The 49-year-old has been at the centre of a stand-off with the state that has lasted more than two years and sparked several episodes of deadly unrest.

Earlier this week, Sonko had submitted his candidacy with the constitutional council to contest the February election – despite the state’s refusal to provide him the necessary documents.

Authorities said today’s meeting was banned due to “threats of disturbance to public order, hindrance to the free movement of people and goods and risk of infiltration by ill-intentioned people”, according to a decree seen by AFP.

It was signed by Dakar prefect Cherif Mouhamadou Blondin Ndiaye, who confirmed its authenticity.

“This is just another provocation, but we invite our comrades and supporters to stay tuned,” El Malick Ndiaye, a spokesman for Sonko’s dissolved party Pastef, said on Facebook.

Authorities ordered Pastef to be disbanded in July.

The party’s back-up candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who is also in prison, has also filed to run in February’s presidential election.

Although the state refused to provide Sonko with the necessary documents to run for election, his lawyers said they would file anyway, hoping the justice system would be more receptive.

Sonko was struck off Senegal’s electoral register after being sentenced in June to two years’ imprisonment for morally corrupting a young person.

He has been jailed since the end of July on other charges, including calling for insurrection, conspiracy with terrorist groups, and endangering state security.

He has denied the charges, saying they are intended to prevent him challenging President Macky Sall in the Feb 25 election.

In mid-December, a judge ordered that he be re-installed on the list of candidates, confirming a lower court order that had been overturned on first appeal.

The state has lodged an appeal against the decision.

More than 90 candidates have put their names forward to the Constitutional Council, which is due to announce the list of presidential contenders on Jan 20.