Senegal jihad 'ringleader' jailed for 20 years

The man regarded as the ringleader of a militant Islamist cell in Senegal has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a court in the capital Dakar, following the biggest trial of suspected jihadists in the West African state.

Makhtar Diokhane was described in court as the brains behind a cell which sent boys to Nigeria, Mali and Libya to receive training from militants.

The main accused - Alioune Badara Ndao, who is a prominent imam in Kaolack city in central Senegal - was acquitted of being an "apologist" and financier of "terrorism" but was given a suspended one-month prison sentence for illegally possessing weapons, reports BBC Afrique's Khady Lo from Dakar.

Fourteen other suspects were acquitted.

Mainly Muslim Senegal has never been attacked by militant Islamists, and follows a moderate version of Sufi Islam. Sufi sects wield enormous influence in society.

However, government officials have in recent years expressed concern that militant Islamists were trying to gain a foothold in the country.