Controversy erupts over Diomaye Faye’s meeting with Macky Sall

In Senegal, the announcement of a meeting between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor Macky Sall—scheduled during Sall’s visit to Dakar to seek Senegal’s support for his candidacy for UN Secretary-General—has ignited sharp debate across the nation.

Reopening old wounds

Relatives of victims from the 2021-2024 protest crackdowns describe Sall’s return as a painful reminder of unaddressed suffering. Seydi Gassama, who represents 67 families in their legal quests for justice, views the encounter as deeply disturbing.

“It is not Macky Sall’s right to return to Senegal that troubles us—he remains a citizen with every freedom to do so,” explains the Amnesty International Senegal director. “What shocks us is that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, despite nearly two years in power, has yet to take meaningful steps to deliver justice to the victims of Sall’s administration. No trials, no reparations—only silence. Then to welcome him now, endorsing his UN bid? That sends the wrong message to a nation still demanding accountability.”

Broken campaign pledges

During his election campaign, Bassirou Diomaye Faye vowed to prioritize justice for victims of state violence. Yet with over two years elapsed, no prosecutions have materialized and compensation remains minimal—a fact that activist groups condemn as a betrayal of public trust.

Human rights organizations stress that Sall’s legacy of repression makes him an unsuitable candidate for global leadership. Gassama insists, “A leader cannot claim moral authority when justice is denied at home.”

APR dismisses criticism

Leaders of the Alliance for the Republic (APR), Sall’s former party, argue that victim testimonies have been exaggerated and that the meeting could foster national reconciliation.

Assane Samb, a political analyst, suggests the encounter may reshape Senegal’s political landscape. “With Diomaye Faye distancing himself from his original party, Pastef, and forming a new political movement, this meeting could signal a strategic alliance between his party and traditional opposition groups. Together, they may seek to counterbalance the enduring influence of Pastef.”

Unanswered questions

Neither the Senegalese presidency nor Pastef—led by Ousmane Sonko—has issued an official statement regarding Sall’s anticipated visit. This would mark his first return to Senegal since leaving office in April 2024.

Unlike customary UN Secretary-General candidacies, Sall’s bid was submitted by Burundi during its current African Union chairmanship. In late March, over twenty African Union member states, including Senegal, rejected his nomination to succeed António Guterres.