One week before the official launch of the process to appoint the next United Nations Secretary-General, six candidates on Thursday, July 23, presented their vision before the UN General Assembly in New York.
Former Senegalese President Macky Sall, the only African candidate in the race, used his address to advocate for greater transparency, accountability and efficiency within the United Nations.
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At the centre of Sall's vision is a more active diplomatic role for the Secretary-General.
He argued that the office must engage directly with leaders involved in conflicts, particularly members of the UN Security Council.
"The Secretary-General must be able, with all the required authority, to speak to the main belligerents, especially when they are permanent members of the Security Council," he said.
According to Sall, maintaining dialogue even during periods of intense geopolitical tensions is essential to restoring confidence and finding peaceful solutions.
Drawing on his experience as President of Senegal for 12 years and former Chairperson of the African Union, Sall recalled his mediation efforts following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Despite international criticism at the time, he travelled to both Sochi and Kyiv to advocate for African interests, particularly the impact of disrupted grain exports and fertiliser shortages.
"Contact must always be maintained, regardless of tensions. That is the impartial role the Secretary-General must play to rebuild trust among member states."
He said this experience demonstrated that dialogue remains indispensable, even in the most difficult circumstances.
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Reforming the UN
Sall also called for sweeping institutional reforms aimed at improving the UN&039;s efficiency.
He noted that the organisation currently operates under more than 40,000 active mandates and holds over 27,000 meetings annually, arguing that such a system must deliver measurable results.
"We need to question our working methods. Today, we have 40,000 mandates that have been activated and more than 27,000 meetings held. Their impact must be demonstrated, and the impact must be proven." he said.
Among his priorities are simplifying procedures, improving coordination across UN agencies and ensuring that reforms focus on practical outcomes rather than bureaucracy.
Transparency and digital transformation
If elected, Sall said transparency would become a cornerstone of his leadership.
He pledged to open the organisation's accounts and make reform proposals available to all member states, reinforcing accountability within the UN system.
He also highlighted digital transformation as a major priority, saying the organisation must embrace innovation while taking advantage of the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence.
"I want to leave behind a confident United Nations, an effective United Nations, that has successfully completed its digital transformation and embraced the benefits of artificial intelligence."
Sall stressed that Africa deserves stronger representation in global governance, noting that his candidacy reflects the aspirations of a continent of more than 1.5 billion people.
His campaign received an important boost after Senegal officially endorsed his candidacy on July 20, describing him as a leader with the experience, credibility and diplomatic stature needed to lead the UN into a new era.
Sall concluded by emphasising that meaningful reforms cannot succeed without the commitment of member states.
"Without the member states, no matter how strong the Secretary-General's will, reforms will remain limited," he said.
Sall is the same race as Chile's former President Michelle Bachelet, Argentina's Rafael Grossi, a former diplomat who currently heads the International Atomic Energy Agency; Costa Rica's former Vice President Rebeca Grynspan, who currently serves at the UN; Ecuador's former Foreign Minister María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, and Guyana's former Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
The Secretary-General is appointed by the UN General Assembly following a recommendation from the Security Council, where any of the five permanent members the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom can block a candidate through the use of a veto.