Former Senegalese President to discuss UN role in Dakar
Following his departure from office in March 2024, former Senegalese President Macky Sall will return to Dakar on July 17 for a high-level meeting with current Head of State Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The visit, announced in a statement from Sall, is part of his ongoing international consultations ahead of his candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.
In his official communication, Macky Sall expressed gratitude to President Faye for granting the audience and thanked the Senegalese people for their unwavering support since he announced his UN ambitions. His statement read: “As part of the consultations and visits related to my candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, I will travel to Senegal on Friday, July 17, 2026. I sincerely thank His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye for this meeting. I also express my deep gratitude to the people of Senegal for their continued encouragement.”
News of Sall’s upcoming visit has sparked mixed reactions in Senegal’s political landscape, particularly within the ranks of the Pastef party led by Ousmane Sonko. Some party members view the meeting as an endorsement of the alleged pre-electoral violence and governance failings during Sall’s presidency. Notably, while Sall seeks the UN role, his candidacy has not been officially endorsed by Senegal’s government but rather by Burundi.
Macky Sall’s political trajectory in Senegal
Macky Sall served as President of Senegal from 2012 to 2024, succeeding his political mentor, Abdoulaye Wade. Prior to that, he held the position of President of the National Assembly. Before ascending to the presidency, Sall served as Prime Minister in 2004, replacing Idrissa Seck, and held several ministerial portfolios, including Mines, Energy, and Water (2001-2004), and Interior and Local Governance (2003-2004). He also served as Director-General of PETROSEN, Senegal’s state-owned petroleum company.
International engagements since leaving office
Since relocating to Marrakech in Morocco after his presidency, Macky Sall has remained actively engaged on the global stage. He has participated in numerous international summits, high-level meetings, and bilateral consultations with world leaders, reinforcing his diplomatic presence ahead of his potential UN role.
