Senegal’s opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and the presidential candidate he is backing in this month’s delayed election, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, have been released from prison.
The two met thousands of their jubilant supporters in the capital, Dakar, after their release late on Thursday.
Their release followed an amnesty announced by President Macky Sall.
The elections are due to be held on 24 March after a failed bid to push them to December.
“It’s the most beautiful day of my life,” one supporter of the released pair told the BBC.
Mr Faye, 44, is one of the 19 candidates contesting the elections and is expected to start campaigning this Friday. He is vying through the Diomaye President coalition party.
