Macky Sall, former president of Senegal and a prominent candidate for the next United Nations secretary general, has adopted a slogan to "make the U.N. great again," a sentiment that aligns with criticisms often voiced by former President Donald Trump. The phrase, inspired by Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan, has reportedly become a rallying cry among some U.N. member states.
Sall, who served as Senegal's president for 12 years and led the African Union from 2022 to 2023, described Trump as a "peace builder" in an interview with Breitbart. He emphasized the U.S. as the U.N.'s primary contributor and stressed the need for the organization to be reformed to enhance its efficiency.
Hugh Dugan, a U.N. insider and former U.S. delegate, noted that dissatisfaction with the U.N.'s bureaucracy and its ability to fulfill core functions like maintaining peace and security has been a long-standing issue among member states. He suggested that the "MUNGA" slogan reflects a desire for greater accountability and effectiveness within the international body.
António Guterres, the current U.N. secretary general, is set to conclude his term in 2027. His tenure has spanned periods of intense global conflict and challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
During his time in office, Donald Trump was a vocal critic of the U.N., questioning its purpose and effectiveness. However, according to Dugan, Trump's administration maintained engagement with the U.N., evidenced by the resumption of $1.8 billion in U.S. funding for the organization's humanitarian work.
Dugan likened the U.N.'s operational challenges to using an abacus in the age of supercomputers, highlighting a need for modernization and efficiency. He stated that there is broad support for a secretary general who can demonstrate effectiveness and efficiency.
Sall, drawing from his experience in Africa, has spoken about witnessing inefficiencies and waste in U.N. peace operations. He posits that his leadership capacity as a political figure could drive necessary reforms, optimize management, and reduce costs. He expressed confidence in his ability to collaborate with partners, including Europe, Asia, China, Russia, and Africa, to achieve these goals, particularly with U.S. support.
The selection of the next secretary general requires broad support and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom. Sall believes his experience engaging with leaders globally positions him well for this challenge. Dugan framed the decision as critical to the U.N.'s future relevance, emphasizing a need for accountability within the international civil service.