Former Senegal president Macky Sall has officially joined the race to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The UN confirmed on Monday that Sall, who served as Senegal’s head of state from 2012 to 2024, was nominated for the position by Burundi.
While Sall is credited with a number of achievements during his presidency, he continues to face criticism at home, including allegations that his administration concealed the true scale of Senegal’s fiscal challenges.
The UN is set to appoint a successor to outgoing Secretary-General António Guterres later this year. The new chief will serve a five-year term beginning on 1 January 2027.
Although the post traditionally rotates among global regions, that pattern has not always been strictly followed. When Guterres, a former Portuguese prime minister, was selected in 2016, it had been widely expected that Eastern Europe would next hold the position. The region currently considered next in line is Latin America.
Sall joins two other officially nominated candidates: former Chile president Michelle Bachelet and Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Costa Rica has also proposed its former vice president, Rebeca Grynspan, although her formal nomination letter has yet to be submitted to the UN.
The contest unfolds amid increasing calls for the United Nations to appoint its first female Secretary-General in its 80-year history.
The UN Security Council is expected to begin the selection process by the end of July.
