The United Nations faces a critical moment as the search for a new secretary general gains momentum. One of the leading candidates, Macky Sall, a former president of Senegal, has expressed his support for President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and has vowed to "make the U.N. great again."
In an interview, Sall praised the U.S. as "the first power in the world to be with the U.N.," emphasizing the importance of the U.S. remaining engaged with the global organization. However, he also acknowledged the need for reform, stating that the U.N. "should be reformed to be efficient" and that "with other member states together we can build a better UN, or to MUNGA — we can Make the UN Great Again."
Support for the "MUNGA" slogan, which originated with Trump’s U.N. ambassador, has grown among U.N. member states, who are dissatisfied with the organization's bureaucracy and inefficiencies. Hugh Dugan, a U.N. insider with decades of experience, noted that there is a long-standing dissatisfaction among member states over the U.N.'s inability to fulfill its core functions.
The current U.N. secretary general, António Guterres, will leave office in 2027, and the selection of the next secretary general is seen as a crucial decision for the future relevance of the U.N. Dugan emphasized the need for accountability and efficiency, stating that the next secretary general should be someone who can "demonstrate effectiveness and efficiency in the role."
Macky Sall believes he is uniquely positioned to enact reforms, having witnessed U.N. waste firsthand during his time as president of Senegal. He cast himself as the candidate who could optimize management, cut costs, and work closely with the U.S. and other partners to reform the U.N.
The selection of the next secretary general will require broad support and must avoid a veto from any one of the members of the "P5" Security Council. After serving as president of Senegal and president of the African Union, Sall is confident in his ability to gain the necessary support and promote reform within the U.N.
The selection of the next U.N. secretary general will be a defining moment for the organization, with many at the U.N. sharing Trump’s frustrations with the organization's inefficiencies. The next secretary general will need to demonstrate effectiveness and efficiency in the role and create a culture of accountability within the U.N.
