Court rulings have meant that Mr Sonko is unable to run in February.

His presidential ambitions suffered a major setback at the weekend after the Supreme Court annulled a lower court's decision ordering his reinstatement on the electoral roll.

He has faced a series of legal cases over the past two years for charges including libel and rape, which he denies. In July he was arrested for insurrection and he was struck off the electoral roll - ruling him out of a presidential election next February.

The African Party of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (Pastef) is now proposing its Secretary-General, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to be its flag-bearer.

“Sponsoring the candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye in no way implies an abdication of the candidacy of President Ousmane Sonko,” the Associated Press quotes a Pastef statement as saying.

“Everyone knows him well enough to know that to his last breath, he will fight without compromise.”

Mr Sonko, 49, has accused President Macky Sall of seeking to exclude him from running in the presidential election.

He was jailed in July on charges including fomenting insurrection, criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise and undermining state security over incidents dating back to 2021.

Mr Faye is also facing criminal charges that this party says are politically motivated, AP reports.