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Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has withdrawn his candidacy for the post of United Nations Secretary-General following an informal vote, saying he hoped to help produce a consensus candidate within the Security Council.
Sall said he made the decision after consultations with Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, chairperson of the African Union, and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, chairperson of ECOWAS.
“I made this decision with a profound sense of responsibility, hoping to contribute to the emergence of a consensus candidacy within the Security Council,” Sall said in a statement dated October 17 from Marrakech.
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He noted that since the process began, results of test votes had indicated a preference for a candidate from Latin America and the Caribbean, “and possibly a woman.”
Forty years of public life
Sall said his candidacy was motivated by a desire to place nearly 40 years of public life at the service of the United Nations.
He thanked Ndayishimiye, who sponsored his candidacy, and Faye, who supported it, as well as Security Council member states that voted in his favour throughout the process.
He also thanked his campaign team, religious and traditional authorities, and the Senegalese people, activists, supporters, political and civil society organisations, and friends in Africa and abroad for their support.
Sall said the world continues to face proliferating conflicts, escalating geopolitical rivalries, a fragmenting international order and unprecedented economic and financial challenges.
“I remain convinced that the United Nations must undertake a profound transformation of its working methods and operations,” he said.
He added that Africa, “at the heart of the challenges of peace, security and development,” must continue to make its voice heard and pursue its efforts to occupy its rightful place in global governance.
“I am withdrawing my candidacy, but remain fully committed to the ideals that inspired it: peace, security, economic and social development, international cooperation, and dialogue among nations,” Sall said.
He wished success to whoever is called upon to assume the responsibilities of UN Secretary-General.
