Controversy erupts over Diomaye Faye and Macky Sall meeting
A planned meeting between Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor Macky Sall—who is in Dakar seeking support for his candidacy for UN Secretary-General—has sparked sharp backlash.
Healing old wounds or reopening them?
Families of victims from the 2021–2024 crackdowns see Sall’s return as a painful reminder of unresolved injustice. Seydi Gassama, who represents 67 families in legal proceedings, calls the meeting premature.
“It’s not that Macky Sall is coming back to Senegal that offends us—he’s a citizen with every right to be here,” says the director of Amnesty International Senegal. “What shocks us is that President Diomaye Faye, despite his promises, has yet to deliver justice for the victims of Sall’s regime. No trials, no reparations—just a warm welcome for a man whose hands are stained by those abuses.”
Broken promises and unkept justice
During his campaign, Diomaye Faye vowed to prioritize justice for victims. Yet over two years into his term, no major trials have been held, and compensation remains minimal—a fact that victim groups highlight with frustration.
Human rights organizations argue that Sall’s past disqualifies him from global leadership. Gassama insists: “His UN bid is incompatible with accountability for the bloodshed he oversaw.”
Political fallout feared
Analysts warn the meeting could reshape Senegal’s political landscape. Assane Samb, a political commentator, suggests it may signal an emerging alliance between Diomaye Faye’s new party and traditional opposition forces—potentially isolating his former party, Pastef, which still commands strong support.
“Faye’s break from Pastef and pivot toward established parties could create a united front against his former allies,” Samb notes. “The timing and optics of this meeting raise questions about reconciliation versus political calculation.”
Silence from key players
Neither the presidency nor Pastef, led by Ousmane Sonko, has commented on Sall’s upcoming visit. This would mark his first return since leaving office in April 2024.
Sall’s UN candidacy, unusually backed by Burundi (current AU chair) rather than Senegal, was rejected by nearly two dozen African Union members—including Senegal—in late March.