The announcement of Macky Sall’s return to Senegal on Friday, July 17, to meet with current president Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has ignited fierce reactions across the nation. For the first time since leaving office in April 2024, the former president’s visit coincides with mounting calls for accountability over the violent crackdown on protests between 2021 and 2024.
Thursday’s statements from the Justice and Truth Collective underscored the gravity of the situation. Boubacar Sèye, a spokesperson, described the visit as “an affront to justice”, demanding full investigations into the “dozens of lives lost” during the unrest. “Macky Sall’s return symbolizes the resurgence of a leader whose tenure remains synonymous with one of the darkest chapters in recent history,” he emphasized.
Divisions deepen over the visit
Political tensions escalated as Guy Marius Sagna, a ruling party deputy, joined the chorus of criticism. “Extending an official welcome to Macky Sall is an insult to the victims and political prisoners of his era,” he declared. The statement reflects growing frustration among those who hold the former president responsible for the repression.
In stark contrast, the Alliance for the Republic (APR), Sall’s former party, has mobilized supporters to stage large-scale rallies in Dakar. Social media posts indicate Macky Sall plans to leave immediately after his meeting with President Faye.
A high-stakes backdrop: UN secretary-general bid
The timing of Sall’s visit is particularly sensitive, as he pursues a candidacy for UN secretary-general—a role championed by Burundi during its African Union presidency, not Senegal. The presidency has yet to comment on the matter, though Minister of Armed Forces Yankhoba Diémé defended the visit as “routine”, asserting Sall “faces no charges or convictions.”