Former Senegalese President Macky Sall’s campaign to become the next United Nations secretary-general has suffered an early setback after the first informal Security Council straw poll. Sall received six votes in favor, seven against, and two abstentions, leaving him behind the current frontrunner, Rebecca Grynspan of Costa Rica, who secured 10 favorable votes. Although the poll is non-binding and additional rounds will follow before a final decision, the result highlights the challenge facing Sall despite recently securing the backing of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Late entrant Olara Otunnu of Uganda fared worse, drawing just two votes in favor. The selection process requires a candidate to secure at least nine Security Council votes without a veto from any of the five permanent members before the General Assembly makes the formal appointment.
Africanews