Senegal's Idrissa Seck to run for president after leaving economic council

FILE PHOTO: Idrissa Seck, a presidential candidate of the coalition "Idy 2019", greets his supporters during a campaign rally in Thies, Senegal February 3, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

DAKAR (Reuters) - Senegal's presidency on Monday announced it had released politician Idrissa Seck from his duties as head of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, paving the way for the former prime minister to run for the presidency in the February election.

Seck, 63, placed second in the 2019 presidential race with 21% of the vote, after which his Rewmi party joined the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition with President Macky Sall.