Former Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade has called for the scheduled February elections to be cancelled over fears they could lead to instability.

Wade lives in France but is due to return to Senegal this week and is calling for peaceful protests.

The 92-year-old is a fierce critic of President Macky Sall, who is seeking a second term.

The ex-president’s son Karim, was barred from standing because of a previous corruption conviction.

The former mayor of Dakar, Khalifa Sall, who had also been viewed as a potentially strong contender in the election, was jailed for fraud last year.

Meanwhile the governing party denies that their trials were politically motivated.