Three days after welcoming him at the Presidential Palace, Bassirou Diomaye Faye made a decisive announcement: Senegal will provide its full support to Macky Sall’s candidacy for United Nations Secretary-General. While this endorsement carries significant weight, it may not be the decisive factor in the race.
From political rivals to strategic allies
Faye’s decision marks a surprising turnaround, one that reflects a broader logic of state continuity over personal grievances. Just two years ago, the two men were locked in a bitter confrontation. Faye, then a political prisoner, was released from Cap Manuel prison on March 14, 2024—just days before the presidential election—thanks to a last-minute presidential pardon secured in the heat of a pre-election crisis. His swift rise from incarceration to the presidency was fueled by the resilience of Ousmane Sonko, his mentor, who faced his own legal battles under Sall’s administration.
The new administration built its political narrative on denouncing the alleged authoritarian excesses of Macky Sall’s tenure and promising systemic change. Yet now, as head of state, Faye has chosen to extend diplomatic backing to his predecessor—a move that underscores the primacy of national interest over partisan divides.
The government has framed this decision as a demonstration of Senegal’s commitment to diplomatic dialogue beyond political alternation, emphasizing the shared goal of advancing Africa’s role in multilateral institutions. The entire Senegalese diplomatic network has been mobilized to promote Sall’s candidacy, signaling a unified front in support of his international ambitions.
The political rupture that unlocked the shift
This unexpected alignment was made possible by a major political fracture: the May 2024 split between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko, who was removed from his post as Prime Minister. While Sonko had long been the driving force behind the government’s hardline stance against the former administration, his departure removed a key constraint on Faye’s decision-making.
Freed from the political constraints imposed by Sonko’s uncompromising opposition to Sall, Faye could now approach the matter as a head of state prioritizing Senegal’s diplomatic interests. The move also reflects the president’s broader strategy to consolidate his political base by weaving together networks from the previous regime, including those of Macky Sall and former president Abdoulaye Wade, ahead of the 2029 elections.
A candidacy strengthened, but not guaranteed
For Macky Sall, Senegal’s endorsement addresses a critical weakness in his campaign. His candidacy, officially submitted in March by Burundi on behalf of the African Union’s rotating presidency, had suffered from an absence of public support from Dakar—a signal that many interpreted as a lack of national endorsement.
In the high-stakes game of UN leadership selection, where permanent Security Council members hold veto power, the silence or neutrality of a candidate’s home country can be seen as a rejection. Senegal’s full backing now removes this obstacle, allowing Sall to present himself as a candidate with official national and continental support. While this strengthens his position, it does not eliminate the structural hurdles he faces.
The race to replace António Guterres is governed by an unwritten but widely observed convention: regional rotation. This time, it’s Latin America’s turn, a region that has not held the post since Javier Pérez de Cuéllar in 1991. Four of the five declared candidates hail from the continent: Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Chile’s Michelle Bachelet (whose government withdrew support in March), Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, and Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa. As such, Sall remains the sole non-Latin American candidate—and the only former head of state in the running.
While Africa’s underrepresentation in the UN’s top post is undeniable—no African has led the organization since Boutros Boutros-Ghali in the 1990s—this deficit alone may not be enough to override the regional rotation principle. Senegal’s support has bolstered Sall’s campaign but does not guarantee victory. The final outcome will hinge on the Security Council’s deliberations, where the five permanent members hold decisive power.
Sall’s diplomatic positioning suggests he is not without allies. Despite tensions with France—where he lobbied for his candidacy—Sall maintains cordial relations with Russia, a key player in the Council. In March 2022, Senegal, under his leadership, abstained from the UN General Assembly’s resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Shortly after securing Senegal’s endorsement, Sall met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, signaling his ongoing efforts to secure international backing. The verdict on his candidacy is expected in the coming months.
