Senegal's Supreme Court Upholds Defamation Conviction Against Opposition Leader Sonko

Ruling Jeopardizes Sonko's Presidential Bid Amid Ongoing Dispute with State

Senegal's Supreme Court has upheld a defamation conviction against opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, jeopardizing his chances of running in the upcoming presidential elections.
Sonko, who is currently in jail on separate charges, has been at the center of a dispute with the state for over two years, sparking several episodes of deadly unrest.
Despite the court's ruling, Sonko's legal team maintains that he still has the right to run in the election, as a judge in December ordered that he be re-instated on the electoral roll.
Sonko's political party, PASTEF, was dissolved by the government in July, which accuses him of stoking violence.
The final decision on Sonko's eligibility to run in the February 25 polls rests with Senegal's Constitutional Council, which is expected to rule on the matter soon.