Senegal: opponents speak out against Macky Sall's UN candidacy

Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has been nominated by Burundi, the current chair of the African Union, as a candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations. The announcement was made on Monday, with Sall's tenure as president spanning from 2012 to 2024.

Opponents of Macky Sall have voiced their objections to his candidacy. Allegations have been raised accusing his administration of repression during political demonstrations, which reportedly resulted in numerous fatalities during his last years in office. In particular, Pape Abdoulaye Toure of the Families of Martyrs collective criticized Sall's motives, suggesting that his candidacy is an attempt to avoid legal repercussions.

The current Senegalese government has also accused Sall of misrepresenting the country's economic situation. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team confirmed that false statements were made regarding Senegal's budget deficits and public debt between 2019 and 2023.

Senegal's Foreign Minister, Cheikh Niang, clarified that the Senegalese government had no involvement in submitting Sall's candidacy for the UN position. The government, which has been in power since April 2024 under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has initiated investigations into the alleged violence during Sall's administration.

Reports indicate that at least 65 individuals, primarily youths, were killed in protests against Sall's government from March 2021 to February 2024, with the current administration estimating the death toll to be over 80. An amnesty law covering acts of violence from 2021 to 2024 was passed in March 2024, but it was later annulled by Senegal's constitutional council in April.

Based on reporting by Africanews.