The Ukraine-Russia mediation undertaken by President Macky Sall marked a milestone in African diplomacy. Four years ago, in June 2022, the world faced a major food crisis. Grain and fertilizer exports from the Black Sea were interrupted. Dozens of countries, in Africa and beyond, saw their food security under threat.
On 3 June 2022, in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union, President Macky Sall travelled to Sochi. There he met President Putin. His message was precise. He pleaded for the release of grain and fertilizer stocks, in the name of Africa's food security. He carried the voice of an entire continent, without taking sides in the conflict.
This initiative was welcomed across all continents. It contributed to the diplomatic context that enabled the grain agreements of July 2022. Those agreements reopened export corridors. They eased the pressure on global food prices. Millions of people benefited, far beyond Africa.
Four years on, this mission illustrates a method. Speak to all parties, without exclusion. Focus on concrete objectives in the service of populations. Keep the dialogue open when other channels close. This method is set out in President Macky Sall's vision for the United Nations.
The office of Secretary-General demands precisely this profile. The Charter of the United Nations entrusts its holder with good offices missions. These require the confidence of all Member States, whatever their position in ongoing crises. The career of President Macky Sall demonstrates this capacity. He has engaged with Moscow, Kyiv, Washington, Beijing, Brussels and every African capital, holding to a single line: the service of populations.
The world is going through a period of fragmentation. Channels of dialogue are narrowing. The United Nations remains the forum where all parties can talk to one another. President Macky Sall proposes to bring to it the proven experience of a bridge-builder. The elements of his candidacy are available at www.mackysall.net.