Former Senegalese President Macky Sall’s campaign to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations has suffered an early setback after he secured fewer votes than the leading candidate in the first informal straw poll conducted by the UN Security Council.
Sall received six votes in favour, while seven members voted against his candidacy and two abstained. The result placed him behind Costa Rican candidate Rebecca Grynspan, who emerged as the early frontrunner with 10 votes in favour.
Although the straw poll is not binding and does not determine the final outcome of the selection process, the results provide an initial indication of how candidates are viewed by members of the Security Council.
The outcome could raise questions about Sall’s prospects as the contest progresses, particularly because a successful candidate will ultimately need to secure broad support from the Council while avoiding opposition from any of its five permanent members.
Sall, who served as Senegal’s president from 2012 to 2024, recently received the backing of current Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The endorsement was seen as an important boost to his campaign and highlighted Senegal’s support for an African candidate to lead the world body.
However, the straw poll results suggest that Sall still faces significant diplomatic challenges in building the level of international support required to advance his candidacy.
The race has also attracted other candidates, including former Ugandan Foreign Minister Olara Otunnu, who entered the contest later than the other contenders. Otunnu recorded a weaker performance in the informal vote, receiving only two votes in favour.
The United Nations Secretary-General selection process involves several stages. The Security Council is expected to conduct additional informal consultations and straw polls as candidates seek to build support among its members.
A candidate must secure at least nine votes from the 15-member Security Council to advance, while also avoiding a veto from any of the five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Once the Security Council agrees on a candidate, the nomination is formally submitted to the UN General Assembly, which makes the final appointment.
The current Secretary-General, António Guterres, is serving his second term, making the upcoming selection a closely watched international diplomatic contest.
For African countries, the race carries particular significance as calls continue for greater representation of the continent in the leadership of major international institutions. An African candidate has not served as UN Secretary-General since Kofi Annan of Ghana, who led the organisation from 1997 to 2006.
Sall’s campaign will therefore need to overcome the early setback by securing additional diplomatic support in subsequent rounds of consultations. The non-binding nature of the first straw poll means that the former Senegalese president still has an opportunity to improve his standing as the process continues.
However, the early result gives Rebecca Grynspan an advantage and establishes her as a leading contender at this stage of the race.
With further straw polls expected, candidates will now intensify diplomatic efforts to win over Security Council members. The final outcome will depend not only on the number of votes each candidate attracts but also on their ability to avoid a veto from any of the Council’s permanent members.
