A court in Senegal on Thursday ruled that jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko should be reinstated on the electoral roll.
The Senegalese opposition leader’s name was removed from the list of those eligible to vote after he was handed a two-year jail sentence in August.
He was found to have acted immorally towards an individual younger than 21, but denied the allegation, arguing that the case was politically motivated.
His lawyers says the judge’s order could allow him run in February’s presidential elections – if confirmed.
The government lawyers on Friday said they would appeal against the ruling.
The court hearing took place in Ziguinchor, the southern city where Mr Sonko was on the voters’ roll, and where he is mayor.
His sentence for “corrupting the youth” sparked violent protests in one of Africa’s most stable nations. At least 16 people died and hundreds were injured, according to officials.
The opposition leader was imprisoned in July on fresh charges: calling for an insurrection, criminal conspiracy in connection with a terrorist enterprise and endangering state security.