Senegal has reversed its position by officially endorsing former President Macky Sall’s bid for the United Nations Secretary-General role. The announcement, made on July 20, follows a pivotal meeting in Dakar between Sall and his successor, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Until now, Dakar had not backed Sall’s candidacy, despite his tenure as Senegal’s leader from 2012 to 2024. Notably, his application was submitted not by Senegal but by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU).

As recently as late March, over twenty AU member states—including Senegal—had declined to support Sall’s bid to succeed António Guterres.

The former president faces serious allegations from Senegal’s current administration, which took power in April 2024. Authorities accuse Sall of overseeing a harsh crackdown on opposition protests between 2021 and 2024, resulting in numerous fatalities.

Yet the shift in Dakar’s position came swiftly after Sall’s brief visit to the capital, signaling a notable change in strategy.

A candidacy framed as Africa’s champion

In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared that Senegal would provide full backing for Macky Sall’s candidacy for UN Secretary-General. The move is positioned as a commitment to a stronger, more effective multilateralism.

The statement instructed both the government and Senegal’s diplomatic network to actively promote Sall’s bid among UN member states.

Officials described the candidacy as ‘now Senegal’s contribution to Africa and to a more effective multilateralism’.

Sall, who completed two terms in April 2024, returned to Dakar on Friday and was greeted by large crowds. However, his visit sparked criticism from opponents demanding accountability for dozens of killings during his presidency.

The current administration has also accused Sall of concealing a significant portion of the national debt, further straining Senegal’s economic stability.