UN Secretary‑General race gains Ugandan candidate Olara Otunnu

Former Senegal president Macky Sall, the sole African contender, is intensifying his campaign to become the next United Nations secretary‑general. On 24 July 2026 he met Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Bogotá, praising the discussion on multilateralism. The following day Sall defended his candidacy before the UN General Assembly in New York, warning of bureaucratic fatigue and urging reforms.

Amnesty International warned on 25 July that Sall’s past governance raised concerns about the instrumentalisation of justice against political opponents, underscoring domestic scrutiny of his bid.

On 25 July Uganda announced the entry of Olara Otunnu, a former UN deputy secretary‑general and special envoy for children and armed conflict, as the seventh candidate. Otunnu joins Michelle Bachelet (Chile), María Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador), Rafael Grossi (Argentina), Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica) and Carolyn Rodrigues‑Birkett (Guyana). The Security Council is slated to hold a secret ballot on 30 July, with subsequent rounds leading to a final appointment before the incumbent’s term ends on 31 December 2026.

The expanding field highlights the contest for the UN’s top post and the competing visions for the organisation’s future.