Senegal: Judge Cancels Ousmane Sonko’s Removal from the Electoral Rolls
The Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko knew how to be tenacious and it paid off, he won a first victory in his judicial showdown with the Senegalese state.
A judge of the Ziguinchor Administrative Court overturned Sonko’s removal from the electoral rolls and ordered his reinstatement. This decision opens up the possibility for Sonko to run for president.
The hearing lasted nearly twelve hours and was marked by incidents, including an attempt to recuse the judge by Senegalese state lawyers. Eight lawyers for Sonko argued that his removal was illegitimate due to a conviction in absentia and his arrest, thus demanding a new trial.
However, the state has ten days to appeal this decision, which means that the Supreme Court may have to rule on Sonko’s reinstatement on the electoral rolls.
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Iman
