Khalifa Sall faces declining political influence in Senegal

Former Dakar Mayor Khalifa Sall is facing a decline in political influence following several setbacks, including the loss of his stronghold in Dakar and a poor showing in the 2024 presidential election. His political trajectory was significantly disrupted in 2017 by the ‘caisse d’avance’ affair, which led to his arrest, conviction, and removal from office.

Sall has characterized the legal proceedings against him as a political conspiracy orchestrated by former President Macky Sall. He claims the judicial actions were intended to destroy his image and remove him from the political arena after he defeated the former president in local elections. Despite a brief political rehabilitation through the Yewwi Askan Wi coalition and the Taxawu Sénégal movement, internal tensions and the rise of new political forces like Ousmane Sonko and PASTEF have further diminished his standing.