Macky Sall

Macky Sall (, , ; born 11 December 1961) is a Senegalese politician who served as the 4th President of Senegal from 2012 to 2024. He previously served as the 8th Prime Minister of Senegal from July 2004 to June 2007, under President Abdoulaye Wade and President of the National Assembly from June 2007 to November 2008.

Sall served as the Mayor of Fatick from 2002 to 2008 and held that post again from 2009 to 2012. He was a long-time member of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS). After coming into conflict with Wade, he was removed from his post as President of the National Assembly in November 2008; he consequently founded his own party named the Alliance for the Republic (APR) and joined the opposition. Placing second in the first round of the 2012 presidential election, he won the backing of other opposition candidates and prevailed over Wade in the second round of voting, held on 25 March 2012. He is the first president born after Senegalese independence from France.

Under Sall's leadership, significant infrastructure projects, including a new airport and town near Dakar, highways, express trains, a national stadium, and a road link to Mali, were completed. Throughout his tenure, there was a steady growth in the country's economy, with the annual GDP increasing from $17 billion to $27 billion. Internationally, he earned praise for his diplomatic efforts, advocating for African debt cancellation, bolstering anti-terrorism measures, and condemning military coups. He also contributed to resolving conflicts in the country's Casamance region and played a crucial role in ousting dictator Yahya Jammeh in neighboring Gambia in 2017. Provided by Wikipedia