The former head of state stated that the results of the various votes organized since the beginning of the process guided his reflections.
Macky Sall explained the reasons for withdrawing his candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations. In a statement published on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in Marrakech, the former Senegalese president indicated that he made this decision after the informal vote of the Security Council on October 16 and consultations with Presidents Évariste Ndayishimiye and Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
For Macky Sall, the withdrawal of his candidacy primarily responds to the desire to facilitate the emergence of a candidate likely to gain consensus within the Security Council. “I made this decision with a deep sense of responsibility, hoping to contribute to the emergence of a consensual candidacy within the Security Council,” he explained.
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The former head of state stated that the results of the various votes organized since the beginning of the process guided his reflections. “Since the beginning of the process, the results of the various test votes indicate a preference for a candidacy from the Latin American and Caribbean region, and possibly female,” he specified. This interpretation of the results thus influenced his decision to withdraw from the race to succeed António Guterres, whose second five-year term is set to end on December 31, 2026.
Thanks to Supporters of His Candidacy
Macky Sall also wanted to thank the leaders who supported his initiative. “I would like to thank President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who sponsored my candidacy, and President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, who supported it,” he wrote.
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He also extends his gratitude to the member states of the Security Council that voted in his favor, as well as to the members of his campaign team. He expresses his appreciation to religious and customary authorities, to Senegalese citizens, activists, supporters, political organizations, and civil society, both in Senegal and abroad, for their prayers and encouragement.
Although his candidacy is now withdrawn, Macky Sall asserts that he does not renounce the ideals that motivated his initiative. “I withdraw my candidacy but remain fully committed to the ideals that inspired it: peace, security, economic and social development, international cooperation, and dialogue between nations,” he emphasized. The former president also believes that the United Nations must transform its working methods in the face of the increasing number of conflicts, geopolitical rivalries, and economic and financial difficulties.
He also stresses the need for Africa to strengthen its place in global governance. Macky Sall concludes his statement by wishing “full success” to the person who will be called to serve as Secretary-General of the UN.
