Sall, Macky

Sall, Macky, Senegalese political leader. Trained as a geologist, he graduated from Dakar's Cheikh Anta Diop Univ. and also studied in France. A protégé of President Abdoulaye Wade and a member of the Senegalese Democratic party, Sall was appointed (2000) Wade's energy adviser and months later became head of the state oil company. In 2002 Sall was named interior minister; he became prime minister two years later, serving until 2007. In 2008 Sall, by then parliament speaker, broke with Wade and left the government. He soon founded the liberal Alliance for the Republic party, and was elected mayor of Fatick, his hometown, in 2009 (he also had held the post in 2002–8). Sall ran against Wade in 2012 presidential election, and won the March runoff after garnering support from other opposition candidates. His first term was marked by economic growth and improvements to Senegal's infrastructure, but he was accused by some of using the courts against political opponents. He was easily reelected in 2019.

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