DR ‹ › Former Senegalese President Macky Sall, renowned for his strong ties with Morocco, has officially announced his candidacy for the role of United Nations Secretary-General. His nomination has been endorsed by Burundi, which has been presiding over the African Union since February. Sall is vying to replace Portugal's António Guterres, whose tenure at the helm of the UN is set to conclude on December 31, 2026. The election to appoint the next Secretary-General is scheduled for the fall session of the United Nations General Assembly. Having served as Senegal's President from 2012 to 2024, Macky Sall also chaired the African Union in 2022. However, his bid for the UN's top job lacks backing from Senegal's new leadership, who accuse him of withholding information about the nation's public debt. Notably, during Sall's presidency, the constitutional council disqualified the current Senegalese Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, from running in the February 2024 presidential election. The race to succeed António Guterres promises to be highly competitive. Other notable contenders include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Italy's Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Since the inception of the United Nations in 1945, only two Africans have taken the reins: Egypt's Boutros Boutros-Ghali (1992-1996) and Ghana's Kofi Annan (1997-2006). After stepping down from the Senegalese presidency in April 2024, Macky Sall, a close ally of Morocco, chose to reside in Marrakech.
