Senegal has officially endorsed the candidacy of former president Macky Sall for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. The announcement, made on July 20, marks a surprising reversal of Dakar’s earlier position, which had withheld support just days prior.

The shift follows a closed-door meeting between Macky Sall and current president Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Dakar. While outgoing leaders often receive their country’s backing for top international roles, Macky Sall’s bid was instead submitted by Burundi—which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU).

As recently as late March, over two dozen AU member states, including Senegal, had declined to support Macky Sall’s bid to succeed António Guterres as UN chief. His candidacy has been clouded by allegations of severe crackdowns on opposition protests during his 2012–2024 presidency, which left dozens dead.

A candidacy “for Africa’s progress”

In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, president Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared that Senegal will now “fully support” Macky Sall’s bid for the UN post. The president has instructed the government and Senegal’s diplomatic corps to actively promote the candidacy across UN member states.

The statement framed the endorsement as a move to advance “Senegal’s vision for a stronger, more effective multilateralism.”

Two years after leaving office in April 2024, Macky Sall returned to Dakar last Friday to a jubilant welcome from thousands of supporters. The visit sparked criticism from his opponents, who continue to demand accountability for alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration. The current government has also accused him of concealing a significant portion of the country’s debt, contributing to the nation’s economic strain.