First visit since leaving power

Macky Sall announced on social media that he would travel to Dakar on Friday for a meeting with his successor, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This marks his first return to Senegal since concluding his presidential mandate on April 3, 2024. The former head of state confirmed he would depart immediately after the discussions, which are part of his outreach for the UN Secretary-General role.

As part of consultations related to my candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, I will travel to Senegal on Friday, July 17, 2026.

I extend my sincere gratitude to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for…

— Macky Sall (@Macky_Sall) July 14, 2026

A divisive candidacy

The Senegalese government has not formally backed Macky Sall’s bid, which was instead proposed by Burundi in its capacity as the current African Union rotating presidency. By late March, over twenty AU member states—including Senegal—had declined to support Sall’s candidacy to succeed António Guterres. The Senegalese presidency has not yet issued an official confirmation regarding the scheduled meeting.

Political tensions remain high

Sall’s return coincides with ongoing scrutiny of his administration’s handling of opposition protests between 2021 and 2024, a period marked by deadly clashes. The current government has vowed to investigate these events despite a blanket amnesty law covering actions taken during that time. Earlier this year, a coalition of alleged victims publicly condemned Sall’s UN bid, accusing him of « bloodshed and economic crimes ».

High-stakes meeting

The encounter between Macky Sall and Bassirou Diomaye Faye will be closely monitored as Sall seeks international backing for his candidacy. It may also shed light on the evolving relationship between Senegal’s new leadership and its predecessor, amid lingering political disputes from the past.