Dakar, Senegal — The Senegalese government has explicitly rejected the African Union’s (AU) backing of former president Macky Sall’s bid for the role of UN Secretary-General. This decision follows a period of internal political tensions and disputes over the selection process for the successor to António Guterres.
The Permanent Mission of Senegal to the AU disclosed on Friday that the government had never supported Sall’s candidacy, despite the AU’s draft resolution on 26 March that advocated for his nomination. This move highlights a discrepancy between the AU and Senegal’s positions on the matter.
Senegal’s foreign minister expressed surprise at not having been consulted about the AU’s support, indicating a rift within the regional body. Sall, who was president from 2012 to 2024, has been subject to criticism for his governance, including accusations of violently suppressing demonstrations and allegations of hiding the country’s debt.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) report has verified that officials under Sall’s regime provided misleading information about budget deficits and public debt between 2019 and 2023.
The race to replace Guterres includes other candidates such as Michelle Bachelet, Rafael Grossi, and Rebeca Grynspan. The Security Council is set to recommend a candidate to the General Assembly, which will then vote beginning on 20 April. Guterres’term concludes in December 2026. Senegal’s refusal to endorse Sall’s bid could influence the AU’s internal dynamics and the broader regional political environment.
Source: Africanews
