Senegal politics: Macky Sall meets Bassirou Faye ahead of un secretary-general bid

Former Senegalese President Macky Sall, who has been living in Morocco since leaving office two and a half years ago, will meet with his successor, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, on July 17. The upcoming encounter in Dakar is part of Sall’s ongoing consultations as he pursues the nomination for the United Nations Secretary-General position.

In a social media announcement, Sall expressed his gratitude to President Faye for hosting the meeting. He also acknowledged the unwavering support from the Senegalese people since he declared his candidacy. His message read: « As part of my consultations and visits related to my candidature for the UN Secretary-General role, I will travel to Senegal on Friday, July 17, 2026. I sincerely thank President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye for this opportunity. I am deeply grateful to the people of Senegal for their steadfast encouragement.»

The visit has sparked considerable debate, particularly within the most vocal factions of the Pastef party led by Ousmane Sonko. Critics argue that welcoming Sall could be seen as legitimizing the pre-election violence and financial mismanagement allegations tied to his administration. Supporters, however, view the meeting as a pragmatic step toward regional collaboration.

Sall’s UN ambitions and political legacy

Sall served as Senegal’s President from 2012 until 2024. Although his candidacy for the UN Secretary-General position was not officially endorsed by Senegal, it received backing from Burundi. Since stepping down and relocating to Marrakech, Sall has been actively engaging with global leaders to bolster his campaign for the UN’s top administrative role.