Burkinabe diplomat Alpha Barry discusses Macky Sall's potential for UN leadership

Alpha Barry, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, advocates for strong leadership at the United Nations, stating that the current crisis in multilateralism is primarily a crisis of trust. He highlights Macky Sall as a leader capable of rebuilding this trust, citing Sall's ability to maintain dialogue even in tense situations, such as during the 2015 Burkinabe crisis. Barry emphasizes Sall's consistent and credible presence in international affairs, rooted in African realities, and his long-term approach to action. He describes Sall's profile as rare, combining national, continental, and international experience with an understanding of international balances and the capacity to maintain a consistent stance. Barry points to Sall's concrete engagements, including solidarity with Burkina Faso after the 2017 Ouagadougou attack and his role in resolving critical issues for Africa's grain and fertilizer supply during the Russia-Ukraine crisis. He recounts an African head of state's remark, "Macky said it all," at the 2021 Paris summit, illustrating Sall's influence. Barry also notes Sall's ability to engage with diverse interlocutors without aligning with any single party, highlighting his call to Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire. He argues that African leadership can offer a universal vision, with Sall embodying the capacity to reconcile African roots with universal responsibility. Barry concludes that the success of such a candidacy depends on the profile's credibili