Macky Sall, Senegal’s former president, will make a highly anticipated return to Dakar this Friday, landing at the Yoff military airport. His arrival comes just days after his surprise announcement of a meeting with his successor, Bassirou Diomaye Faye—a move that has left many Senegalese stunned, given the bitter history between the two leaders.

The timing couldn’t be more sensitive. Just months before the 2024 elections, Bassirou Diomaye Faye was imprisoned alongside hundreds of opposition supporters, including members of his Pastef party. Among them was activist Aly Coly, who recalls the ordeal of seeing his entire family—including his three-month-old baby—detained for months simply for wearing Pastef colors. ‘Today, as I watched him in our home, I learned our president will welcome the man who orchestrated all of this.’, he exclaims, voice trembling with indignation.

Official figures from that period indicate over a thousand political detainees, some jailed for minor acts of support. Sixty-five deaths were recorded during the repression of protests and unrest between 2021 and 2024—losses that became central to Faye and his mentor Ousmane Sonko’s election campaign.

Two years later, the wounds remain raw. ‘No investigations have been conducted, no one has been held accountable, and now Macky returns as if nothing happened.’ Aly Coly laments. ‘We see it clearly—Senegal isn’t blind. This is the return of the old system.’

Sall’s visit is framed as a brief stopover, but its purpose looms large: his bid for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. He had already outlined his candidacy before the UN General Assembly on April 22, positioning himself as a champion of multilateralism and impartiality. Yet, his campaign has struggled to gain traction, lacking support from the African Union and his own country—until now, perhaps.

For many, the idea of Macky Sall leading the UN is an affront. ‘The UN’s raison d’être is to defend human rights, isn’t it?’ Aly Coly challenges. ‘How can someone responsible for 60 deaths as president possibly lead this institution?’

Others see a potential upside. Maurice Soundieck Dione, a political science lecturer at the University of Gaston Berger, argues that Sall’s UN candidacy could enhance Senegal’s global image. ‘A strong international standing is crucial—it attracts foreign investment and boosts economic appeal.’ he notes. Such recognition could also translate into tangible benefits for a nation grappling with economic strain and debt.

For President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the meeting with his predecessor is more than symbolic—it may be a calculated move. Since taking office, Faye has faced mounting pressure from Ousmane Sonko, his former mentor and current National Assembly president, whose influence could undermine his agenda. ‘Sonko controls parliament and has the power to obstruct’ Soundieck Dione explains. By aligning with Sall, Faye may be shoring up support in a fragile political landscape.

Yet this strategy risks alienating his base. Critics accuse Faye of betraying his 2024 promises by reintegrating figures from the old regime—‘the corrupt system’ he once vowed to dismantle. ‘In Senegal, turning your back on a mentor is culturally unthinkable.’ Soundieck Dione emphasizes. As the nation watches, Friday’s encounter could either deepen Faye’s isolation or mark the start of a new political alignment.