An ex-leader of a militia in Sierra Leone has just appeared in court accused of attending a political function of the governing party.

Moinina Fofana pleaded not guilty.

He is on community release after serving part of his prison sentence in Rwanda.

One of the terms of his release is that he doesn't get involved in politics, reports the BBC's Umaru Fofana.

He was convicted in 2007 for offences including murder and cruel treatment related to the civil war.

During the 10-year conflict some saw his Civil Defence Force (CDF) as defending civilians against rebels.

The court adjourned until Friday and he has not been granted bail.

Image source, AFP

Piers Edwards
BBC Sport

The new leadership of world football governing body Fifa has for the first time said that South Africa paid a bribe to host the 2010 World Cup. 

It accused former vice-president Jack Warner of being one of three ex-Fifa officials, alongside Chuck Blazer and an unidentified third person, to have accepted a $10m (£6.5m) bribe. 

Last year, Warner and the South African government both denied the payment was a bribe.

"Warner and his co-conspirators lied to Fifa about the nature of the payment, disguising it as support for the benefit of the 'African Diaspora' in the Caribbean region, when in reality it was a bribe," Fifa said in a 22-page document submitted to US authorities. 

"They disguised and funneled the bribe money through the financial accounts of Fifa, member associations, and the 2010 Fifa World CupTM local organizing committee," it added. 

Image source, AFP

The document was submitted as part of Fifa's attempt to claim "tens of millions of dollars'' from the 41 former FIFA officials and other football organisations who have been charged with football-related corruption by US authorities.

Gianni Infantino succeeded fellow Swiss Sepp Blatter as president of Fifa in elections last month. 

Chess is just a game to some. 

But one teacher thinks it can make his pupils good decision makers as you can't reverse the choices you make on the chess board. 

It has now been introduced to some South African schools to improve pupils' performance:

Martin Patience
BBC News, Nigeria correspondent

Image source, AFP

In December, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari told the BBC that Nigeria had "technically won the war" against Boko Haram.

He said that the militant group could no longer mount "conventional attacks" against security forces or population centres.

That may be true but it does not mean the conflict is over - far from it.

The Nigerian army may have recaptured towns and villages that were controlled by the Islamist militants but Boko Haram still has bases and responded by switching tactics.

It now uses improvised explosive devices to attack the military and increasingly deploys children and women as suicide bombers to hit soft targets such as mosques.

Image source, AFP

The group is also staging cross border attacks in neighbouring countries. Belatedly there is now the realisation that the group is regional threat. 

But as we've seen in Iraq and Afghanistan militants groups with dedicated followers can sustain their violent campaigns for many years.

And as this latest attack in Maiduguri shows the bombers are extremely difficult to stop.

Read: On patrol with Nigerian soldiers

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has tweeted about the bombing which has killed 22 people in the north-east:

Football's governing body Fifa has formally accused South Africa of paying a $10m (£7m) bribe to stage the 2010 World Cup, reports the London-based Telegraph newspaper, external.

Fifa submitted a “victim statement” and “request for restitution” to the United States Attorney’s Office, the newspaper adds. 

South African officials have repeatedly denied paying any bribes. 

Image source, AFP

One of the female suicide bombers who struck at a mosque in north-eastern Nigeria this morning had disguised herself as a man, says Malum Farouk, a member of a security group formed in response to the insurgency waged by militant Islamists in the region.

Mr Farouk told Reuters news agency that the bomber joined men who were praying in the congregation, and then blew herself up at the mosque in Umarari village, which is on the outskirts of Maiduguri city, the command centre of military operations against the militants.

Matthew Davies
Editor, BBC Africa Business Report

Image source, AFP

A team from ratings agency Moody's is arriving in South Africa today to conduct a review which could lead to a downgrade of the country's sovereign debt. 

As far as South Africa's Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is concerned, Moody's could have picked a better week to pay a visit. 

Recently returned from an overseas trip himself aimed at placating investor worries and convincing the ratings agencies not to reduce South Africa's debt to junk status, Mr Gordhan now faces an escalating row with the police specialist team, the Hawks. 

The Hawks are investigating the setting up of a suspected surveillance unit within the South African Revenue Service at the time Mr Gordhan was heading it up, in the 10 years up to 2009. 

The police claim he has refused to answer questions about the alleged spy unit in two separate letters. 

Mr Gordhan refutes this saying at the time of the first letter he was too busy compiling the country's budget and he denies even receiving the second letter. 

Mr Gordhan has also repeatedly called the Hawks' investigation a smear campaign against him and the Treasury. 

