Former Senegalese President, Macky Sall, has been formally nominated by Burundi as a candidate for the next United Nations Secretary-General position in what is expected to become a closely watched global contest.
The nomination of Macky Sall makes him the third officially declared candidate so far. The others are Rafael Grossi of Argentina and Michelle Bachelet of Chile.
The position is currently held by António Guterres of Portugal. He assumed office on January 1, 2017 and is now serving his second five-year term, which runs until the end of 2026. Under established practice, a Secretary-General may serve a maximum of two 5-year terms, though this is not formally written into the UN Charter.
Guterres succeeded Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, who led the organisation from 2007 to 2016.
The Secretary-General is appointed by the United Nations General Assembly, but only after a recommendation from the United Nations Security Council. In practical terms, this means the five permanent members of the Security Council, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, hold decisive influence because any of them can veto a candidate.
The process begins with member states formally nominating candidates. Informal dialogues and public hearings are often held, after which the Security Council conducts a series of private straw polls. A candidate must secure at least nine votes in the 15-member Council and avoid a veto from any permanent member to move forward.
While the UN Charter does not prescribe regional rotation, an informal understanding has developed over time that the role should rotate among regional groups. The Eastern European Group is widely viewed as next in line, having never produced a Secretary-General. However, this practice is political rather than legally binding.
Africa has produced one Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt, who served from 1992 to 1996. His tenure ended after one term when the United States vetoed his reappointment.
Since then, African states have periodically argued that the continent should have another opportunity to lead the organisation, particularly given Africa’s centrality to UN peacekeeping operations and development programmes.
The candidacy of Macky Sall may therefore resonate with governments that see the upcoming selection as an opportunity to rebalance regional representation.
During his presidency of Senegal from 2012 to 2024, Macky Sall played an active role in African Union diplomacy and positioned Dakar as a stable political actor in West Africa. He was involved in mediation efforts and continental discussions on security, infrastructure financing and climate policy.
His nomination by Burundi adds an interesting dimension, as endorsements from smaller states can sometimes catalyse broader regional backing if momentum builds.
Although only three candidates have declared so far, the field is expected to expand. Campaigning for the role is typically understated but intense, with candidates engaging in quiet diplomacy across regional blocs and within the Security Council.
Ultimately, the decision will rest on geopolitical calculations as much as individual credentials. The Macky Sall UN Secretary-General bid now places a former West African head of state into a contest that will shape the leadership of the United Nations at a time marked by global conflict, climate pressures and shifting power dynamics.
With the term of the current Secretary-General ending in December 2026, the coming months will determine whether Africa returns to the top post for the first time in three decades or whether regional rotation dynamics steer the position elsewhere.