Macky Sall returns to Dakar ahead of UN secretary‑general campaign

Former Senegalese President Macky Sall announced on 14 July 2026 that he will travel to Dakar on 17 July 2026, his first public visit since leaving office, to meet President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The brief stop is part of a series of consultations linked to his candidacy for the United Nations secretary‑general position, which will be decided later in 2026 for a term beginning 1 January 2027. Sall, who now resides in Morocco, said he will depart Dakar immediately after the meeting because of a “particularly busy international agenda”. His candidacy is backed by Burundi and is one of five contenders. The visit has sparked mixed reactions: opposition groups such as the FRAPP and victims of the 2021‑2024 political unrest have called for justice and denounced the trip, while Senegal’s defence minister affirmed that Sall faces no legal impediment to entering the country. Sall’s tenure (2012‑2024) was marked by protests over a failed attempt to postpone the 2024 presidential election and allegations of hidden public debt, which he denies.