The United Nations General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, which addresses special political matters and decolonization issues, has elected Ambassador Coly Seck of Senegal as its President for the upcoming 81st session of the General Assembly.
This significant election took place in New York on June 2, 2026, immediately following the 80th General Assembly session’s 85th plenary meeting. During this period, Member States also selected the President, Vice-Presidents, and various bureau members for the six primary committees of the Assembly for the forthcoming session.
In a statement shared by Senegal’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Seck conveyed his profound gratitude to the Member States for the confidence placed in him and the Bureau of the Fourth Committee. He expressed his eagerness to diligently serve the United Nations to the best of his abilities throughout the 81st session.
This appointment positions Senegal in a prominent leadership capacity within one of the General Assembly’s six crucial committees. The Fourth Committee’s mandate covers a broad spectrum of vital subjects, including decolonization, the impacts of ionizing radiation, information-related matters, peacekeeping operations, special political missions, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Israeli practices and settlement activities affecting the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs in occupied territories, and international cooperation concerning the peaceful uses of outer space.
Ambassador Seck assumes this pivotal role as the United Nations prepares for a consequential 81st session of the General Assembly, slated to commence in September 2026. This session is anticipated to unfold against a backdrop marked by Member States’ urgent calls for renewed faith in multilateralism, enhanced organizational effectiveness, and sustained focus on international peace and security.
During the same session, the General Assembly elected Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh as its President for the 81st session. Addressing Member States post-election, the President-elect emphasized that the United Nations faces trials on multiple fronts, citing escalating conflicts, shrinking humanitarian space, regressions in human rights, pressures on development progress, and financial constraints impacting the Organization.
Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the Assembly, underscoring that the 81st session would present both formidable challenges and significant opportunities. He articulated, “The diligent work of diplomacy, dialogue, and collaboration that unfolds daily within the Assembly instills renewed hope in me,” adding that the United Nations possesses the capacity to transform divisions into a collective determination to work towards shared objectives.
As President of the Fourth Committee, Ambassador Seck will serve alongside the elected Bureau for the 81st session. The other members of the Bureau include Vice-Presidents Fahad Mohammad Alajm from Kuwait, Deborah Maria Borg from Malta, and Andrei Nicolenco from the Republic of Moldova, in addition to Rapporteur Matthew Moxey from the Bahamas.
Senegal’s election to this esteemed position reflects the nation’s consistent and active engagement in multilateral diplomacy and its substantial contributions to the work of the United Nations, particularly in the critical domain of peacekeeping. Data from the United Nations Department of Peace Operations indicates that Senegal contributes over 3,000 military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping missions globally.