Sonko, the jailed opposition leader, has been ordered by Senegal judge to be reinstated on the electoral roll

Sonko was removed from Senegal’s electoral roll in June following his conviction for morally degrading a minor in June.

He has been at the focus of a protracted dispute with the government that began more than two years ago and has resulted in multiple violent outbursts.

The judge in Dakar, the capital, upheld an October decision made by a court in Ziguinchor, the southern city where Sonko serves as mayor, by ordering Sonko’s reinstatement.

The highest court of the West African nation disapproved with the regional court’s decision last month.

Nevertheless, it determined that Sonko’s case ought to be returned to the Dakar court.

Sonko’s deadline for submitting his candidature for the February election and securing the required sponsorships is currently December 26.

After the decision on Thursday, jubilant Sonko fans—who are especially well-liked by the under-20s, who make up half of the population—screamed his name in the courtroom.

Cire Cledor Ly, one of his attorneys, stated that although the state may file an appeal with the Supreme Court, the ruling from Thursday will still go into effect right away.

“The election code is really explicit. “The decision made by the judge must be implemented right away,” he declared.

Sonko, 49, was given a two-year prison sentence after being found guilty in absentia on June 1 of morally corrupting a minor.

He denounced the trial as an attempt to exclude him from running for president.

He was further charged with inciting insurrection, unlawfully affiliating with a terrorist organisation, and jeopardising state security, which led to his detention in late July.

Since then, he has gone on sporadic hunger strikes.

(AFP)