In Senegal, the announced meeting between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor Macky Sall has sparked considerable outrage. Families of victims who suffered political repression during Sall’s tenure are particularly vocal, condemning the visit as an affront while their pleas for justice and reparations remain unanswered.

What fuels this controversy? And what potential ramifications could this high-profile encounter have on Senegal’s political landscape? To shed light on these critical questions, we turn to political analyst Assane Samb. He first elaborates on the broader significance of this meeting within the current political climate of Senegal.

Interview with Assane Samb

Assane Samb: This was a highly anticipated meeting, despite the vocal dissent from some quarters.

Given Macky Sall’s current candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, it was unthinkable for other African nations, particularly Burundi, to solely champion his bid. The Chinese President, who played a crucial role in this matter, leveraged the prevailing circumstances. Consequently, it became necessary to smooth over any existing friction.

DW: Why has this visit provoked such strong reactions, particularly from victims’ associations and segments of civil society?

This is deeply rooted in the specific context we experienced between 2021 and 2024. As you know, there were intense clashes in the streets between protestors and defense and security forces. What truly transpired was that, at that time, the populace was driven by a revolutionary fervor.

DW: Many organizations, including Amnesty, attribute blame to the former President, holding him responsible as the guarantor of public safety and the exercise of freedoms, including the right to protest. Mr. Samb, is the current President facing a dilemma between the state’s diplomatic imperatives and the justice demands of his political base?

Indeed, when he was still a member of Pastef, President Faye truly hesitated to openly endorse Macky Sall. Now that he has severed those ties, he no longer feels constrained. That is no longer the case.

DW: To what extent might Macky Sall’s candidacy for UN Secretary-General further polarize Senegal’s political discourse?

In reality, the calculations extend beyond the victims – whom we refer to as martyrs and so forth. What is actually happening is that people genuinely fear Macky Sall’s potential return, driven by underlying political considerations.

DW: What could be the effects of this meeting, both on the process of national reconciliation and on Senegal’s international image?

On the international stage, this meeting will undoubtedly be widely applauded, especially by other African heads of state. Internally, however, it is clear that the bipolarization of the political arena will only intensify further.