Opposition groups and civil society activists have condemned the timing of Sall’s visit, describing it as an affront to victims of state violence. Boubacar Sèye, a spokesperson for a justice collective, labeled the return “indecent,” demanding “full accountability for the dozens of lives lost during protests” in recent years. “His return symbolizes the continuation of an era marked by repression and impunity,” Sèye argued.

a divided nation over sall’s reception

Political figures remain sharply split. Guy Marius Sagna, a lawmaker from the ruling coalition, echoed the outrage, stating that welcoming Sall would “dishonor the memory of victims and undermine justice for detained activists.” However, Sall’s former party, the Alliance for the Republic (APR), has organized mass rallies in his support, with Facebook posts announcing his prompt departure after the meeting with President Faye.

un backdrop of un transparency

Sall’s visit coincides with his candidacy for United Nations Secretary-General, a role backed by Burundi’s rotating presidency of the African Union rather than Senegal. The Senegalese presidency has yet to comment, while Defense Minister Yankhoba Diémé dismissed concerns, asserting that Sall’s presence is “a routine return to his homeland” and emphasizing that he faces “no legal charges or convictions.”