MARRAKECH, October 17, 2026 — Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has withdrawn his candidacy for United Nations Secretary-General following the latest Security Council straw poll, saying he hopes his decision will help pave the way for a consensus candidate to emerge.

In a statement published on his campaign website on Saturday, Sall said he made the decision after consultations with Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current Chairperson of the African Union, and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“Following the informal vote of October 16, 2026, for the election of the United Nations Secretary-General, and after consultations with His Excellency Mr Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and current Chairperson of the African Union, and His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal and current Chairperson of ECOWAS, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy for this position,” Sall said in the French-language statement.

He said the decision was taken with a sense of responsibility and in the hope of facilitating the emergence of a consensus candidate within the Security Council.

Sall noted that the successive straw polls had pointed towards a preference for a candidate from Latin America and the Caribbean, potentially a woman.

“My candidacy was essentially motivated by the desire to put my experience of nearly forty years of public life at the service of the United Nations,” he said.

UN race narrows after sixth straw poll

Sall’s withdrawal comes as the Security Council continues efforts to identify a successor to Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026.

The sixth informal straw poll, held on October 16, used colour-coded ballots to distinguish the positions of the Council’s five permanent members from those of the ten elected members.

Sall received five “encourage” votes and ten “discourage” votes, with no member expressing “no opinion”. Two of his encouraging votes came from permanent members, while three P5 members discouraged his candidacy.

The five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — hold veto power over substantive Security Council decisions, including the recommendation of a Secretary-General.

Although the straw poll is informal and does not constitute a final vote, the results provide an indication of the level of support and opposition facing each candidate.

Sall’s withdrawal removes one contender from a field that has seen candidates tested through successive rounds of confidential voting.

Thanks supporters and campaign team

In his statement, Sall thanked Burundi’s President Ndayishimiye for sponsoring his candidacy and Senegal’s President Faye for supporting it.

He also expressed gratitude to Security Council members who voted in his favour, his campaign team, religious and traditional leaders, Senegalese citizens, military personnel, political organisations, civil society groups and supporters in Africa and abroad.

Despite withdrawing, Sall said he remained committed to the principles that had underpinned his campaign, including peace, security, economic and social development, international cooperation and dialogue among nations.

He argued that the UN must undertake profound changes to its working methods and institutional functioning amid mounting conflicts, geopolitical rivalries, fragmentation of the international order and unprecedented economic and financial challenges.

Africa’s place in global governance

Sall also called for Africa to continue strengthening its voice in international affairs.

“Africa, which is at the heart of issues 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.

His remarks reflect a longstanding debate over Africa’s representation in global institutions, particularly the UN Security Council, where the continent has no permanent seat despite accounting for a substantial share of the organisation’s membership and agenda.

Sall concluded by wishing success to the person who would eventually assume the responsibilities of UN Secretary-General.

What Sall’s exit means for the race

The withdrawal leaves the remaining candidates to continue seeking the support required to secure the Security Council’s recommendation.

Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, the General Assembly appoints the Secretary-General following a recommendation from the Security Council. The Council must secure at least nine votes in favour of a candidate, without a veto from any of the five permanent members.

The next stages of the selection process will determine whether the Council can consolidate support around a candidate before Guterres’ term expires at the end of the year.

Sall’s decision to step aside, citing the need for consensus, adds another development to a contest shaped by competing diplomatic priorities, regional representation and the positions of the Security Council’s permanent members.