Senegal reverses stance to endorse former president Macky Sall’s UN candidacy

Senegal has officially endorsed the candidacy of former President Macky Sall for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. The announcement came on July 20 following a significant policy shift just three days after a meeting in Dakar between the former leader and current President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Until this week, Dakar had not signaled any support for Sall, who led Senegal from 2012 to 2024. His candidacy was not submitted by his own country—a common practice—but instead by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union.

Earlier this year, in late March, nearly two dozen African Union member states, including Senegal, had declined to back Sall’s bid to succeed António Guterres at the UN.

The current administration has accused Sall of overseeing a harsh crackdown on opposition protests between 2021 and 2024, which resulted in numerous fatalities. However, the government’s stance shifted dramatically following Sall’s brief return to the capital on Friday, where he was greeted by large crowds—an event that drew criticism from opponents demanding accountability for alleged extrajudicial killings during his tenure.

The administration also accuses Sall of concealing a substantial portion of the country’s debt, a factor that has contributed to economic strain.

A candidacy “for Africa’s future”

In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared that Senegal would fully support Sall’s UN Secretary-General bid. The statement described the candidacy as “now Senegal’s contribution to Africa and to a more effective multilateralism.”

Faye instructed the government and Senegal’s diplomatic network to mobilize fully in promoting the candidacy among UN member states.

Sall’s visit to Dakar, his first since leaving office in April 2024 after two terms, was marked by public displays of support—and sharp criticism. Opponents continue to demand transparency regarding the deaths during his presidency and the alleged mismanagement of national debt.