Former Senegalese President Macky Sall announced on Saturday that he was withdrawing from the race for the position of UN Secretary-General.

"I have made this decision out of a sense of responsibility, in the hope that it will facilitate the emergence of a consensus candidate within the Security Council," the African politician said in a written declaration.

He added that he had made that decision following consultations with other African leaders.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' second and final term will end on December 31, 2026.

Candidates vying for the post of the next UN Secretary-General include Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Olara Otunnu of Uganda, and Ivonne Baki of Ecuador.

@Sputnik