Macky Sall Rules Out Bid for UN Secretary — General Post. Dakar, Senegal — 21 February 2026 Lead Paragraph: The speculation surrounding the candidacy of Senegal’s former President Macky Sall for the position of United Nations Secretary-General has been put to rest.
According to the reports, Sall will not be running for the post, which has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks.
The race to succeed the current UN Secretary — General officially commenced at the start of 2026, with the incoming Secretary-General set to take office on January 1, 2027. Official nominations are required to be submitted by April 1, 2026. At this stage, several high-profile candidates have been officially named by their respective countries.
Among them is Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), nominated by Argentina. Also in the running is Michelle Bachelet, the former President of Chile and former High Commissioner for Human Rights, nominated by Costa Rica. Officials commented on the matter.
The process will continue with secret ballots within the UN Security Council in mid — 2026, followed by an official recommendation to the General Assembly.
As of now, no nomination for Macky Sall has been recorded, confirming that the former Senegalese president is not among the contenders for the top UN position.
The official decision regarding the UN Secretary — General position will continue to unfold over the coming months.
Further details regarding the selection process and the final candidates are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
