Senegal's Upcoming Presidential Election Excludes Top Opposition Leaders

Prime Minister Amadou Ba, Backed by Outgoing President Macky Sall, Included in the Final List of Candidates

Senegal's Constitutional Council has released the final list of 20 candidates for the upcoming presidential election, excluding top opposition leaders Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade.
Sonko, who finished third in the 2019 presidential election, was disqualified due to a six-month suspended sentence following his conviction for defamation.
Karim Wade, son of former Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, was deemed ineligible due to having dual citizenship at the time he declared his candidacy.
Prime Minister Amadou Ba, backed by outgoing President Macky Sall, is included in the list of candidates and is seen as a major contender.
The exclusion of Sonko and Wade has sparked concerns of potential unrest, as opposition supporters accuse the government of clamping down on their activities.