Macky Sall returns to Senegal, meets President Faye to seek UN Secretary‑General backing

Former Senegalese president Macky Sall landed at Dakar’s Léopold‑Sédar‑Senghor military airport on 17 July 2026, his first visit since leaving office in April 2024. Thousands of APR supporters flooded the tarmac and the streets, turning his arrival into a massive rally. He was subsequently received by his successor, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, at the presidential palace, where the two leaders discussed Sall’s candidacy for the United Nations Secretary‑General post and his request for official Senegalese support.

The visit rekindled domestic tensions. Critics and human‑rights groups accused Sall of past political repression, and an adviser to President Faye resigned in protest, blaming Sall for the country’s current troubles. A collective of civil‑society groups also denounced his return, citing alleged deaths during protests under his administration. After the audience, Sall departed for Banjul, then Marrakech and onward to Moscow for a planned meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

Overall, the event highlighted the lingering political divide in Senegal while positioning Sall’s international ambition for the UN’s top job.