Actus. Former Senegalese President Macky Sall is set to make his first visit back to Senegal on Friday, July 17, since stepping down from power in April 2024. This significant trip is part of his ongoing campaign for the prestigious United Nations Secretary-General position and will feature a crucial meeting with current President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who has yet to publicly back Sall’s candidacy.
First return since presidential tenure concluded
Macky Sall confirmed via Facebook his impending arrival in Dakar this Friday for discussions with his successor, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This marks his inaugural visit to Senegal since his departure from the presidency on April 3, 2024. The former head of state indicated his intention to leave “immediately” following this engagement, which is arranged as part of the ongoing consultations for his candidacy for the United Nations Secretary-General role.
A candidacy sparking division
Breaking from traditional protocol, Macky Sall’s candidacy has not been officially presented by Senegal itself, but rather by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union. By late March, approximately twenty member states of the AU, including Senegal, had declined to offer their endorsement for his bid to succeed Antonio Guterres. As of now, the Senegalese presidency has not officially confirmed the meeting that the former president announced.
A delicate political landscape persists
Macky Sall’s return unfolds against a backdrop of persistent criticism concerning his handling of opposition protests between 2021 and 2024, a period tragically marked by dozens of fatalities. The new administration has pledged to investigate these incidents thoroughly, notwithstanding an existing amnesty law that covers actions committed during that timeframe. In March, a group identifying as victims of repression publicly voiced strong opposition to the former president’s UN candidacy, leveling accusations against him, including “blood and economic crimes”.
An eagerly awaited encounter
The upcoming meeting between Macky Sall and Bassirou Diomaye Faye will undoubtedly be subject to intense scrutiny, particularly as the former president actively seeks to garner international support for his global candidacy. This interaction could also provide crucial insights into the evolving dynamic between Senegal’s new leadership and their predecessor, set against a political landscape still shaped by historical grievances.
