Former Senegalese President Macky Sall on Wednesday presented an ambitious reform agenda before the United Nations General Assembly as part of the selection process for the next United Nations Secretary-General, positioning himself as a “bridge builder” capable of restoring trust in a fragmented global system.
Addressing member states, international organizations and civil society, he pointed to a world facing “systemic” crises—including geopolitical rivalries, armed conflicts, climate vulnerability, economic fragility, migration pressures and the disruptive rise of artificial intelligence—arguing that renewed multilateralism remains essential to achieving peace, development and human rights.
Drawing on nearly four decades of public service, he emphasized his experience in governance and international diplomacy, pledging impartial leadership, strengthened preventive diplomacy, and more effective peacekeeping operations.
Sall also called for accelerating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ahead of the 2030 deadline, while proposing a new approach to development financing based on partnerships, private investment and improved access to credit to address debt and inequality.
On institutional reform, he advocated streamlining UN structures to enhance efficiency, transparency and coordination, alongside a consensual reform of the Security Council to boost its legitimacy.
Concluding that the world stands “at a crossroads” between fragmentation and unity, Sall urged bold collective action from member states to restore the UN’s credibility and deliver concrete, equitable outcomes on global challenges.
