Senegal on Monday formally endorsed former President Macky Sall's candidacy for United Nations secretary-general, reversing its earlier reluctance and giving the former leader his home country's backing despite years of political tension.

The decision came three days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met Sall in Dakar on the former president's first visit to Senegal since leaving office in 2024. According to the foreign ministry, Faye has instructed the government and Senegal's diplomatic missions to campaign for Sall's bid, saying it is now "Senegal's candidacy in the service of Africa."

Sall, who governed Senegal from 2012 to 2024, is among five candidates seeking to succeed António Guterres, whose term as UN secretary-general ends on December 31. Burundi, which currently holds the African Union's rotating presidency, nominated Sall for the post earlier this year.

The endorsement marks a notable shift for Faye's administration, which has repeatedly criticized Sall's record in office. The government has accused his administration of political repression and financial mismanagement, while Sall denies wrongdoing. His attempt to postpone the 2024 presidential election triggered deadly protests before Senegal's Constitutional Council overturned the move.

Sall's return to Dakar last week drew thousands of supporters, but also renewed calls from critics seeking accountability for the violence and political unrest that marked his final years in office.