and energy crises. This practice of multilateral negotiation underpins a candidacy that aims to serve a more effective multilateralism.
The race remains open. International media continue to cite several names without a clear front-runner emerging, which gives the Council's straw polls their full weight: they will reveal the true hierarchy before the chosen name is sent to the General Assembly for formal appointment. The next Secretary-General's term begins on 1 January 2027.
Six candidacies have been submitted to date. The week ahead will be watched capital by capital.
Africa at its heart, the world in its sights.
Learn more: www.mackysall.net