KIGALI, Rwanda

The Dakar High Court ordered opposition leader Ousmane Sonko reinstated to the electoral register Thursday, paving the way for the jailed politician to run in next year’s presidential election.

The presidential hopeful was struck off the voter register by the government after he was convicted of “corrupting youth” in June, -- a ruling he contests as politically motivated aimed at frustrating his presidential bid.

In October, a court in southern Ziguinchor, a city where Sonko is the mayor, ordered his reinstatement to the voter register, a decision appealed by the state.

In November, the Supreme Court “quashed and annulled” the lower court’s ruling.

It sent back the case to the Dakar High Court for reconsideration.

The high court judge found that the notification of Sonko's removal from the electoral roll had not been given to the right person, Cire Cledor Ly, the head of Sonko's lawyers told reporters after the verdict.

The judge upheld a ruling by a court in Ziguinchor. It is a victory for democracy, said Ly.

Sonko commended his “dedicated, brilliant, selfless and loyal lawyers!” on X.

He expressed gratitude to Senegalese people and African and foreign supporters.

“May peace and divine blessing flood our country,” he wrote.

Sonko’s registration is crucial for him to contest the presidential election in February.

El Hadj Diouf, one of the state's lawyers, said the government would appeal the latest ruling.

He said: “It is a provisional victory” for Sonko -- who has until Dec. 26 to present his candidacy for the election.

But Ly said an appeal to the Court of Cassation would not affect the implementation of Thursday's decision.

Sonko, 49, whose political party. the Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF). was dissolved by the government earlier this year, and was detained at the end of July in Dakar on charges, including calling for insurrection and conspiracy against the state.

He was hospitalized for weeks amid a hunger strike before recently being returned to a Dakar prison.

He later suspended his hunger strike. Sonko finished third in the 2019 election against President Macky Sall, who ruled out running for a third term.