The French judiciary delivered a verdict on September 9, 2026, dismissing an attempt by Macky Sall to render the website nonamacky.org inaccessible in France. The site is campaigning against his candidacy for the position of UN Secretary-General. The Paris judicial tribunal refused to grant any of the requested measures, which included blocking access to the site for users of major French telecom operators such as Orange, SFR, Free, and Bouygues Telecom.
The website in question, nonamacky.org, compiles documents, testimonies, and publications related to events during Macky Sall's two terms as President of Senegal from 2012 to 2024. The platform discusses issues such as protests, arrests, public freedoms, press situations, and financial cases. Its stated goal is to persuade international decision-makers not to support Macky Sall's candidacy. Macky Sall had argued that several content pieces on the site were defamatory.
The tribunal distinguished between criticisms directly targeting Macky Sall's person and those concerning the actions of Senegalese institutions during his presidency. The court also considered the site's criticism of his ability to lead the UN as a "critical value judgment" regarding his candidacy for an international position. Furthermore, the tribunal noted that many facts mentioned on the site were presented as acts attributable to institutions or state agents.
Macky Sall had also contested the use of his photograph on the website and promotional visuals. However, the tribunal ruled that his public status and the nature of the subject – his candidacy for an international organization – justified the use of his image in informing the public about his candidacy. The decision emphasized the protections afforded to freedom of expression when publications contribute to a discussion of public interest.
The judicial procedure took place while Macky Sall's candidacy was garnering support and criticism beyond Senegal. Notably, his candidacy dossier, submitted on March 2, 2026, was supported by Burundi, rather than his home country, Senegal. The website nonamacky.org allows French users to directly contact the French representation at the UN, establishing a sufficient link with French territory for the Paris tribunal to examine the case.
The September 9 judgment does not assess whether Macky Sall possesses the necessary qualities to lead the UN. It solely addresses the dispute over the content published by the website and the access restrictions requested by the former President. The court's decision allows the website to continue operating and campaigning against Macky Sall's UN candidacy.
The case highlights the balance between freedom of expression and the rights of public figures, especially in the context of international candidacies. Macky Sall's attempt to block the website was seen as a challenge to the principles of free speech and public debate. The tribunal's ruling underscores the importance of these principles in a democratic society, particularly when it comes to scrutinizing candidates for high-profile international positions.
Key points
- A French court rejected Macky Sall's bid to block a website opposing his UN candidacy.
- The website nonamacky.org campaigns against Macky Sall's candidacy by compiling documents and testimonies from his presidency.
- The court's decision supports freedom of expression and public debate regarding international candidacies.
