Senegal rebuts Burundi push for ex-President Macky Sall's UN role

Senegal has formally distanced itself from a controversial attempt within the African Union to endorse former Senegalese President Macky Sall for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

In an official communication dated March 27, 2026, issued from its embassy in Addis Ababa, Senegal clarified that it had not supported the proposed candidacy at any stage.

The statement, released by Senegal’s Permanent Mission to the African Union, said it was responding to a prior note regarding a draft decision to approve Macky Sall’s nomination for the top UN role.

“The Government of Senegal has, at no stage, endorsed this candidacy and has not been associated with the related initiative, as undertaken by the Government of Burundi,” the note stated.

It added that, under the circumstances, Senegal could not be considered part of the process.

The clarification from Senegal came amid growing unease within the AU over how the nomination was being handled, with concerns raised about whether established consultation procedures had been followed.

The candidacy had been pushed by Burundi, which currently chairs the African Union under President Évariste Ndayishimiye.

Burundi initially moved to present Macky Sall as Africa’s candidate for the UN Secretary-General position without securing the necessary consensus among member states.

The move reportedly included a communication to the United Nations General Assembly indicating that the AU, through its chair, was nominating Sall for the role.

However, this step was challenged by several countries, who viewed it as a breach of established AU procedures.

Following the backlash, the proposal was subjected to a 24-hour “silence procedure,” a mechanism that allows decisions to pass if no member state objects within a set timeframe.

In this instance, AU member states were effectively given a day to either allow the endorsement to stand or formally object.

A total of 20 countries broke the silence before the deadline, effectively blocking the endorsement and preventing Macky Sall from being adopted as the AU’s official candidate.

The African Union Commission later confirmed that the draft decision had failed.

Anyone else following the drama at the African Union?

Burundi which is chairing the African Union, tried to bulldoze its way and impose Macky Sall as AU’s candidate for the UN Secretary General position.

Without authority, it informed the President of the UN General Assembly… pic.twitter.com/TeqBfwEneB

— Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor (@barkervogues) March 28, 2026