Senegalese Court Clears Opposition's Sonko for Presidential Run

A Senegalese judge on Thursday ordered that jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko be reinstated on the electoral ballot, paving the way for him to stand in next year's presidential election. Sonko was struck off Senegal's electoral register after being sentenced in June to two years imprisonment for morally corrupting a young person. He finished third in the 2019 presidential election. But his deregistration from the electoral lists rendered him ineligible to take part in the February elections. The 49-year old has been at the center of a stand-off with the Senegalese state that has lasted more than two years and sparked several episodes of deadly unrest. In ordering Sonko's reinstatement, the judge in the capital Dakar confirmed a ruling in October by a court in Ziguinchor, the southern city where Sonko is mayor. Last month, the West African nation's Supreme Court had disagreed with that regional court ruling. But it nevertheless decided that Sonko's case should go back to the Dakar court. Sonko now has until December 26 to present his candidacy and obtain the necessary sponsorships. . . . . . #Senegal #opposition #Sonko #court #elections #VOAAfrica - - - - For more visit our news site, voaafrica.com Follow VOA Africa on Facebook: https://bit.ly/34fI6R5 Follow VOA Africa on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3jhzuzN Follow VOA Africa on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2HDhRME - - - - - VOA Africa reaches more than 25 million people on the web, social media, radio and television. We deliver Africa related content in English targeted to all 54 countries in Africa and the diaspora. Our programs engage audiences on a wide variety of topics including news, politics, science, technology, health, business, sports, music and entertainment.