Just days before the handover of power in Dakar Senegal's outgoing President Macky Sall introduced the two leaders to each other...

President Macky Sall has been a close ally to Paris...

In 2012 it was the run-off ballot that delivered victory for Macky Sall even though he was then the popular hero challenging an ageing President Abdoulaye Wade who had persuaded the Constitutional Council to let him seek a third term...

Unpopular Equally important was the scale of Senegalese citizens' fury at the way Macky Sall was eroding the country's democratic values and civic freedoms and presiding over the politicisation of the judiciary...

The deaths of at least 60 protestors in street clashes with the security forces and the jailing of hundreds of mostly young people over street protests or even Facebook posts deepened disenchantment with Macky Sall even among many of the urban middle class who were benefiting most from economic growth (AC Vol 65 No 4 Fury as Sall's vote delay unleashes mayhem)...

Corruption was another grievance with deep resentment at the president's appointment of his brother Aliou – facing allegations over contentious oil dealings – to head a state investment fund (AC Vol 63 No 11 Macky Sall faces the third-term curse)...

But that did not defuse anger towards Macky Sall...

He might hope to tempt some members of Macky Sall's now demoralised BBY alliance...

Ever since Sonko's strong third place in the 2019 presidential election the anti-corruption campaigner had been regarded as the most potent threat to Macky Sall's hopes of winning a third term...

The mass support that had comfortably carried Macky Sall to a second term five years ago was hollowed out by anger at worsening corruption and the erosion of democratic rights since 2019...

Outgoing President Macky Sall argues that would be disastrous...

He could nose ahead of Ba who may pay the price for widespread public exasperation with Macky Sall's political manipulations...

It will be telescoped into less than two weeks after the Constitutional Council accepted President Macky Sall's last minute proposal of Sunday 24 March for the first round ballot...

It took President Macky Sall less than a day to accept the ruling by the Conseil constitutionnel on 15 February that the postponement of the presidential election and the extension of his tenure was illegal...

President Macky Sall's announcement on 3 February postponing this month's elections has wrecked what was left of his legacy and is undermining Senegal's governance amid multiple clashes between activists and state security forces engulfing at least eight cities...

Then came Senegalese President Macky Sall's postponement of his country's general election just three weeks ahead of its scheduled 25 February date...

In postponing Senegal's elections Macky Sall has not only infuriated his own citizens who want a change but has also struck a blow to the political standing of Ecowas and other regional blocs...