A scheduled meeting between Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor Macky Sall—who arrived in Dakar to seek support for his candidacy as United Nations Secretary-General—has ignited fierce controversy across the country.

A visit that reopens old wounds

For families of victims from the 2021-2024 protests, Sall’s return to Senegal revives deep emotional scars. Seydi Gassama, a legal representative for 67 presumed victims, argues that the timing and nature of this meeting send a damaging message.

“It’s not Macky Sall’s right to return to Senegal that concerns us—he remains a citizen with every entitlement to be here,” Gassama explains. “What troubles us is President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s failure to deliver on justice for the victims of Sall’s regime. No trials have been held, no meaningful reparations granted—yet today, he welcomes Sall in what appears to be an endorsement of his UN ambitions. This is simply unacceptable. Sall bears heavy responsibility for the suffering endured.”

Unfulfilled promises

During his election campaign, Bassirou Diomaye Faye vowed to prioritize justice for victims of state violence. Yet over two years into his presidency, no prosecutions have materialized, and compensations remain minimal—leaving victims’ groups deeply frustrated.

Human rights organizations have also condemned the lack of progress. According to Gassama, Sall’s controversial legacy makes him ill-suited for any leadership role at the United Nations.

APR defends the meeting

Leaders of the Alliance for the Republic (APR), Macky Sall’s former party, dismiss the criticism as exaggerated.

Political ripple effects

Political analyst Assane Samb suggests the meeting could reshape Senegal’s reconciliation process and influence its political landscape. “Diomaye Faye has distanced himself from his original party, Pastef, and is forming a new political movement,” Samb notes. “This meeting may signal an attempt to forge strategic alliances with established opposition parties, potentially uniting them against Pastef’s enduring influence.”

Pastef remains silent

Neither the Senegalese presidency nor Pastef—the party led by Ousmane Sonko—has publicly addressed Sall’s announced visit.

This would mark Sall’s first return to Senegal since leaving office in April 2024. His UN candidacy was not officially endorsed by Senegal but instead proposed by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU). In late March, over twenty AU member states, including Senegal, had already rejected his bid to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General.