Senegal presidential election: Opposition politician Ousmane Sonko suffers fresh setbacks

The presidential bid of the Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, suffered fresh setbacks after the Supreme Court rejected an appeal against a libel conviction. This latest development might stop his dream to become the next leader of the West African country as President Macky Sall sets to complete his two terms in office…

The Supreme Court in Senegal on Friday rejected opposition leader Ousmane Sonko’s appeal against a libel conviction, a ruling that may stop him from standing for next month’s presidential election.

The 49-year-old opposition figure, who came in third in the 2019 presidential election, is seeking to replace President Macky Sall, who is stepping down after completing his two terms in office as constitutionally stated.

The AFP news agency reports that Mr. Sonko’s lawyer said he had been told by the Constitutional Council that his client’s application to run for president was “incomplete” without giving further details.

Sonko has been at the centre of a bitter standoff with the state that has lasted more than two years and triggered a series of deadly unrest.

He was taken off the electoral roll after being sentenced to two years in prison for morally corrupting a young person in June.

He has been imprisoned since the end of July on various counts, including inciting insurgency, conspiring with terrorist groups, and harming state security.

Despite the latest development, Sonko’s legal team said the legal setback was not final.

The Constitutional Council is expected to publish a final list of cleared presidential candidates on January 20 January.

His omission from the list would bury his chance to stand in the poll for another five years.