Former Senegalese President Macky Sall is set to return to Dakar for a brief visit to seek government support for his candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.
Sall announced that the three-hour visit is part of consultations aimed at securing backing for his campaign to lead the global organisation.
His only scheduled engagement during the visit is a meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, whom he thanked for agreeing to receive him.
According to officials of his political party, Sall is expected to arrive at Dakar’s Yoff Airport at 3:00 p.m. and depart at 6:00 p.m.
The visit will mark Sall’s first direct meeting with President Faye since he left office in 2024 and comes amid strained relations between their political camps.
Sall is seeking Senegal’s formal endorsement after the government declined to support his candidacy during the African Union’s endorsement process in March.
At the time, Dakar stated that it neither initiated nor backed Sall’s bid and was not involved in the nomination process.
The former president had earlier requested government support in a letter sent on February 5 but has yet to receive an official response.
The planned meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for both leaders to engage on Sall’s international ambition and broader national interests.
Relations between their camps have remained tense over issues including allegations of concealed public debt and the government’s handling of supporters of the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) during Sall’s administration.
Meanwhile, the Collective of Victims of Macky Sall’s Regime has called for accountability over alleged human rights violations during his presidency, insisting that his international ambitions should not overshadow justice for victims.
The race to succeed UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026, is already underway.
The next Secretary-General is expected to assume office in January 2027 for a renewable five-year term.
Sall’s visit is considered a key step in his efforts to secure national and regional support for his bid to lead the United Nations.
Africanews
