A Senegal court has ordered that jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko be reinstated on the electoral register, paving the way for him to run in the February presidential election, according to Sonko's lawyer, Cire Cledor Ly.

Sonko has faced a slew of court appearances in the last two years on charges ranging from libel to rape, which he denies. The charges against him have sparked deadly violence in the West African country.

Sonko, 49, was cleared of rape in June but sentenced to two years in prison after a court found him guilty of immoral behavior toward individuals under the age of 21.


He was arrested in July for insurrection and was removed from the electoral roll, potentially ruling him out of the February election.

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Sonko finished third in Senegal's presidential election in 2019 and is widely regarded as the leading opposition candidate in the race to succeed President Macky Sall.

The decision was overturned by a court of first instance in Dakar on Thursday; Ly told reporters outside the court.

"We have confidence in the justice system. This decision doesn't surprise us. We were just afraid that they might use force against us. But this country won't go anywhere if justice doesn't work," he said.


Another lawyer for the fiery opposition leader, Bamba Cisse, told journalists that the court's decision could allow Sonko to run in Senegal's presidential election in February 2024.

According to a state attorney, the government will file an appeal.