After spending over two years in Morocco since stepping down from office in March 2024, former Senegalese President Macky Sall is set to return to Dakar on July 17 for a meeting with current Head of State Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The visit is part of his ongoing consultations ahead of his bid for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.
The announcement, made through a statement from Sall himself, highlights the significance of the meeting. “As part of the consultations and visits I have undertaken regarding my candidacy for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations Organization, I will travel to Senegal on Friday, July 17, 2026. I extend my warmest thanks to His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye for this opportunity, and I am deeply grateful to the Senegalese people for their unwavering support and encouragement since the announcement of my candidacy,” he stated.
The upcoming visit has already sparked concerns and criticism within political circles, particularly among members of the Pastef party led by Ousmane Sonko. Some activists argue that welcoming Macky Sall could imply endorsement of postelection violence and past governance failures, including mismanagement of the country’s economic and financial resources. It is worth noting that Sall’s UN candidacy, while personally driven, has not received official backing from Senegal but rather from Burundi.
Macky Sall served as President of Senegal from 2012 to 2024, succeeding his political mentor, Abdoulaye Wade. Prior to that, he held the position of President of the National Assembly. Earlier in his career, he also served as Prime Minister, replacing Idrissa Seck in 2004.
Before these high-level roles, Sall’s portfolio included key ministerial positions: from May 2001 to November 2002 as Minister of Mines, Energy, and Hydraulics; from November 2002 to August 2003 as Minister of State for the same portfolio; and from August 2003 to April 2004 as Minister of State for the Interior and Local Communities, serving concurrently as government spokesperson. He also previously led PETROSEN as its Managing Director.
In the months following his departure from office and relocation to Marrakech, Sall has remained highly active on the international stage. He has participated in numerous summits and high-level meetings, engaging in discussions and consultations with global leaders to advance his UN ambitions.
