Major address at the UN: Macky Sall outlines a comprehensive vision encompassing financial justice, security, and human rights

Addressing the member states of the United Nations (UN), former Senegalese President Macky Sall delivered a comprehensive plea for an overhaul of multilateralism. In a lengthy speech, he addressed global economic divisions, the security crisis in Africa, and his record on gender equality, thus outlining the contours of a more just and inclusive global governance.

A heartfelt plea from middle-income countries

When questioned by the representative of the Philippines about the plight of middle-income countries, Macky Sall highlighted a "gray area" in the international financial system. According to him, these nations are the invisible victims of current classification criteria. Although they sometimes possess mineral or gas resources that inflate their statistics, they face massive needs for infrastructure and social services on the ground.

“There is a form of injustice,” he insisted, condemning the fact that these countries are losing access to concessional financing without benefiting from favorable market conditions. For the former head of state, the UN must urgently correct this structural imbalance. Expanding his analysis to the African continent, he warned of a growing threat: “African countries are becoming the soft underbelly of international terrorism.” Faced with this peril, he called for collective mobilization and a strengthening of the capacities of regional organizations such as the African Union.

Human rights: a diplomacy of appeasement

Macky Sall also advocated for a return to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. In a world marked by deep divisions, he proposes an approach based on restoring trust and reducing the rifts between power blocs.

“Speaking to everyone and listening to everyone” is the guiding principle he intends to embody. For him, the UN leadership of tomorrow must be capable of building bridges between cultures and civilizations, transcending the traditional divisions between North and South or East and West. This vision is accompanied by a commitment to strengthening preventive diplomacy: acting on early warning mechanisms to prevent tensions from escalating into open conflict. He emphasized that human rights—civil, political, and economic—must remain the indivisible foundation of all international intervention.

Gender equality: Senegal's record as an example

To conclude his remarks on a more concrete note, Macky Sall chose to support his speech on human rights with his own national achievements during his twelve years in power. He presented the Senegalese model as proof that political will can shatter glass ceilings.

“In 12 years, I appointed the first female regional governors in Senegal; today there are three,” he proudly noted. He also cited the historic appointment of a woman to head the National Police. Beyond the symbolic gestures, he highlighted profound structural reforms: “I passed the law allowing Senegalese women to pass on their nationality to their foreign husbands and children.” For Macky Sall, these legislative and institutional advances are the essential lever for building an equitable society, a model he now hopes to extend to the world.