The African Union Commission has failed to endorse the candidacy of former Senegalese President Macky Sall for the position of United Nations Secretary-General after several member states objected.

In an official communication, the Commission confirmed that at least 20 African Union member states broke the “silence procedure” required to approve a draft decision backing Sall’s nomination.

The silence procedure, which expired on March 27, 2026, required no objections from member states for the decision to be adopted.

However, the objections effectively blocked the endorsement.

As a result, the draft decision supporting Sall’s candidacy was not adopted, dealing a setback to efforts to secure a unified African position for the top UN job.

The development highlights divisions within the African Union over who should represent the continent in the global race for the next UN Secretary-General.

The Commission communicated the outcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia and Permanent Missions of AU member states, noting that the required consensus had not been reached.

The failure to agree on Sall’s candidacy underscores ongoing diplomatic negotiations among African states as they seek a common candidate for the influential international position.

By Adama Makasuba