The tussle is just another factor that is weighing on the South African currency, which has struggled for the past year.

Image source, EPA

The World Happiness Report, external, released today, has ranked eight African countries among the ten least happy globally.

They used gross domestic product, life expectancy, having someone to count on, perceived freedom to make life choices, freedom from corruption, and generosity, among the measures of happiness.

Madagascar, Tanzania, Liberia, Guinea, Rwanda, Benin, Afghanistan, Togo, Syria and Burundi came at the bottom of the international happiness list.

But we want to know how you would measure your happiness?

What makes the biggest difference in your life?

Tell us on Facebook, external, Tweet us with #howtomeasurehappiness, external or send us a whatsapp message on +447341070844.

Image source, AFP

Nigeria's military has confirmed that 22 people were killed and 18 others wounded when female suicide bombers blew themselves up at a village on the outskirts of Maduguri city, the command centre of its operations against militant Islamist group Boko Haram.  

Government forces, backed by vigilante groups, have secured the area and are combing it for "possible clues", a statement said. 

It added: 

A journalist in the northern Puntland region of Somalia is tweeting about fighting government forces and al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants:

On Monday BBC Somali's Farhan Jimale said that al-Shabab had managed to occupy the coastal part of the Puntland region.

This was the first time the militants reached this part of the Somali coast, he added.

The imam of the mosque which has been bombed in north-eastern NIgeria has told the BBC Hausa service that he was leading people in prayer early this morning when the bombers struck. 

Gwani Kyari said he and the congregation had just stood up after prostrating to God when the bombs detonated.    

"One blast occurred inside the mosque, and the second outside my house," he added.

Mr Kyari said had been admitted to hospital for treatment. 

"My hearing was affected by the blast. I can't hear well at the moment," he told the BBC Hausa service by telephone.  

Image source, AFP

Media reports in Morocco say the government is planning to cut funding and personnel at the UN mission in the disputed territory of Western Sahara following controversial remarks by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. 

The move comes a day after Mr Ban criticised Morocco for its response to the comments he made earlier this month. 

Morocco had condemned the use of the word "occupation" to describe the situation in Western Sahara which Morocco annexed in 1975. 

Mr Ban said a mass rally held in Rabat on Sunday in protest against his comments had shown disrespect to him and the UN. 

Image source, AFP

One suicide bomber blew up inside the mosque in north-eastern Nigeria and the second waited outside to detonate as survivors tried to escape, said Abba Aji, a coordinator of a vigilante group trying to protect people from militant Islamist group Boko Haram, the Associated Press news agency reports.   

The mosque is in the Boko Haram stronghold of Umarari on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the city which is now the command centre of the Nigerian military's campaign against Boko Haram.

A witness has been  speaking about the suicide blasts in Umarari, on the outskirts of Nigeria's main north-eastern city of Maiduguri. 

"We were just a few metres away from the mosque when a loud bang erupted and all we could see was dark smoke and bodies littered around,'' Umar Usman told Associated Press news agency. 

Rescue workers say two female bombers were behind the suicide attack which killed 22 worshippers and wounded 17 at a mosque on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the former headquarters of militant Islamist group Boko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria, the Associated Press news agency reports. 

Read: Boko Haram's ties with IS

A suicide bomb attack has killed 22 worshippers at a mosque on the outskirts of Nigeria's north-eastern city of Maiduguri, rescue workers say, the Associated Press news agency reports. 

We will bring you more details as they come in. 

Image source, AFP

Niger's government is to fly jailed opposition presidential candidate Hama Amadou for specialised medical treatment, a government spokesman has said. 

Mr Amadou's doctor, Yakubu Haruna, was arrested yesterday for raising concern about Mr Amadou's health.

His exact illness is still unclear.  

Mr Amadou contested last month's disputed presidential elections from jail. He was arrested last year on baby-trafficking charges. 

He denied the charges, saying they were an attempt to prevent him from campaigning in the elections. 

Mr Amadou's party has said he would boycott the election run-off, due on Sunday. 

President Mahamadou Issoufou won the first round, but without a clear majority. 

Image source, AFP

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has ordered a purge of 2,500 "ghost workers" from the civil service, saying they were claiming a monthly salary of about $1m (£700,00), the private Citizen newspaper reports, external.

This is the latest move by Mr Magufuli, who was elected last year, to tackle corruption in government. 

He gave senior officials a 15-day deadline to remove their names from the government payroll, or else they risk being sacked.

"I want this country to forge ahead. The money we will save by getting rid of ghost workers should go towards the people's development," he is quoted as saying. 

Read: Tanzania's 'Bulldozer' president

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