The failure of Macky Sall’s candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary-General continues to generate intense analysis. In a notable column, Me Abdoulaye Tine, Doctor of International Law and member of the Diomaye President coalition, revisits what he describes as a “final sentence” on March 26, 2026, the date on which twenty member states of the African Union (AU) blocked the consensus procedure.
Dakar’s “No”: An Insurmountable Legal Obstacle
For the expert, the collapse of this ambition is not the result of a conspiracy, but the rigorous application of diplomatic norms. Me Tine emphasizes that “in international relations, without your State, you are nothing.” He recalls that the rupture came from Senegal itself, via a verbal note specifying that “the Republic of Senegal has not, at any stage, endorsed the candidacy of former President Macky Sall.”
According to the jurist, this absence of national support is an “absolute condition.” He compares the situation to that of an athlete deprived of his national committee: “A candidacy without Dakar does not exist. The matter was settled before it even began.” Beyond the lack of support, the author points to a “procedural violation,” with the candidacy having been brought forward by Burundi without prior coordination with the AU, as well as reservations about the “management of public affairs” under the former president’s tenure.
The Urgency of a Plan B for Africa
Me Abdoulaye Tine’s assessment is now focused on the future: “Africa has only three weeks left” to find a new standard-bearer. As public hearings at the UN begin on April 20, 2026, the continent risks presenting itself “empty-handed in New York” against declared candidates such as Michelle Bachelet or Rafael Grossi.
The stakes are high: preserving “geographical rotation,” a customary practice that could be called into question if Africa delays too long. The expert calls on the African Union for an “extraordinary session” to designate an “irreproachable” figure enjoying, this time, the “explicit support of their own country.”
In conclusion, while praising the “dignity” of the statesman that is Macky Sall, Me Tine emphasizes that “law protects us from ourselves” and prevents “ambition from devouring everything.” The message to African institutions is clear: “The time is for action,” because the world does not wait.
Author: Seneweb News
