Senegalese politician and former president (2012–2024)
Senegal has endorsed former president Macky Sall’s candidacy for United Nations secretary-general, marking a strategic reorientation ahead of the selection process. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has instructed his government to mobilise support, signalling a new coalition-building phase for Dakar. Critics say the move risks justice for victims of past protests.
Candidates for the UN secretary-general post have presented reform-minded visions amid a funding and credibility crisis. Straw polls begin late July with a January 2027 appointment target; Latin America is pushing for a regional rotation.
Senegal’s Kiiraay-The Republican Patriots has formalised a split between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko, with the new party aiming to build a nationwide structure and governance strategy amid debt pressures and ongoing political realignment.
The UN Security Council’s informal straw polls have begun to shape the field for secretary-general. Rebeca Grynspan leads on encouragement votes, with other candidates including Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Rafael Grossi, Macky Sall, Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, and Olara Otunnu. The process remains flexible, with multiple rounds possible and no consensus yet.
Nigeria's security forces have freed 308 hostages abducted in recent months, including 163 from Woro in Kwara state and 145 from Niger state. The operation involved the military, police, and counter-terrorism units and is described by officials as the largest rescue carried out in a single day.
The UN Security Council has conducted a straw poll for the next secretary-general, with Rodrigues-Birkett leading the field, followed by Grynspan and Grossi. Several other contenders remain, and a formal vote in the General Assembly will determine the outcome. The process involves nine votes in the Council and potential vetoes by the five permanent members.