Former Senegalese leader Macky Sall has joined the race to succeed António Guterres as the next head of the United Nations, after securing a nomination from Burundi. Sall, who governed Senegal from 2012 to 2024, touts a record of infrastructure expansion and regional diplomacy, though critics argue his administration downplayed fiscal strains at home. He enters a competitive field that already includes former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, with Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan also expected to join. Traditionally, the role rotates by region, with Latin America technically next in line. With the Security Council expected to launch the selection process by late July, the contest unfolds amid mounting calls for the UN to appoint its first female secretary-general in its 80-year history.
Africanews
