Dakar is preparing for a high-profile visit as former President Macky Sall returns to Senegal on Friday, marking his first appearance in the capital since leaving office two years ago. The brief stopover includes a scheduled meeting with current President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, setting the stage for a rare exchange between the two leaders.
Sall, who governed Senegal from 2012 to 2024, is on an international campaign to secure support for his candidacy to lead the United Nations. His bid for the UN secretary-general position still requires formal backing from the Senegalese government, a process initiated in February but yet to receive official endorsement.
Despite Dakar’s earlier denial of any involvement in promoting Sall’s candidacy, the political climate has shifted. The evolving relationship between President Faye and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, along with ongoing calls for accountability over the previous administration’s actions, could influence the outcome of Sall’s diplomatic efforts.
As Senegal grapples with these internal dynamics, Sall’s visit underscores the delicate balance between past leadership legacies and the current government’s priorities.