Does Macky Sall's return to Dakar pave the way for a new political era in Senegal?
The meeting between the former president and his successor sparks widespread controversy amid efforts
Written by: Mohammed Omran
Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has brought his name back to the forefront of the political scene, after returning to the capital Dakar for the first time since leaving office in April 2024, in a brief visit during which he met with current President Bassirou Diomêne Faye, amid widespread political and media interest, given its timing, objectives and the circumstances the country is going through.
Despite the brevity of the visit, it carried messages that went beyond protocol, as it came at a time when Sall is waging a broad diplomatic campaign to gain African and international support for his candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, while the internal scene in Senegal is witnessing rapid political changes.
Diplomatic move with international ambitions
Days before his visit, Sall announced through his official platforms his intention to go to Dakar to meet with President Faye, explaining that the main objective was to discuss his candidacy for the presidency of the United Nations, in addition to holding consultations with the Senegalese leadership regarding this international entitlement.
The visit is part of a series of foreign moves intensified by the former president in recent weeks, including meetings with diplomats and international officials, in an effort to garner support for his candidacy, after he received the backing of Burundi, as the rotating president of the African Union, to present him as an African candidate for the position.
Messages from the street
Sall’s return turned into a public event, as hundreds of his supporters gathered around the military airport to welcome him, before accompanying him in a procession to the presidential palace, in a scene that observers considered evidence of his continued political and popular base despite his distance from power and his residence in Morocco since the end of his term.
The Alliance for the Republic party, which he still heads, also called on its supporters to participate in welcoming the former president, in a move that reflected his continued presence within party life.
A divisive meeting
In contrast, the meeting between Sall and President Bassirou Diomae Faye did not go without objections, as it sparked criticism within the ruling camp, especially with the ongoing political disagreements between the president and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
This coincided with the announcement by one of the president’s political advisors of his resignation in protest against holding the meeting, considering that receiving Sall ignores the demands of the families of victims of the events that the country witnessed during his last years in power.
Past files resurface
President Faye's government continues to hold Macky Sall's administration responsible for a number of controversial issues, including the violence that accompanied political protests, as well as accusations related to the management of public finances, accusations that Sall and his supporters reject.
At the same time, human rights organizations demanded that investigations into those events continue, stressing that any political rapprochement should not affect the course of justice or lead to the closure of pending cases.
What's next?
Neither side announced details of what transpired during the meeting, nor was a statement issued revealing specific results or new understandings. However, the visit opened the door to questions about the nature of the relationship between the current president and his predecessor, and whether it will be limited to supporting Macky Sall’s international move, or whether it may pave the way for a new formula of understandings within the Senegalese political scene.
Between his international ambitions and his stated desire to return to meet his supporters, Macky Sall seems to be seeking to maintain his political presence domestically, in parallel with his moves on the international stage, at a time when Senegal is preparing for a political phase whose features are still taking shape.
