A court in Madagascar convicted six persons on Friday over a plot to kill President Andry Rajoelina and handed them different sentences, up to 20 years in prison with hard labour.

French-Malagasy dual national Paul Rafanoharana, who local media reported was once an adviser to Rajoelina, was handed the highest punishment in the trial for conspiring to kill the president.

Rajoelina began a second presidential term in 2019.

Frenchman Philippe François, a former officer in the French military, was jailed for ten years.