New York, April 9, 2026 – Received at the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations in New York by the Permanent Representative, Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay, and his team, the former President of the Republic of Senegal, H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, presented the vision and priorities underpinning his candidacy, with particular emphasis on peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the Great Lakes region.
Conducted as part of a tour of the members of the Security Council, this courtesy visit provided an opportunity for discussion on major issues related to the future of multilateralism and the leadership of the United Nations.
In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay expressed satisfaction with the visit, placing it within the recent diplomatic momentum of the DRC Permanent Mission in New York, notably following the visit of the Prime Minister of the DRC, Ms. Judith Suminwa Tuluka, last March. He described the presence of the former Senegalese President as a strong signal for the Mission and for Africa’s place in international debates.
Taking the floor, Macky Sall thanked the Ambassador and his team for the warm welcome before addressing the main purpose of his visit. He recalled his recent trip to Kinshasa, during which he met with President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo to discuss his candidacy for the position of UN Secretary-General and the support he hopes to receive from the DRC, which he described as a major country on the continent, both because of its historical role and its strategic weight.
Driven, in his own words, by the desire to carry “the strong voice of Africa in the concert of nations,” Macky Sall’s candidacy is also intended as a platform in support of developing countries, especially African countries. The Senegalese candidate stated that he intends to advocate for a more equitable international partnership, based on mutually beneficial development financing.
Regarding the security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Macky Sall said he was fully aware of the gravity of the crisis and its regional implications. He stressed that, if entrusted by Member States with leading the United Nations, this issue would be among his priorities. He underlined that addressing this matter would necessarily have to take into account the sovereignty of the DRC, its territorial integrity, and any measure likely to bring lasting peace and stability to the Great Lakes region.
In this regard, the candidate indicated that he had discussed the matter at length with President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo during his visit to Kinshasa, thereby reaffirming his interest in an approach grounded in respect for international law and in the search for lasting solutions to the crises affecting the sub-region.
This visit was also marked by the presence of the Permanent Representative of Burundi to the United Nations, Ambassador Zéphyrin Maniratanga, as well as members of the candidate’s campaign team. It took place in a context where Burundi officially submitted Macky Sall’s candidacy to the United Nations on March 2, 2026, while Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye has held the rotating chairmanship of the African Union since February 14.
The vision defended by Macky Sall is based on the ambition to refound multilateralism for a better world. A possible election of the former Senegalese President would make him the third African to lead the United Nations, after Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Kofi Annan, thereby further strengthening the continent’s visibility at the top of the multilateral system.