Senegal Changes Course to Back Ex-Leader Macky Sall as UN Chief

The news from Dakar is sudden and surprising: just three days after meeting his successor in office, former president Macky Sall has secured the backing of the Senegalese government for his bid to become the next UN Secretary-General. This change of heart raises more questions than answers about what it signifies and whether it will be enough to salvage Sall’s flagging candidacy.

The initial reluctance from Dakar was no surprise, given the tense relationship between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor. Faye came to power on a wave of anti-Sall sentiment, fueled by allegations of human rights abuses committed during Sall’s rule. The official narrative is that the government has now “lent its full support” to Sall’s candidacy, which it claims will benefit both Africa and multilateralism.

However, this sudden reversal is unlikely to be solely driven by altruistic motives. Sall’s visit to Dakar was a calculated move to shore up support for his UN bid, with thousands of supporters greeting him at the airport on Friday. The fact that Faye’s entourage claimed Sall was there to update the president on his UN bid suggests that groundwork had been laid long before the visit.

This U-turn is telling in light of the wider context surrounding Sall’s candidacy. Burundi nominated him earlier this year to replace outgoing UN leader Antonio Guterres, but around 20 AU member states initially refused to back him. Senegal’s support now means at least one major player has reversed its stance, potentially altering the dynamics of Sall’s campaign.

The damage from his predecessor’s past transgressions is unlikely to be easily erased. Detractors are still demanding answers about the dozens of deaths during his time in office, and any attempt by Sall to downplay these issues will likely fuel further criticism. The UN Secretary-General selection process is now entering its final stages, with Macky Sall’s campaign receiving a significant injection of momentum.

However, this shift also underscores the complexities of international diplomacy, where power and influence often trump moral accountability. Will Senegal’s backing be enough to tip the scales in Sall’s favor? The calculus remains shrouded in uncertainty.

The implications extend beyond Sall’s individual candidacy, speaking to broader issues of accountability and the role of former leaders in international affairs. A country like Senegal, with its own troubled history of human rights abuses, lending weight to a candidate accused of similar transgressions raises uncomfortable questions about moral leadership.

To truly gain traction, Sall will need to confront the criticisms head-on or rely on Senegal’s backing alone to carry him through. These are just some of the pressing questions as this story unfolds – and one thing is certain: the road ahead will be far from smooth.

The world is watching closely as Sall navigates these treacherous waters, where his ability to lead by example will be put to the test. Will he prove himself capable of leading, or will his candidacy ultimately succumb to the weight of past controversies? Only history will tell.