Opponents of former Senegalese President Macky Sall on Friday condemned his nomination for UN secretary-general, citing alleged violence and economic crimes.
Sall, who led Senegal from 2012 to 2024, faces accusations of violently repressing political demonstrations, leaving dozens dead in his final years.
The current government also alleges that Sall concealed the full scale of Senegal’s public debt, misleading both citizens and international partners.
An IMF team confirmed officials made false statements regarding budget deficits and public debt between 2019 and 2023.
Burundi, currently chairing the African Union, nominated Sall on Monday as a candidate for the UN’s top position.
At a press conference, activist Pape Abdoulaye Toure accused Sall of seeking to “take refuge at the UN” to evade justice.
Ruling party MP Guy Marius criticised the nomination, warning that the UN should not serve as a “laundering” venue for crimes.
Supporters argue Sall’s candidacy boosts Senegal’s diplomatic prestige, reflecting competing visions of accountability and international influence.
Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang stressed Thursday that the current government did not submit or endorse Sall’s nomination.
The administration of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko opened investigations into protest violence during Sall’s tenure.
Between March 2021 and February 2024, at least 65 protesters, mostly young, were killed, with many injured or detained, according to a journalist report.
Government officials now place the death toll at more than 80, reflecting ongoing disputes over accountability and historical memory.
An amnesty law covering violence from 2021 to 2024 was adopted in March 2024, but Senegal’s constitutional council invalidated it in April.
The nomination of Sall for the UN role deepens national debates over justice, governance, and Senegal’s place on the global stage.
