Senegal reveals presidential candidates

By Alaattin Dogru

DAKAR, Senegal (AA) - Seven candidates were confirmed Monday to run for president in Senegal on Feb. 24.

The seven were the remaining of 27 candidates in the western African country who applied. The rest were eliminated because they failed to collect enough signatures from the seven regions of the country, said the Constitutional Council.

Candidates include President Macky Sall, Idrissa Seck, Ousmane Sonko, Madicke Niang and Issa Sall confirmed by the Council.

Karim Wade and Khalifa Sall were rejected on grounds of having five or more imprisonments.

Wade and Sall have 48 hours to appeal the decision, according to the country's legislation.

The latest list of candidates will be released Jan. 20.

Presidential candidates are required to collect at least 0.8 to 1 percent of signatures from voters living in seven regions of the country, according to Senegal's electoral law.

Senegal has 6.5 million registered voters.

Sall has been in power since 2012.