The former President of Senegal, Macky Sall, will pay a visit to Dakar on July 17 to meet with the incumbent head of state, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This meeting follows an announcement on social media, where Sall outlined his travel plans as part of his campaign for the United Nations Secretary-General position.

In a post shared online, Sall expressed gratitude to President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye for the scheduled meeting, stating, “I will travel to Senegal on Friday, July 17, 2026, as part of my consultations ahead of my candidacy for the UN Secretary-General role. I am deeply thankful to President Faye for this opportunity and to the people of Senegal for their unwavering support.”

The upcoming encounter has sparked discussions across the political spectrum, particularly among the most vocal factions of the Pastef movement led by Ousmane Sonko. Some critics argue that welcoming Macky Sall could be interpreted as endorsing the pre-election violence and alleged mismanagement of national resources during his administration.

Background on Sall’s historic candidacy

Macky Sall served as Senegal’s President from 2012 until 2024, a tenure marked by significant domestic and international engagements. Since leaving office and relocating to Marrakech, he has intensified his diplomatic outreach, engaging with global leaders in preparation for his UN bid. Notably, his candidacy was not officially endorsed by Senegal but by Burundi.