Macky Sall’s return to Senegal for the first time since leaving office in April 2024 has stirred sharp reactions across the political spectrum. His scheduled meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has become a focal point for both supporters and critics, as victims’ families and activists demand answers about the repression of protests during his presidency.

On Thursday, July 16, a collective representing victims labeled the visit “an affront to justice.” Boubacar Sèye, speaking on behalf of the group, stated, “This is an opportunity to demand truth and accountability for the dozens of lives lost in clashes over recent years.” He emphasized that Sall’s presence “brings back memories of one of the darkest chapters in Senegal’s recent history.”

a divided response

Criticism has not been limited to civil society. Guy Marius Sagna, a deputy from the ruling coalition, condemned the meeting outright. “Honoring Macky Sall with an official reception is an insult to the memory of victims and political prisoners,” he declared. “It is simply unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, Sall’s party, the Alliance for the Republic (APR), has called for large-scale demonstrations in his support. Organized rallies are planned for both Thursday and Friday, with Sall announcing on social media that he intends to leave immediately after his meeting with Faye.

UN ambition fuels the debate

The timing of the visit coincides with Sall’s bid for the position of UN Secretary-General, a candidacy officially endorsed by Burundi during its presidency of the African Union—rather than by Senegal itself. The presidency has yet to comment publicly on the meeting, though Minister of Armed Forces Yankhoba Diémé described Sall’s return as “a routine visit home,” stressing that “he faces no legal proceedings or convictions.”