This is a special moment for the UN, which over the past two days has been auditioning candidates to succeed Antonio Guterres. On Wednesday afternoon, it was former Senegalese President Macky Sall's turn to be interviewed. Addressing the UN General Assembly, he set out his vision for getting the organization out of the rut it has been in since Donald Trump took office, and made no secret of his intention to establish a new order with another player conceived from the desire to rebuild Gaza: the Peace Council;
Addressing the President of the General Assembly, representatives of member states, international organizations and civil society, the candidate began by saluting his rivals, before laying the foundations of his project: to make the Secretary General a "bridge-builder" capable of restoring confidence in an organization weakened by international divisions.
A world turned upside down by new realities that impact the existing system
In an uncompromising diagnosis, Macky Sall described a world facing "systemic" rather than conjunctural challenges: intensification of geopolitical rivalries, multiplication of armed conflicts, increased vulnerability to climate change, growing economic and social fragility, and migratory pressure;
Added to these crises is a rapid transformation driven by technology, notably artificial intelligence (AI), which represents both a risk and an opportunity if properly governed.
Multilateralism more relevant than ever
In the face of this complexity, he reaffirmed the indispensability of multilateralism in achieving the UN's fundamental objectives: maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, promoting development and strengthening cooperation between peoples.
Highlighting almost forty years' experience in the public sphere, from civil servant to President of the Republic, via mayor, minister, Prime Minister and President of the National Assembly, the candidate emphasized his knowledge of the workings of government and international dynamics. He emphasized his ability to engage in dialogue at the highest level, notably with African leaders and within frameworks such as the G7 and G20, as well as his capacity to lead reforms and arbitrate priorities in complex contexts.
Restoring the confidence of States
On the operational front, Macky Sall set as a priority the restoration of trust between member states and within world opinion. He pledged to be an impartial Secretary-General, ready to listen to all, committed to more active preventive diplomacy, based on early warning, mediation and closer cooperation between the UN and regional organizations. He also called for in-depth reflection on the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations.
Human rights as a foundation
The candidate reaffirmed his commitment to the centrality of human rights, recalling their universal and indivisible nature, covering civil, political, economic, social and cultural dimensions. He insisted on the need to guarantee their protection while respecting the rule of law and the demands of justice.
A new approach to development issues
Turning to development issues, he stressed the urgent need to speed up implementation of the Agenda 2030, four years ahead of its final assessment, while preparing the post-2030 agenda. He drew attention to the growing burden of debt in many developing countries, the persistent inequalities affecting young people and women in particular, and the limits of traditional public funding.
To remedy this, Macky Sall proposed a renewed approach to development financing, based more on partnerships, private investment and trade, supported by improved access to credit. He spoke of the potential role of the Financing for Development Forum as a lever for economic transformation and job creation, believing that these dynamics would also help to reduce the root causes of irregular migration.
Three axes of institutional reform
On the institutional front, the candidate called for in-depth reform of the UN, focusing on "rationalization, simplification and optimization";
He stressed the need for better coordination between agencies, funds and programs to avoid duplication and improve the effectiveness of interventions in the field, while ensuring transparent and rigorous management of resources.
He also spoke out in favor of a consensual reform of the Security Council, designed to strengthen its legitimacy, authority and effectiveness, by accompanying the ongoing discussions between member states.
In a final appeal, Macky Sall considered that the world was "at a crossroads", between fragmentation and unity, stressing that the UN's credibility would depend on its ability to produce concrete, coherent and equitable results. He urged member states to make "bold" choices to enable the organization to "do better with less" and fully mobilize its potential.
"It's time to act," he concluded, calling for a collective mobilization to restore the UN's relevance and capacity to embody a common future based on international cooperation and solidarity. (TransContinentsAfrica)