On Friday, July 17, at exactly 3:00 PM, a chartered aircraft carrying former President Macky Sall will land at the Dakar military airport. This swift and deliberate journey marks his return to a nation he once led for twelve years—now under new leadership. The timing and nature of this trip are far from coincidental, with geopolitical implications that extend well beyond Senegal’s borders.

Macky Sall’s agenda is packed. Immediately upon disembarking, he will head straight to the Presidential Palace for a private audience before boarding another flight to New York before 6:00 PM. Officials confirm this is not a routine visit. Instead, it signals a calculated move: Sall is positioning himself as a candidate for the United Nations Secretary-General role, seeking endorsement from global leaders—including those in Dakar who have previously withheld support.

Yet his return is not without controversy. Macky Sall leaves behind a legacy marred by allegations of hidden public debt and political unrest during his final years in office. Between 2021 and 2024, clashes erupted across the country, leaving deep divisions in their wake. Critics, particularly from the Pastef movement—the party that secured victory in the 2024 presidential election—argue that accountability is long overdue. While no legal proceedings currently target Sall personally, his name frequently surfaces in ongoing investigations into former officials, underscoring the unresolved tensions of his tenure.

Even his closest allies have distanced themselves. His former Prime Minister, whose name has been linked to recent political shifts, has adopted a notably different stance. The absence of public support from key figures within his own political circle further highlights the challenges Sall faces as he seeks to rebuild influence on both domestic and international stages.