A planned meeting between Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor Macky Sall—expected in Dakar to secure Sall’s backing for his United Nations secretary-general bid—has ignited fierce criticism across the country.

A visit that reopens old wounds

For families of victims from the 2021–2024 protest crackdowns, Sall’s return to Senegal is a painful reminder of unresolved trauma. Seydi Gassama, who represents the families of 67 alleged victims in legal proceedings, calls the timing deeply troubling.

“It’s not that Macky Sall is returning to Senegal that shocks us—he’s a citizen with every right to be here,” argues the Amnesty International Sénégal director. “What shocks us is that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, despite his promises, has taken no meaningful steps to deliver justice for the victims of Sall’s regime. No accountability, no reparations—just a meeting that tacitly endorses Sall’s UN ambitions. That, we find unacceptable. Sall bears heavy responsibility for these crimes.”

Broken promises and unkept justice

During his election campaign, Bassirou Diomaye Faye vowed to prioritize justice for victims of state violence. Yet over two years into his presidency, no trials have begun, and compensation remains minimal—leaving victim groups deeply frustrated.

Human rights organizations echo these concerns. Seydi Gassama insists Sall’s past disqualifies him from leading the UN, calling his candidacy incompatible with global accountability standards.

Political fallout and shifting alliances

Political analyst Assane Samb warns that the meeting could reshape Senegal’s reconciliation process—and its political landscape. “Diomaye Faye has distanced himself from his original party, Pastef, to launch his own movement,” Samb notes. “Now, this gathering may signal an emerging alliance between his new party and established opposition groups—a strategic bloc to counter Pastef’s lingering influence.”

Pastef’s silence amid rising tensions

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

His UN candidacy, notably, was not sponsored by Senegal—the usual protocol—but by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating African Union presidency. In late March, over twenty AU member states, including Senegal, declined to endorse his bid to replace António Guterres.