The announcement is now official: former Senegalese President Macky Sall is vying to succeed Antonio Guterres as head of the United Nations next January. While this ambition enjoys continental support, it is reigniting deep tensions on the political scene in Dakar.

African sponsorship rather than national sponsorship

In an unusual move in diplomatic history, it was not Senegal that put forward the candidacy of its former leader. It was Burundi , through its president Évariste Ndayishimiye—the current chairperson of the African Union (AU)—that submitted the application on Monday, March 2nd.

This support from the AU is based on the experience of Macky Sall, who led Senegal for 12 years and distinguished himself through noteworthy diplomatic initiatives across the continent.

The opposition is united behind the former president

For some in the political class, this candidacy is an opportunity for Africa's influence. The coalition of the Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic , bringing together 85 parties and several civil organizations, has officially asked the current president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to provide the support of the Senegalese state.

“Seeing him as Secretary-General of the United Nations would be excellent news. He is recognized as a courageous leader who has had strong ambitions for Africa,” argues Oumar Sarr, coordinator of the coalition.

A firm rejection from the presidential camp

However, the tone on the side of the current ruling party (Pastef) is radically different. MP Guy Marius Sagna firmly opposes any official support, citing the security record of the last few years of Sall's presidency.

1. Bloody repression: The MP recalls the deaths of at least 65 protesters between 2021 and 2023.
2. Democratic crisis: Accusations of third-term attempts and the management of public debt weigh heavily in the balance.
3. Incompatibility: For his detractors, this past disqualifies the former president from embodying the values of peace and human rights promoted by the UN.

A heavy silence from the Senegalese state

Although Macky Sall requested his country's support as early as February 5th, the Senegalese authorities have still not officially responded. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye finds himself facing a major diplomatic dilemma: supporting a predecessor whose policies he opposed, or risking isolation from an African Union already aligned with the Senegalese candidate.