On Tuesday, the UN Security Council held its fourth straw poll to gauge the level of support for candidates vying to become the next UN secretary-general.
For Macky Sall, this latest test did not bring the hoped-for improvement. His candidacy retains the support of five members, while nine Security Council members expressed an unfavourable view.
This trajectory is all the more concerning for his camp because it marks a step backward compared to the start of the contest. In the third round on 18th September, he received 5 favourable votes, 9 unfavourable votes, and 1 abstention, compared to 6 favourable votes in the first two rounds. Yet, back in August, the former head of state appeared to be gaining momentum.
While Macky Sall is stalling, the competition is moving forward. Costa Rica’s Rebecca Grynspan once again came out on top in this fourth straw poll, ahead of Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. Argentina’s Rafael Grossi is also among the candidates now driving the race’s momentum. Meanwhile, Uganda’s Olara Otunnu — another African candidate — secured 5 favourable votes, just like Macky Sall.
Only three months remain before António Guterres’s term ends, and the major powers will have to make a quick decision. The rule remains unchanged: the successful candidate must secure the support of at least nine of the 15 Security Council members, without facing opposition from any of the five permanent members. With nine negative opinions, Macky Sall remains far from the required threshold.
Senenews
