Senegal is gripped by controversy following the announcement of a meeting between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor, Macky Sall. The former leader, who governed Senegal from 2012 to 2024, is expected in Dakar to secure support for his candidacy to become the next United Nations Secretary-General.

Justice delayed: families of victims speak out

The families of those killed or injured during the 2021–2024 protest movements have reacted with outrage to the planned visit. Seydi Gassama, who represents 67 presumed victims in their legal proceedings, argues that this meeting sends the wrong message.

“We are not shocked that Macky Sall is returning to Senegal—he is a citizen and has every right to do so,” states the director of Amnesty International Senegal. “What shocks us is that President Diomaye Faye, despite his promises to deliver justice for victims of the previous regime, has taken no action in over two years. No trials, no reparations—just a meeting that effectively endorses Sall’s UN bid. This is unacceptable.”

Broken promises and unmet expectations

During his campaign, Bassirou Diomaye Faye pledged to prioritize justice for victims of political repression. Yet today, with Macky Sall’s arrival imminent, no prosecutions have been initiated, and compensation remains minimal—leaving victims’ groups deeply frustrated.

Human rights organizations have sharply criticized the lack of progress. According to Seydi Gassama, Macky Sall’s legacy of repression makes him an unsuitable candidate for the UN’s top leadership role.

Political maneuvering behind the scenes

The Alliance for the Republic (APR), Sall’s former party, dismisses the criticism as exaggerated. Political analyst Assane Samb suggests the meeting could reshape Senegal’s political landscape.

“President Diomaye Faye has distanced himself from his original party, Pastef, and is forming his own political movement,” Samb explains. “This meeting may signal an attempt to build a strategic alliance with traditional opposition parties, creating a united front against the still-powerful Pastef.”

Where does Pastef stand?

Neither the presidency nor Pastef, the party founded by Ousmane Sonko, has issued an official statement regarding the upcoming visit. This would mark Macky Sall’s first return to Senegal since leaving office in April 2024.

His UN candidacy, notably, was not endorsed by Senegal but instead proposed by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU). In late March, over twenty AU member states—including Senegal—rejected his bid to replace António Guterres as UN Secretary-General.