By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A judge in the southern Senegalese city of Ziguinchor has voided the omission of imprisoned opposition politician Ousmane Sonko from electoral lists, saying he is free the contest the 2024 presidential election.
Authorities in the African country had delisted Sonko from the register, making him ineligible for the February election.
The judge on Thursday ruled that Sonko who came third in the 2019 presidential election, can go ahead and contest next year’s race, his lawyers said.
A state judicial agent had in response said the state will appeal the decision of the court, adding that it was still possible that Sonko would be blocked from running.
Sonko’s lawyers had filed a suit in a court in Ziguinchor, the city where he was listed and is also mayor, challenging his exclusion.
The firebrand politician was on June 1 found guilty of morally corrupting a young person, and sentenced to two years in prison.
He was not present at the trial, which he said was a plot against his political career, and was convicted in absentia.
In late July, he was imprisoned on fresh charges of fomenting insurrection, criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise and undermining state security over incidents that occurred in 2021.
His conviction in June sparked clashes that left 16 dead, according to the government, or as many as 30, according to his party now disbanded by the government.
