The upcoming meeting between Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor Macky Sall has sparked heated debate across the country. The former president is expected in Dakar to seek Senegal’s backing for his candidacy to become the next United Nations Secretary-General.

Justice delayed, wounds reopened

For families of victims from the 2021-2024 protest crackdowns, Sall’s return to Senegal is anything but welcome. Seydi Gassama, who represents 67 families in their legal battles for justice, voices the collective outrage: “It’s not Macky Sall’s right to return to Senegal that shocks us—he’s a citizen with every right to be here. What shocks us is President Diomaye Faye’s failure to deliver on his promise of justice for the victims of Sall’s regime. No trials have been held, no meaningful reparations paid. And now he’s welcoming Sall with open arms to support his UN ambitions. This is simply unacceptable. Sall bears heavy responsibility for the suffering he caused.”

Broken pledges and unfulfilled justice

During his campaign, President Faye vowed to prioritize justice for victims of political repression. Yet over two years into his term, no prosecutions have materialized, and compensation remains minimal—a fact that continues to draw criticism from human rights groups.

“Sall’s track record makes him an unfit candidate for any leadership position, let alone the UN,” Gassama asserts. Human rights organizations echo this sentiment, emphasizing the lack of progress in addressing past abuses.

political strategy behind the meeting

Alliance for the Republic (APR) officials, Sall’s former party, dismiss the criticism as exaggerated. Political analyst Assane Samb suggests the meeting could reshape Senegal’s political landscape.

“President Faye has distanced himself from his original party, Pastef, and is forming his own political movement. This meeting may signal an attempt to build strategic alliances with traditional opposition parties. The goal could be to create a united front against Pastef’s enduring influence.”

Silence from key political players

Neither the Senegalese presidency nor Pastef—the party led by Ousmane Sonko—has commented on Sall’s announced visit. This would mark Sall’s first return to Senegal since leaving office in April 2024.

Interestingly, Sall’s UN candidacy isn’t backed by Senegal, as is customary, but by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU). In late March, over twenty AU member states, including Senegal, rejected Sall’s bid to succeed António Guterres.