Senegal u-turns to back ex-president Sall to lead UN

What the report says

France24 Africa reported on July 21, 2026, that Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has shifted position and is now supporting former president Macky Sall’s effort to become United Nations secretary-general. The item was presented as part of the broadcaster’s Africa programme, which framed the move as a “u-turn” by Senegal’s current leadership toward Sall, who led the country before Faye took office.

The report did not provide detailed remarks from Faye or Sall in the publicly available text, nor did it outline the terms of Senegal’s backing. Still, the development is politically notable because Faye and Sall come from opposing political camps, and Senegal’s formal support could matter in any international campaign for the UN’s top administrative post. A candidacy for secretary-general typically depends on sustained diplomacy among UN member states, with the Security Council playing a decisive role before appointment by the General Assembly.

France24’s same edition also highlighted broader security pressures in West Africa and the Sahel. It reported that an ambush in northern Mali killed at least 50 soldiers, and that Nigeria’s fight against jihadist groups is facing an added challenge as foreign fighters join insurgent organizations.

Taken together, the programme placed Senegal’s diplomatic maneuvering alongside regional security crises. The public article text is limited and appears linked to a video segment, so further detail on why Faye changed course, how Sall’s bid is being organized, or how other governments are responding was not available from the supplied material.