Former President of Senegal, Macky Sall, who has resided in Morocco since concluding his term two and a half years ago, is scheduled to meet with his successor, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, on July 17. This significant audience with the current Senegalese head of state is part of Sall’s ongoing campaign for the prestigious position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, as confirmed by a statement he released on social media.
Macky Sall announced his upcoming visit, stating, “As part of the consultations and engagements I have undertaken regarding my candidacy for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations, I will travel to Senegal on Friday, July 17, 2026. I extend my sincere thanks to His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye for the discussion we will have on this occasion. I express my profound gratitude to the Senegalese people for their unwavering support and encouragement since the announcement of my candidacy.”
The news of his return to Dakar and the planned reception by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sparked considerable debate and discussion, particularly among the more vociferous factions within Ousmane Sonko’s Pastef party. For some critics, hosting Macky Sall signifies an endorsement of what they describe as “pre-election violence and alleged mismanagement of the nation’s economic and financial resources.”
It is worth noting that Macky Sall’s bid for the leadership of the United Nations Secretariat has not been officially sponsored by Senegal but rather by Burundi. Macky Sall served as President of the Republic of Senegal from 2012 to 2024. In the months following his departure from the presidency and his relocation to Marrakech, he has maintained a highly active international profile, engaging with global leaders as a precursor to his ambition to become the top administrator of the UN.