controversial return of former Senegalese president Macky Sall sparks outrage

The imminent return of former Senegalese president Macky Sall to Dakar has ignited fierce political debate across the country. Scheduled for Friday, July 17, his visit to meet current president Bassirou Diomaye Faye coincides with mounting calls for accountability over the violent crackdown on protesters between 2021 and 2024.

Civil society groups and bereaved families have condemned the timing of his arrival. Boubacar Sèye, spokesperson for one of the most vocal collectives, described the visit as “an affront to justice”. He emphasized that “dozens of lives were lost during those years of unrest, and the wounds remain raw”. Sèye demanded a thorough investigation into the deaths and injuries sustained during the demonstrations.

political divisions deepen over the visit

While the former president’s political party, the Alliance for the Republic (APR), has organized large-scale welcome events for his arrival, opposition figures have labeled the visit insensitive and provocative. Guy Marius Sagna, a lawmaker from the ruling coalition, went further, calling it “an insult to the memory of the victims and a slap in the face to political prisoners still behind bars”.

The government has remained tight-lipped, with the presidency declining to comment. However, Yankhoba Diémé, Senegal’s Minister of Armed Forces, framed the visit as routine and unremarkable, asserting that “Macky Sall has never faced legal charges or convictions”.

a backdrop of international ambitions

Macky Sall’s brief stopover in Dakar comes at a sensitive moment, as he campaigns for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. Notably, his candidacy is backed by Burundi rather than Senegal, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union. The timing of his visit has fueled speculation about whether he aims to rally domestic support before the UN vote.

For now, the streets of Dakar are a battleground of opposing narratives—one side demanding justice, the other offering a hero’s welcome.