Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has withdrawn his candidacy for United Nations secretary-general after an informal Security Council vote revealed insufficient support for his bid.

Mr Sall announced his decision following the council’s October 16 informal ballot to assess support for candidates seeking to succeed António Guterres.

In a statement, Mr Sall said he consulted Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye before withdrawing.

Mr Ndayishimiye currently chairs the African Union, while Faye chairs the Economic Community of West African States.

Mr Sall said he withdrew out of a sense of responsibility, hoping to help a consensus candidate emerge within the Security Council. He acknowledged that successive informal ballots indicated support for a candidate from Latin America and the Caribbean, potentially a woman.

The former Senegalese president received five encouraging votes and 10 discouraging votes in Friday’s ballot, according to the results. Three of the discouraging votes reportedly came from permanent members of the Security Council, whose opposition could prevent a candidate’s recommendation.

Mr Sall maintained that Africa must continue making its voice heard and strengthening its representation in international governance. The former president also called for substantial reforms to the UN’s working methods amid escalating conflicts, geopolitical divisions and economic difficulties.

Mr Sall’s withdrawal follows months of controversy surrounding attempts to secure collective African backing for his candidacy.

Nigeria was among the African Union member states that objected to the proposed endorsement procedure, questioning its legitimacy and consistency with established diplomatic practice. It argued that the next UN secretary-general should emerge from Latin America and the Caribbean under the informal principle of regional rotation.

Nigeria’s earlier diplomatic position questioned the wisdom of departing from that convention and warned of possible consequences for Africa’s future multilateral interests.

Mr Sall’s departure leaves Uganda’s Olara Otunnu as the only remaining African candidate publicly identified in the selection process.

The Security Council must recommend a candidate before the General Assembly can appoint the next secretary-general.

Mr Guterres’ second five-year term expires on December 31, making the succession negotiations consequential for the UN’s future leadership and institutional reform.

(NAN)