Senegal backs former president Macky Sall for UN chief

Senegal announced on Monday that it is supporting former president Macky Sall's bid to become the next United Nations secretary-general, reversing its earlier position.

The decision came three days after Sall visited President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Dakar. Faye's entourage said Sall used the meeting to update the president on his UN bid. It was Sall's first trip to Dakar since leaving office and moving to Morocco.

The Senegalese government had previously declined to support Sall, who was president from 2012 to 2024. The government accuses him of violent political repression that led to dozens of deaths during his final years in office, and of covering up unfavourable economic data. Faye came to office in 2024 on a wave of anti-Sall sentiment.

On Monday, the foreign ministry said Faye had decided that Senegal would give its full support to Sall's candidacy. The ministry said the president had instructed the government and Senegal's diplomatic network to promote Sall among UN member states. It said Sall's bid was now Senegal's bid and would benefit Africa and more effective multilateralism.

Burundi, which holds the rotating African Union presidency, nominated Sall earlier this year to replace outgoing UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres. Around 20 African Union member states, including Senegal, had refused to back him.

Sall was welcomed by thousands of supporters when he arrived in Dakar on Friday. His visit also drew criticism from detractors who are demanding answers over the deaths that occurred during his time in office.