Addis ababa: The African Union (AU) Commission announced that it has not adopted a draft decision to support former Senegalese President Macky Sall's candidacy for the role of United Nations Secretary-General, following the opposition of 20 member states.

According to Burkina Information Agency, a note was sent to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the permanent missions of AU member states, stating that the draft decision about approving Sall's candidacy had been reviewed. This process was initiated by a note verbale dated March 26, 2026, and was subject to a "silence procedure," a diplomatic method where a decision is adopted unless objections are raised within a specified timeframe.

By the deadline of March 27, 2026, objections from 20 member states were recorded, effectively halting the adoption of the draft decision. The AU Commission confirmed that the proposal to endorse Macky Sall's candidacy was not approved, reflecting the lack of consensus among the AU member states.

The "silence procedure" is a common mechanism within the AU to streamline decision-making, requiring unanimous approval for any text. An objection from even a single member state can stop a proposal from passing.

The Senegalese government clarified in a statement that it did not endorse the candidacy and was not involved in the initiative led by Burundi's president, who currently holds the AU's rotating chairmanship. Despite the AU's decision not to support the draft resolution, Macky Sall's candidacy for UN Secretary-General remains officially valid, albeit without the backing of the continental organization.

In light of the AU's stance, Burundi now stands alone in promoting Sall's candidacy on the global stage.