Controversy surrounds Diomaye Faye meeting with Macky Sall

The upcoming meeting between Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor Macky Sall—scheduled during Sall’s visit to Dakar to seek Senegal’s backing for his United Nations secretary-general bid—has ignited fierce debate across the nation.

Healing old wounds

For families of victims from the 2021–2024 crackdowns on dissent, Sall’s return stirs raw pain. Seydi Gassama, who represents 67 bereaved families in legal proceedings, argues the encounter sends the wrong message.

“It’s not that Macky Sall’s return to Senegal shocks us—he’s a citizen with every right to be here. What shocks us is that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, despite his promises, has taken no meaningful steps to deliver justice for the victims of Sall’s regime. No trials, no reparations—just silence. And now he’s welcoming Sall to rally support for a UN role. This is unacceptable. Sall bears heavy responsibility for what happened.”

Broken campaign pledges

During his election campaign, President Faye vowed to prioritize justice for victims of state violence. Yet over two years into his term, no prosecutions have been launched and compensation remains minimal—leaving activists deeply frustrated.

Human rights groups echo these concerns, stressing that Sall’s UN candidacy contradicts the gravity of his past actions. Gassama insists his legacy disqualifies him from global leadership.

APR’s response

Leaders of the Alliance for the Republic (APR), Sall’s former party, dismiss criticism from victims’ groups as exaggerated.

Political analyst Assane Samb suggests the meeting could reshape national reconciliation—and Senegal’s political landscape.

“Since President Faye has distanced himself from his original party, the Pastef, and is forming his own political movement, this gathering may signal a strategic alliance between his new party and traditional opposition forces. They could unite against the Pastef’s enduring influence.”

Pastef’s silence

Neither the presidency nor the Pastef—led by Ousmane Sonko—has commented on Sall’s announced visit. This would mark Sall’s first return to Senegal since leaving office in April 2024.

His UN candidacy was submitted not by Senegal—as is customary—but by Burundi, which currently holds the rotating African Union presidency. In late March, over twenty AU member states, including Senegal, rejected his bid to replace António Guterres.