The Senegalese president is participating in the ECOWAS summit in Sierra Leone.
Written by: Ayman Ragab
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomêne Faye left the capital Dakar for Sierra Leone to participate in the 69th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
President Faye departed on Saturday for a two-day visit, where he will join West African leaders to participate in the historic ECOWAS summit, to be held on July 18 and 19, 2026.
According to the Senegalese presidency, President Faye will also participate in a summit dedicated to discussing the future of regional integration in West Africa. The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening regional integration, cooperation and solidarity among the member states of the ECOWAS group.
Maki Sal
In another development, former Senegalese President Macky Sall intensified his diplomatic campaign on Friday ahead of the election of the next UN Secretary-General, undertaking a mini-tour that took him to Dakar and then to Banjul, where he sought the support of Presidents Basiru Diomae Faye and Adama Barrow.
This diplomatic move comes just days after Macky Sall announced his return to Senegal as part of consultations he has been holding for weeks to promote his candidacy for the UN presidency. He explained that the visit would be brief due to his busy international schedule and that he would leave Dakar immediately after his meeting with the president.
In Dakar, the former president was received at the presidential palace by his successor, Bassirou Diomêne Faye. According to the Senegalese presidency, the former president came to formally inform the head of state of his candidacy for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations, the selection process for which began on November 25, 2025, in New York. The former president gave a brief overview of his election campaign and requested Senegal's support.
State continuity and the permanence of its institutions
The presidency affirmed that this meeting embodies "the continuity of the state and the permanence of its institutions, regardless of changes in power.".
She noted that President Faye "listened politely to his guest" and commended his initiative. For his part, Macky Sall pledged to keep the head of state regularly updated on the progress of the proceedings.
A few hours later, the former Senegalese president flew to Banjul, where he was received by Gambian President Adama Barrow at the presidential palace. According to the Gambian presidency, this visit is part of a series of consultations with African and international leaders to bolster support for his candidacy.
During this meeting, Macky Sall called for greater unity on the African continent regarding global governance issues. He stated, ”As Africans, we must work together and focus our efforts on the fundamental pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development,“ and requested President Barrow’s support and prayers.
