Diplomatic dispute erupts over AU process for UN Secretary-General nomination

Addis Ababa, March 30, 2026 - A procedural dispute has emerged within the African Union (AU) after 20 member states objected to the handling of Senegal’s former president Macky Sall’s proposed candidacy for UN Secretary-General. The controversy centers on whether AU Chairperson Évariste Ndayishimiye followed established rules when forwarding the nomination process. Several countries reportedly argued that the procedure bypassed required AU mechanisms, including review by a ministerial committee responsible for vetting candidates for international positions. Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, stated that AU rules require nominations to pass through structured approval stages before being transmitted to the United Nations. He said any direct submission without full committee validation would constitute a breach of established AU procedures. The AU framework, developed from earlier OAU resolutions and later revised in 2006, outlines a multi-step process involving member states, ministerial review, and approval by the Council of Ministers. Diplomatic observers say the disagreement highlights broader tensions over decision-making authority within the AU and the interpretation of its internal governance rules. No official response has yet been issued by the AU Commission regarding the procedural concerns.