A planned meeting between Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor Macky Sall—expected to take place in Dakar to seek Senegal’s backing for Sall’s bid for UN Secretary-General—has sparked intense debate across the country.

A painful reminder

For families of victims of the 2021–2024 protests, Sall’s visit reopens deep wounds. Seydi Gassama, who represents 67 presumed victims in their legal battles, argues that the meeting sends a damaging message.

“It’s not Macky Sall’s return to Senegal that shocks us—he’s a citizen with every right to be here. What stings is that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, since taking office, has taken no meaningful steps to deliver justice to victims of Sall’s regime. No accountability, no reparations—only silence. And now he’s hosting Sall to endorse his UN candidacy? That’s unacceptable. Sall bears heavy responsibility for what happened.”

Broken campaign pledges

During his campaign, Bassirou Diomaye Faye vowed to prioritize justice for victims. Yet over two years into his term, no trials have been held, and compensation remains minimal—a source of frustration for victims’ groups.

Human rights organizations have also criticized the lack of progress. Seydi Gassama insists Sall’s past disqualifies him from leading the United Nations.

APR’s response

Leaders of the Alliance for the Republic (APR), Sall’s former party, dismiss criticism from victims’ collectives as exaggerated.

Political analyst Assane Samb warns the meeting could reshape national reconciliation—and Senegal’s political landscape.

“As President Diomaye Faye distances himself from his original party, Pastef, and launches his own political movement, strategic alliances may form. Traditional opposition parties could unite against Pastef’s still-strong influence, creating a new political front.”

Pastef’s silence

Neither the Senegalese presidency nor Pastef, the party led by Ousmane Sonko, has issued an official statement regarding Sall’s anticipated visit.

This would mark Sall’s first return to Senegal since leaving office in April 2024, after serving as president from 2012 to 2024.

His UN candidacy was not submitted by Senegal—the usual protocol—but by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU).

In late March, over twenty AU member states, including Senegal, refused to support Sall’s bid to replace António Guterres.