On the afternoon of Friday, July 17th, at 3 PM, a special flight carrying former President Macky Sall touched down on the military tarmac in Dakar. This arrival marked a highly anticipated and strategic return for the former head of state to the nation he led for twelve years.
This was an “express visit” for Macky Sall, scheduled for an immediate audience at the presidential palace upon his arrival before he was set to depart for New York at 6 PM. It was clear that the former leader’s visit to his homeland was far from a mere courtesy call. Instead, the candidate for the United Nations Secretary-General position was stepping onto Senegalese soil with a crucial objective: to secure support from Dakar, which had previously been withheld.
Indeed, Macky Sall carries significant historical baggage in the eyes of a segment of the population and the current administration. Issues such as undisclosed public debt and the political unrest that gripped the nation between 2021 and 2024 continue to fuel public debate. He remains a central figure in the ongoing accountability process targeting former political dignitaries, particularly criticized by supporters of the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (Pastef), the party that triumphed in the 2024 presidential election. Despite this scrutiny, no formal judicial proceedings have been initiated against him to date.
Just one year prior, his former Prime Minister…
