Senegal has officially backed the candidacy of former president Macky Sall for the position of United Nations secretary-general, a dramatic shift in policy announced just three days after a meeting in Dakar between Sall and his successor, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The decision was confirmed in an official statement released by the government.

Until now, Dakar had not publicly supported Sall’s bid, despite his previous role as president from 2012 to 2024. Notably, his candidacy was not submitted by Senegal itself but by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU).

In late March, nearly two dozen AU member states, including Senegal, rejected Sall’s bid to replace Antonio Guterres as UN secretary-general.

The current Senegalese administration, which took office in April 2024, has accused Sall of overseeing a harsh crackdown on opposition protests between 2021 and 2024, a period that saw dozens of fatalities in the country.

However, the government’s stance shifted dramatically following a brief but high-profile visit by Sall to Dakar last week.

A candidacy “for Africa’s progress”

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “fully support” Macky Sall’s candidacy for the UN secretary-general position, according to an official statement. The announcement emphasized that Sall’s bid now represents Senegal’s commitment to advancing Africa’s interests and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

The government has directed Senegal’s diplomatic network to actively promote Sall’s candidacy among UN member states to secure broader backing.

Sall’s candidacy is now framed as “Senegal’s contribution to Africa’s progress and a more effective multilateral system.”

More than two years after leaving office in April 2024 and completing two terms, Sall returned to Dakar last Friday, greeted by thousands of supporters. The visit sparked criticism from opponents who continue to demand accountability for scores of killings during his presidency.

The current administration has also accused Sall of concealing a significant portion of the national debt, which has exacerbated the country’s economic challenges.