On the afternoon of Friday, July 17, a special aircraft carrying former Senegalese President Macky Sall landed at Dakar’s military airport, signaling the beginning of a brief yet highly significant visit to the country he once led for over a decade.
This wasn’t a casual trip home. Macky Sall touched down with a clear agenda: a swift meeting at the presidential palace immediately after deplaning, followed by a departure for New York by 6 PM. The message was unmistakable—this was a mission tied to his bid for the position of UN Secretary-General, a role for which he sought Dakar’s political backing, a support that has remained elusive.
His return, however, has not been met with universal acclaim. Within Senegal, Macky Sall remains a polarizing figure. Critics, including members of the victorious PASTEF party in the 2024 elections, point to his legacy of controversies, from allegations of hidden public debt to the political unrest that marked his final years in office. While no legal proceedings have been initiated against him, the scrutiny of his tenure continues to shape public discourse.
Just twelve months prior, his former prime minister Amadou Ba—now a central figure in the current administration—was still in office. The political landscape has shifted dramatically since then, and Macky Sall’s brief but purposeful visit underscores the high stakes of his next career move.
