Rwanda, Burundi Clash Over Macky Sall’s UN Secretary-General Bid

Olivier Nduhungirehe criticised Évariste Ndayishimiye over a failed attempt to back Macky Sall as Africa’s UN secretary-general candidate, after several African Union members opposed the move, deepening Rwanda-Burundi tensions.

Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe on Saturday sharply criticised Évariste Ndayishimiye over attempts to secure African backing for Macky Sall as the continent’s candidate for the United Nations secretary-general position, describing the process as “flawed” and procedurally questionable.
Nduhungirehe accused Ndayishimiye, who is serving as chairperson of the African Union, of trying to push the endorsement through using a “silence procedure.” This decision-making mechanism allows proposals to be adopted automatically if no member state raises objections within a specified deadline. According to Rwanda, the approach was misapplied in this case and risked undermining established norms guiding collective African positions on international appointments.
Burundi, however, defended the move, insisting that the silence procedure is a legitimate and widely used tool within the African Union’s decision-making framework. Officials argued that it has been employed on numerous occasions to streamline consensus-building among member states.
Despite this defense, the effort to back Sall failed after the African Union Commission confirmed that at least 20 member states formally objected before the March 27 deadline, effectively blocking the draft decision. The outcome exposed divisions within the bloc over both the candidate and the process used to advance his nomination.
Following the development, Nduhungirehe publicly accused Ndayishimiye of attempting to pressure fellow African leaders into endorsing what he described as a “gross breach of procedure.” He warned that such actions could damage the credibility and unity of the African Union, particularly under the leadership of a chairperson still early in his tenure.
Senegal moved quickly to distance itself from the controversy. In an official statement, its permanent mission to the African Union clarified that Dakar had not endorsed Macky Sall’s candidacy at any point and was not associated with the initiative to promote him as Africa’s preferred candidate.
Burundi’s permanent representative to the African Union, Willy Nyamitwe, rejected Rwanda’s criticism, calling it “regrettable in both tone and substance.” He argued that Rwanda had misrepresented the procedural framework and unnecessarily personalized what he described as a routine institutional process within the continental body.
The diplomatic dispute reflects deeper and longstanding tensions between Rwanda and Burundi. Relations between the two neighbouring countries have remained strained since Burundi closed its border with Rwanda in early 2024. The closure followed accusations by Burundi that Rwanda was supporting Burundian rebel groups operating from bases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—allegations that Kigali has consistently denied.
Beyond the immediate disagreement, the episode underscores broader challenges within the African Union in forging consensus on high-profile international positions. Nduhungirehe maintained that opposition from multiple member states was not directed at any individual candidate but rather at safeguarding procedural integrity and ensuring that Africa’s endorsement processes remain transparent, inclusive, and rule-based.
Despite the setback at the African Union level, Macky Sall remains a contender in the global race to succeed António Guterres, whose second term is set to end in 2026. His candidacy will now proceed without unified continental backing, potentially affecting Africa’s ability to present a single, coordinated voice in the selection process.
Other prominent figures in the race include Michelle Bachelet, who has been nominated by Brazil and Mexico; Rafael Grossi, backed by Argentina; and Rebeca Grynspan, an economist with significant international experience.
As discussions continue, the disagreement within the African Union highlights both geopolitical rivalries and institutional tensions that could shape how Africa positions itself in the upcoming United Nations leadership transition.