Former Senegalese President Macky Sall defended his candidacy for the post of United Nations Secretary-General during a 90-minute hearing in the General Assembly hall at UN headquarters in New York, according to AA. Alongside five other candidates, Sall presented his vision for the organization as it confronts international crises and technological transformations.
Macky Sall Outlines Reform Vision During UN General Assembly Debate
The selection process moves forward as current UN chief António Guterres prepares to leave office on December 31, 2026, after serving two terms, as reported by rfi.fr. The six declared contenders participating in the July 23, 2026 debate include Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, and Macky Sall of Senegal, according to pressafrik.com. Sall stands as the sole African candidate in the race, which has seen regional rotation rules traditionally favoring candidates from Latin America or the Caribbean, according to rfi.fr.
Modernizing UN Work Methods and Enhancing Institutional Transparency
At the core of his platform, Sall emphasized modernizing the UN’s operational procedures to address global challenges, including artificial intelligence and digital transformation. He argued that the institution must evaluate the concrete impact of its administrative actions.
Sall stated that they needed to reexamine their working methods, noting that they currently had 40,000 active mandates and more than 27,000 annual meetings, and adding that the impact must be proven, as cited by AA.
Addressing the organization’s recurring liquidity crises caused by late payments from member states, Sall maintained that financial shortfalls signal a deeper crisis of confidence. To combat this, he promised to institute budget transparency by opening the organization’s accounts using an “open book” policy if elected, according to AA. Furthermore, Sall outlined intentions to leave behind a trusted, efficient, and thoroughly reformed UN that successfully leverages digital transformation and artificial intelligence, noting that reforms ultimately require active collaboration and willpower from member states, as reported by Senego.
Mediation, Conflict Management, and International Finance Reform
When questioned regarding crisis management, Sall highlighted the importance of preventive diplomacy, early warning capabilities, and continuous dialogue with belligerents and permanent members of the Security Council, pointing to his own experience visiting both Sochi and Kyiv during his tenure leading the African Union.
Sall affirmed that the Secretary-General must be able to speak with all required authority to the main belligerents, emphasizing his goal to act as a consistent builder of bridges and trust, according to AA.
Sall also targeted global financial structures, arguing that current mechanisms fail to satisfy developing nations facing heavy debt burdens. He noted that developing nations borrow at rates five to eight times more expensive than developed economies, asserting that public financing alone is insufficient. He called for increased mobilization of the private sector, international financial institutions, rating agencies, and civil society to overhaul international development financing, according to AA.
Keep reading