Africa has just one representative in UN top job race after ex-Senegalese president drops out

Africa is down to one candidate in the race to lead the United Nations after former Senegalese president Macky Sall withdrew his candidacy, narrowing the continent’s representation in a contest increasingly pointing towards Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Former Senegalese president Macky Sall withdrew his candidacy to lead the United Nations, leaving Uganda's Olara Otunnu as Africa's only remaining candidate.
• Sall stated that his decision was made to help build consensus within the UN Security Council.
• Olara Otunnu, a veteran diplomat, now represents Africa but faces low prospects after receiving mostly discouraging votes in the latest informal Security Council ballot.
• Candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean are currently leading in the race, though all face some opposition from permanent Security Council members.

Sall announced his decision on October 17, a day after the UN Security Council held its sixth informal vote on candidates seeking to succeed António Guterres, whose term ends on December 31, 2026.

“Following the October 16, 2026 informal vote for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, and after consultations with Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye, the current chairperson of the African Union, and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the current chairperson of ECOWAS, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy,” Sall said.

In his statement, published on his official X profile, Sall said his decision was guided by the need to help build consensus within the Security Council.

His exit leaves Uganda’s Olara Otunnu as Africa’s sole remaining representative in the race to succeed António Guterres, whose term ends on December 31, 2026.

Uganda's Otunnu takes the baton

Uganda’s Olara Otunnu, a veteran diplomat and former UN under-secretary-general, is now Africa’s sole remaining candidate in the race to lead the world body. He served as the UN’s special representative for children and armed conflict from 1998 to 2005 and previously held Uganda’s foreign affairs portfolio.

His campaign focuses on conflict resolution, UN Security Council reform and international cooperation on artificial intelligence. However, his prospects face a significant hurdle: in the October 16 informal vote, he received four votes of encouragement and 10 discouraging votes, with one member expressing no opinion.

Latin American candidates gain ground in UN leadership contest

The latest informal vote placed former Costa Rican vice-president Rebeca Grynspan at the top of the field, with nine votes of encouragement, five discouraging votes and one member expressing no opinion, according to Reuters.

However, two of the discouraging votes came from permanent Security Council members, leaving her candidacy exposed to a potential veto.

Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi are also among the leading contenders. None of the seven candidates in the October 16 poll secured support without opposition from at least two permanent members, highlighting the difficulty of reaching a consensus.

Sall thanked the leaders who sponsored and supported his bid, as well as Security Council members who voted for him. He said his candidacy had been motivated by a desire to put nearly 40 years of public service at the UN’s disposal.

Despite withdrawing, he reiterated that Africa must continue pressing for greater representation in global governance.

“Africa, which is at the heart of the challenges of peace, security and development, must also continue to make its voice heard and pursue its efforts to occupy the place that is rightfully its in global governance,” he said.

Sall’s exit leaves Uganda's Otunnu as Africa’s sole remaining candidate in the current field, although the selection process remains open and no successor has yet been chosen.