The West African regional bloc Ecowas has urged member states to ban the full-face veil, to prevent attacks by female suicide bombers. 

Following a summit in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, Ecowas released a statement saying certain dress codes made identification difficult and hindered police operations. 

In north-east Nigeria the militant group Boko Haram has used young women and girls as suicide bombers by hiding explosives in loose-fitting clothes. 

The group has also used the tactic in Cameroon, Chad and Niger, that have already enforced partial bans on veils this year. 

Image source, AP

Image source, Libyan Air Force

US forces flown to Libya to support government troops had to leave after landing because of demands from a local militia group, US officials say.

It follows reports that 20 US special forces troops, equipped with advanced weaponry, landed on Monday at an airbase in western Libya.

The troops decided to leave "in an effort to avoid conflict", a US Africa Command spokesman told the BBC.

Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

For more see the BBC News Online story.

A court in The Netherlands has said that four Nigerian farmers can take a case against the oil company Shell to a Dutch court.

They want to sue the Dutch-based multinational over pollution of their farmland allegedly caused by pipeline leaks.

Environmental activists say that this is a landmark ruling that could pave the way for other cases to be heard in The Netherlands, the Associated Press news agency said.

Shell has said in a statement that it is disappointed with the ruling.

It said: "We believe allegations concerning Nigerian plaintiffs in dispute with a Nigerian company, over issues which took place within Nigeria, should be heard in Nigeria."

Image source, AFP

Image source, Getty Images

A new law has been proposed in Kenya which would punish smelly taxi drivers.

Under the proposal the authorities could impose fines of up to $300 (£200) on a taxi driver who has not washed.

It made us want to hear more about your commute - is your ride smelly and dirty?:

• Send us pictures of your commute to our new WhatsApp number: +44 734 10 70 844.
• And tweet your commuting picture, external to @BBCAfrica., external

• And share your stories of your worst commute with us on Facebook, external.

It's not just your taxis ride we're interested in - one taxi driver in Nairobi told Newsday bus drivers should be under the same scrutiny.    

Reuters news agency is quoting an African Union diplomat saying that the Peace and Security Council has "authorised the deployment of a 5,000-man force for Burundi whose mandate includes the protection of civilians".

AFP news agency is quoting AU official Bonaventure Cakpo Guebegde confirming the decision but gave no details about the size of the proposed force.

Reports from Addis Ababa say African Union officials have approved a draft plan to send peacekeepers to protect civilians in Burundi, even without the government's consent. 

The Reuters news agency quoted one diplomat as saying that the deployment of a 5,000-strong force had been approved by the AU's Peace and Security Council. 

But the decision will need UN approval, and the presidents of AU members countries would have to authorise any deployment against Burundi's wishes. 

The UN says at least 400 people have been killed in Burundi since President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision in April to stand for a third term. 

Image source, AFP

The BBC reporter covering Rwanda's constitutional referendum has spotted the president going to vote.

In theory, the proposed changes to the constitution could see Mr Kagame stay in power until 2034.

Image source, Thinkstock

Scientists in South Africa are studying whether putting vibrations into the ground could keep elephants from entering villages. 

A low-frequency alarm call is already being used but only with partial success.

The scientists suspect that the elephants know that the sounds are fake when they aren't accompanied by the vibrations.

So they are measuring how elephants communicate through the earth.

Read more about the research on the BBC News website.

Five supporters of the detained Biafran separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu were killed by security forces in the south-eastern Nigerian city of Onitsha, according to activists.

The police have confirmed that people were shot and told the BBC Hausa service that three people are "feared dead".

They accuse the protesters of injuring a military officer and damaging his rifle.    

The incident happened after a court in the capital Abuja ordered the release of Mr Kanu on Thursday and his supporters were celebrating.

Mr Kanu, who is being held on suspicion of using a radio station to broadcast hate messages, has not yet been released.

Image source, AFP

Catherine Byaruhanga
BBC Africa, Kigali

People have been steadily streaming into Rugunga polling station, which is close to State House in Rwanda's capital, Kigali. 

It's an efficient process - waiting times do not seem long. 

People are voting on a constitutional amendment to allow President Paul Kagame to seek a third term in office.  

Blue, yellow and green colours of the Rwandan flag can be seen everywhere including around the polling booths:

There's been no campaigning in this referendum - the law does not allow it. Public rallies have been carried out around the country to give people information about the ballot. 

The government views this as a national non-partisan exercise.   

The only excitement is the music playing on the speakers put up.

Image source, AFP

Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou has said his government has foiled a plot to overthrow him.

Mr Issoufou said the plotters planned to use "aerial firepower" to unseat him, in comments made on state TV.

He was elected in 2011, bringing to an end years of military rule. Niger has seen several coups since becoming independent in 1960.

"The government has just foiled an evil attempt at destabilisation," he said.

Read more at BBC News Online

Today’s African proverb: "Wisdom is not like money to be tied up and hidden." An Akan proverb from Ghana sent by Oguntoye Stephen Babatunde, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Image source, AFP

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