Senegal families oppose macky sall un support amid political tensions

The announcement of Macky Sall‘s bid for the United Nations secretary-general position has sparked sharp divisions in Senegal. Days after his official candidacy was revealed, the former president returned to Dakar for a meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a move that has drawn fierce criticism from collectives representing families of victims of political violence under his administration.

Backed by Burundi, which currently holds the chair of the African Union, Macky Sall is positioning himself as a candidate with strong international credentials, notably his tenure as African Union chair from February 2022 to February 2023. His supporters argue that his leadership could amplify Africa’s voice in global institutions.

Yet in Senegal, his ambitions clash with accusations from the current government and human rights groups. Officials from the 2024 political transition have condemned his administration’s crackdown on opposition protests between 2021 and 2024, which activists claim resulted in dozens of deaths.

Mouhamed Fadel Bodian, a member of the collective representing families of martyrs, expressed deep concern over the meeting between Macky Sall and the Senegalese president, calling it a troubling signal.

« We are equally troubled by the audience granted by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to Macky Sall regarding his UN candidacy. We believe Mr. Sall is not a suitable candidate for Senegal to endorse », he stated.

Boubacar Sèye, president of the Martyrs’ Families Association, echoed these concerns, highlighting the human toll of the final years of Macky Sall‘s rule.

« For us, this is about the return of a man whose presidency is tied to one of the most painful chapters in our recent history. Dozens of lives were lost in political unrest », he said.

The criticism extends to political figures like Guy Marius Sagna, a deputy from the ruling Pastef party, who condemned Macky Sall‘s visit in strong terms.

« This visit is a third assassination, a third act of torture, a third imprisonment for the victims of 2021-2024. They gave their lives to protect Senegalese democracy », he declared.

Beyond Senegal‘s borders, Macky Sall‘s bid is part of a broader international race to replace António Guterres, whose term ends in December 2026. Two other official candidates have emerged: former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Costa Rica’s former Vice President Rebeca Grynspan is also in the running, though her formal nomination has yet to be submitted.

Several nations are pushing for a historic milestone: the election of the first female UN secretary-general.

The UN Security Council is set to begin formal evaluations of candidates by late July. Its recommendation will then be sent to the General Assembly, the sole body authorized to appoint the secretary-general for a renewable five-year term.

For Macky Sall, the stakes transcend diplomacy—his candidacy hinges on national memory and reconciliation in Senegal.