According to media reports, his nomination was put forward by Burundi, which currently chairs the African Union (AU).
The President of the General Assembly has acknowledged receipt of the nomination, formally placing Sall among the candidates seeking to lead the global body.
The next Secretary-General will serve a five-year term starting January 1, 2027, succeeding António Guterres, whose second term ends in December 2026.
Sall, who led Senegal from 2012 to 2024, joins what is shaping up to be a competitive field. Other reported contenders include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Under UN procedures, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.
The Council first conducts informal straw polls before forwarding a name for approval. Any of its five permanent members; China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, can block a candidate by veto.
Sall’s candidacy comes amid renewed calls for regional rotation in the UN’s top post, with Africa yet to produce a Secretary-General since the organization was founded in 1945.
The selection process is expected to gather momentum in the months ahead as more nominations emerge and consultations among member states intensify.
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