Four candidates vie for UN Secretary-General position
via SeneNews2 min read
Four candidates, Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, and Macky Sall of Senegal, will undergo three-hour questioning sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday by 193 member states and civil society representatives. This marks only the second time the UN has organized this "grand oral" event, established in 2016 for increased transparency. The next Secretary-General is set to assume office on January 1, 2027. US Ambassador Mike Waltz has stated that the chosen candidate must align with "American values and interests." The five permanent members of the Security Council—the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France—ultimately hold the candidates' futures in their hands. Many states advocate for a woman to lead the UN for the first time, and Latin America claims the position based on a tradition of geographical rotation. Michelle Bachelet, 74, a Chilean socialist and former President of Chile 2006-2010, 2014-2018, faced criticism during her tenure as High Commissioner for Human Rights 2016-2022 from China regarding her report on the Uyghurs. Her candidacy is supported by Mexico and Brazil, after her own country withdrew support following the election of far-right President José Antonio Kast. Rafael Grossi, 65, a career diplomat from Argentina, has directed the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA since 2019, focusing on the Iranian nuclear program and the dangers of the Zaporizhzhia power plant. He advocates for the
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Dr. Bacary Thior announced his resignation from the Prime Minister's office after Ousmane Sonko ceased to be Prime Minister. In a message published on Thursday, the former Technical Advisor for Health stated that he made this decision "in accordance with his principles." Dr. Thior reaffirmed his commitment to serving the state, indicating his availability wherever his contribution is deemed useful. He also stated his continued engagement alongside Ousmane Sonko, who is currently the president of the Pastef party and president of the National Assembly. In his message, he thanked his collaborators, apologized for any shortcomings, and expressed his forgiveness to them.
Two foreign nationals were arrested on May 25, 2026, at Blaise Diagne International Airport AIBD in connection with an alleged case of migrant trafficking by air. The individuals are also being prosecuted for identity theft and criminal conspiracy. The arrests occurred as the two men were preparing to board Brussels Airlines flight SN0204 to Brussels. They were identified during departure controls by agents from the AIBD special police station and handed over to the National Division for Combating Migrant Trafficking and Related Practices DNLT for investigation. The suspects were identified as Albanna Martin Issa, holding a Swedish passport, and an individual traveling under the identity of Halil Ali Kataya with a Norwegian passport. Technical checks on the documents revealed that the latter was using a false identity. Investigators determined his real name is Abdallah Deep Abdallah Aljayyar, and he allegedly attempted to leave Senegal by impersonating the legitimate passport holder. During questioning, Abdallah Deep Abdallah Aljayyar admitted to obtaining the travel document for 8,000 euros and stated that Albanna Martin Issa played a key role in organizing his trip to Europe. He indicated the operation was prepared in Egypt, with Senegal serving as a transit point before reaching Europe. Investigators also looked into a previous trip involving Abdallah Deep Abdallah Aljayyar's brother, Ahmed Aljayyar, who reportedly used a similar route weeks earlier with the identity of a
Must ReadHundreds of Libyans protested in Tripoli on Thursday in front of the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR headquarters, demanding the expulsion of irregular migrants from their neighborhoods. The demonstration, organized after a social media campaign, saw participants holding red cards symbolizing a request for expulsion. Protesters chanted slogans like "No to the settlement of migrants and refugees" and "Libya belongs to Libyans," also calling for the closure of UNHCR offices, which they hold responsible for the migrants' presence. Some placards criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of pressuring Libya to retain illegal immigrants. The UN Support Mission in Libya UNSMIL reaffirmed that none of its agencies, including UNHCR, implement resettlement programs in the country, stating that "allegations to the contrary are categorically false." UNSMIL expressed concern about the spread of false information, disinformation, and hate speech regarding the UN's work in Libya. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya has struggled with instability, leading to two rival governments. This instability has been exploited by smugglers and traffickers to develop clandestine networks for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and Asian countries seeking to emigrate to Europe by sea. As of mid-2024, the IOM's Migration Data Portal recorded approximately 900,000 migrants and refugees in Libya. The migration issue frequently causes unrest in the country, fueled by xenophobi
Ivory Coast secured a 2-1 victory over France in a preparatory match ahead of the 2026 World Cup. This result follows other surprising outcomes in warm-up games, such as Iraq's draw against Spain. France is continuing its preparations for the World Cup, where they are grouped with Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. Despite this loss, France remains a strong favorite for the tournament. These friendly matches allow teams to assess their readiness and make adjustments before the competition begins.