Senegal reverses course to back Macky Sall for UN chief bid

Senegal has announced that it will fully support former president Macky Sall's bid to become the next United Nations secretary-general, reversing an earlier refusal to endorse him. The decision was announced on Monday after Sall visited Dakar and met President Bassirou Diomaye Faye during his first trip to the capital since leaving office. The move marks a notable shift in Senegal's position on a high-profile international appointment.

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According to the foreign ministry, Faye has instructed the government and Senegal's diplomatic network to promote Sall's candidacy among United Nations member states. The ministry said the bid is now "that of Senegal" and argued that it would serve Africa and support more effective multilateralism. Sall was president from 2012 to 2024, and the government had previously declined to back him.

The reversal comes against a politically sensitive backdrop at home. The government has accused Sall of violent political repression during his final years in office, saying it led to dozens of deaths, and of covering up unfavourable economic data. Faye came to power in 2024 on a wave of anti-Sall sentiment, making the endorsement a significant domestic and diplomatic development.

Sall's return to Dakar also drew both public support and criticism, reflecting the divisions that still surround his record. The endorsement matters because the next secretary-general will shape the direction of the United Nations at a time of pressure on multilateral institutions. Sall's candidacy had already been put forward earlier this year by Burundi, which holds the rotating African Union presidency.

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However, around 20 African Union member states, including Senegal, had refused to support him before this change of position. Senegal's backing could therefore strengthen his standing in a contest that is likely to depend on regional diplomacy as well as wider international support. The episode also highlights the continuing influence of former heads of state in international appointments, especially when regional blocs seek to present a united front.

It comes as African governments weigh how to balance national political disputes with broader continental ambitions. For Senegal, the decision may be read as an attempt to align itself with an African candidate for one of the world's top diplomatic posts, even as questions remain over Sall's legacy. It is still unclear how many other African Union members may now follow Senegal's lead, or whether the reversal will alter the wider balance of support for Sall.

The foreign ministry has not said whether the government's backing is conditional or whether it expects further diplomatic steps in the coming days. What to watch next is whether the endorsement prompts similar moves from other states and how Sall's campaign develops as the race for the United Nations top job takes shape.

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