Survey claiming Macky Sall as UN Secretary-General frontrunner found to be unfounded
via SeneNews2 min read
A viral social media post from April 7, 2026, claiming former President of Senegal Macky Sall was the frontrunner for the United Nations Secretary-General position has been debunked by Africa Check. The post, which circulated widely on social media and was picked up by several Senegalese media outlets, cited a poll by "Holding Price Limited" and was attributed to "Farid Ruben, Professor of Geopolitics in Washington, United States." Africa Check's investigation found inconsistencies, including an inability to verify information about "Holding Price Limited," which was described as both American and British, and no trace of the purported author. The viral text also asserted that Macky Sall's candidacy had the support of the African Union, but verifications indicate this support was not secured. Twenty of the 55 member states opposed his candidacy, exceeding the 18 oppositions needed to prevent official endorsement. Macky Sall's candidacy was introduced by Burundi on March 2, 2026. The investigation suggests a coordinated dissemination, with the text initially shared by an X account titled "Macky Sall pour l’ONU" and then amplified by other accounts favorable to the former president, as well as unverified reports by some Senegalese media. "Holding Price Limited" has previously been cited in other African election polls, including one in December 2025 for the Central African presidential election, which presented the incumbent Faustin-Archange Touadéra as the strong favorite. Mac
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Two foreign nationals were arrested on May 25, 2026, at Blaise Diagne International Airport AIBD in connection with an alleged case of migrant trafficking by air. The individuals are also being prosecuted for identity theft and criminal conspiracy. The arrests occurred as the two men were preparing to board Brussels Airlines flight SN0204 to Brussels. They were identified during departure controls by agents from the AIBD special police station and handed over to the National Division for Combating Migrant Trafficking and Related Practices DNLT for investigation. The suspects were identified as Albanna Martin Issa, holding a Swedish passport, and an individual traveling under the identity of Halil Ali Kataya with a Norwegian passport. Technical checks on the documents revealed that the latter was using a false identity. Investigators determined his real name is Abdallah Deep Abdallah Aljayyar, and he allegedly attempted to leave Senegal by impersonating the legitimate passport holder. During questioning, Abdallah Deep Abdallah Aljayyar admitted to obtaining the travel document for 8,000 euros and stated that Albanna Martin Issa played a key role in organizing his trip to Europe. He indicated the operation was prepared in Egypt, with Senegal serving as a transit point before reaching Europe. Investigators also looked into a previous trip involving Abdallah Deep Abdallah Aljayyar's brother, Ahmed Aljayyar, who reportedly used a similar route weeks earlier with the identity of a
Must ReadHundreds of Libyans protested in Tripoli on Thursday in front of the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR headquarters, demanding the expulsion of irregular migrants from their neighborhoods. The demonstration, organized after a social media campaign, saw participants holding red cards symbolizing a request for expulsion. Protesters chanted slogans like "No to the settlement of migrants and refugees" and "Libya belongs to Libyans," also calling for the closure of UNHCR offices, which they hold responsible for the migrants' presence. Some placards criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of pressuring Libya to retain illegal immigrants. The UN Support Mission in Libya UNSMIL reaffirmed that none of its agencies, including UNHCR, implement resettlement programs in the country, stating that "allegations to the contrary are categorically false." UNSMIL expressed concern about the spread of false information, disinformation, and hate speech regarding the UN's work in Libya. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya has struggled with instability, leading to two rival governments. This instability has been exploited by smugglers and traffickers to develop clandestine networks for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and Asian countries seeking to emigrate to Europe by sea. As of mid-2024, the IOM's Migration Data Portal recorded approximately 900,000 migrants and refugees in Libya. The migration issue frequently causes unrest in the country, fueled by xenophobi
Ivory Coast secured a 2-1 victory over France in a preparatory match ahead of the 2026 World Cup. This result follows other surprising outcomes in warm-up games, such as Iraq's draw against Spain. France is continuing its preparations for the World Cup, where they are grouped with Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. Despite this loss, France remains a strong favorite for the tournament. These friendly matches allow teams to assess their readiness and make adjustments before the competition begins.
Must ReadForty-nine Nigerien nationals died of thirst in the desert, in the border area between Algeria, Niger, and Mali, after the truck transporting them broke down. The Agadez governorate, which administers the area, stated on Facebook that the 49 individuals died of thirst in a remote area over 80 kilometers west of Assamaka. The travelers were returning from Mali to celebrate Eid. Deprived of water and unable to repair the vehicle despite efforts by the driver, his apprentices, and passengers, the travelers were trapped in a hostile environment with extreme temperatures and no supply points. The victims were buried in mass graves. Two people survived the ordeal, walking over 50 kilometers before reaching a pond and then Assamaka, where they raised the alarm. Local authorities, returning from the scene, discovered another truck immobilized over 60 kilometers from Assamaka, with over 60 people stranded for three days due to a battery failure. These travelers had left a Malian gold panning site over 300 kilometers from the Nigerien border. The delegation provided necessary assistance to repair the vehicle, allowing passengers to continue their journey. This desert area is a known crossing point for African migrants attempting to reach Europe and is regularly the scene of such tragedies. In 2025, at least 35 migrants died in the Nigerien desert, according to the NGO Alarme Phone Sahara APS. In October 2013, 92 Nigerien migrants perished from thirst in the northern Nigerien desert nea