President Faye endorses rival Macky Sall for UN top job
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has endorsed former President Macky Sall’s candidacy for UN secretary-general, despite longstanding political tensions between the two leaders.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has officially endorsed former President Macky Sall’s candidacy for the position of United Nations secretary-general, despite longstanding political tensions between the two leaders. According to Senegal’s foreign ministry, Faye made the decision after meeting Sall on Friday and directed the government to fully support the campaign, describing it as “Senegal’s candidacy in the service of Africa.”
Sall, who led Senegal from 2012 to 2024, is among five candidates seeking to succeed UN Secretary-General António Guterres when his term ends on December 31. The endorsement marks a significant shift, as Faye’s administration has repeatedly criticised Sall over alleged financial mismanagement and political repression, claims the former president denies. Relations between the two have remained strained since Sall’s failed attempt to postpone the 2024 presidential election, which sparked deadly protests. Burundi, the current African Union chair, had previously nominated Sall for the UN post.
The endorsement is a remarkable political turn. Faye and Sall are political rivals, with Faye’s administration having investigated Sall’s record. But the endorsement reflects a recognition that Sall’s candidacy is a matter of national pride, not just personal ambition. The decision also reflects the importance of African unity in the selection of the UN secretary-general.
The Nigerian stake is clear. The UN secretary-general is the world’s top diplomat, and an African in that position would have significant influence over issues affecting the continent, including peacekeeping, development and climate change. Nigeria has a strategic interest in the outcome of the selection process.
From a Nigerian vantage point, the endorsement is a reminder of the importance of diplomatic influence. Nigeria has not produced a UN secretary-general, and the country’s diplomatic corps has sometimes struggled to assert itself on the global stage. Senegal’s unity behind Sall is a lesson in diplomatic ambition.
The winners: Macky Sall, who has received a significant endorsement; and Senegal, which has demonstrated unity. The losers: Sall’s opponents, who face a united Senegalese campaign; and Nigeria, which has not produced a UN secretary-general.
Bottom Line: President Faye has endorsed his rival Macky Sall for UN secretary-general. Politics is set aside for national pride. The question is whether the world will follow Senegal’s lead.