Summary

  • South Sudan's rival politicians order troops to stop fighting

  • SABC ordered to lift ban on showing footage of violent protests

  • Ethiopia social media shutdown during exams

  • South Africans arrested for 'planning attacks on Jewish and US sites'

  • Journalist shot in Lesotho

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  • Email stories and comments to africalive@bbc.co.uk - Monday 11 July 2016

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  1. Scroll down for Monday's storiespublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    We'll be back tomorrow

    That's all from the BBC Africa Live page today. Keep up-to-date with what's happening across the continent by listening to the Africa Today podcast or checking the BBC News website

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    And we leave you with this image of Morocco's cable-stayed "Mohammed VI Bridge", which is 950 metres long with two 200 metre high towers.  

    Africa's longest cable-stayed bridgeImage source, AFP
  2. Machar orders troops to stop fightingpublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    South Sudanese Refugees arrive at a refugee permanent settlement on June 4, 2016, Adjumani District in Uganda.Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    South Sudan has been in turmoil since independence in 2011

    South Sudan's Vice-President Riek Machar has called on troops loyal to him to stop fighting - about two hours after President Salva Kiir unilaterally declared a ceasefire. 

    "I inform all troops who have been fighting and have been defending themselves that they should observe the ceasefire and stay in position," Mr Machar said on Eye Radio Juba. 

    About 200 people have been killed since Friday when fighting broke out in Juba, the capital, between troops loyal to Mr Kiir and Mr Machar. 

  3. Your views on Ethiopia blocking social media sitespublished at 18:27 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    Logo of Facebook and WhatsAppImage source, AFP

    Our Facebook readers, external are sharply divided over the Ethiopian government's decision to ban social media sites so that students are not "distracted" during university entrance examinations.  

    Here are a sample of their views: 

    Quote Message

    Exams authorities should secure the questions - it's not impossible. Normal exam conditions don't allow phones and other inappropriate gadgets in the the exam halls. Don't seek to reinvent the wheel."

    Andy Alang, Cameroon

    Quote Message

    This is excessive government action. He who wants to be distracted will be distracted one way or another."

    Jerry Nduka, Nigeria

    Quote Message

    This is a lazy way of solving a human problem. Are they going to block other social media platforms?

    Maximus Ametorgoh, Ghana

    Quote Message

    I don't think this is government using excessive power,as long as the sites are reopen just after the exams. The government has the right to make sure that there is sanity and trust in the ethics of the exams not just for the country but for the entire world. Anything that seeks the general good of the country is worth such actions."

    Sahr Nouwah, Liberia

  4. Call to investigate shooting of Lesotho journalistpublished at 18:15 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    Lesotho's authorities must launch a prompt and impartial investigation into the shooting of Lesotho Times editor Lloyd Mutungamiri, rights group Amnesty International, external has said in a statement. 

    It added that Saturday's attack on Mr Mutunganmiri, who was critically wounded, was "deplorable". 

    Amnesty said the authorities should bring to justice those responsible for the attack and ensure ensure that journalists can work freely in the mountain kingdom. 

    The rights group added: 

    Quote Message

    His shooting is particularly disturbing because it comes amidst increased harassment and intimidation against the newspaper for its investigative journalism work.”

     Mr Mutungamiri's wife said she had heard several gunshots and screams outside their home in the capital, Maseru, on Saturday the New Zimbabwe, external news site reported.

    She added that when the shooting stopped, she ran out and found her husband slumped in the car bleeding profusely, it adds

    Mr Mutungamiri was charged with defamation in September 2014 for reporting on alleged police corruption, but the case as never brought to court, Amnesty said. 

    Lesotho's capital MaseruImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Lesotho's capital Maseru

  5. Diplomat recalls abduction in Nigeriapublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

     A Sierra Leonean diplomat who was kidnapped in northern Nigeria has spoken for the first since he was freed on 5 July. 

    Alfred Nelson-Williams, Sierra Leone's Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, said his life had been "constantly threatened" by gunmen who held him for five days, AFP news agency reports. 

    The diplomat, addressing reporters in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, said he had  been stopped at a checkpoint by men wielding AK-47 rifles and dressed in military fatigues while travelling from Nigeria's capital, Abuja, to the northern city of Kaduna. 

    Maj Gen Nelson-Williams, who is the former head of Sierra Leone's army, said he realised the checkpoint was fake when the gunmen demanded a contact "to which they would relay their demands", AFP reports. 

    He gave the name of Sierra Leone's High Commissioner, Haja Afsatu Kabbah. 

     "I give all glory to God for my release as he was in control," Maj Gen Nelson-Williams is quoted as saying.

    He said two arrests had been made, but he did not say who the abductors were, AFP reports. 

    Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Samura Kamara said no ransom had been paid and he was thankful "this was not a terrorist activity". 

  6. South Sudan soldiers ordered back to barrackspublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    James Copnall
    Africa editor, BBC World Service

    A wreckage of a Sudan People"s Liberation Movement armored personnel carriers (APC) is seen abandoned after it was destroyed in renewed fighting in Juba, South Sudan, July 11, 2016.Image source, Reuters

    While South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has declared a cessation of hostilities, his army chief of staff has ordered his troops back to barracks. 

    Any soldiers who does not go back - and continues to loiter or loot, as the army spokesman put it - will be arrested. 

    So from the president's side, the message is this - the fighting is over, for now at least. 

    Vice-President Riek Machar and his spokespeople have not yet responded. 

    One thing is clear though - the conflict which broke out on Friday has killed many civilians and soldiers - and left the peace agreement in tatters.

    See earlier post for more details

  7. SABC to challenge rulingpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    South Africa's public broadcaster, the SABC, says it will challenge the ruling by the country's media regulator ordering it to lift the ban on footage of violent protests.

    The SABC will take legal advice with a view to challenging the ruling of the country's media regulator in the courts, board chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe is quoted on the broadcaster's news website as saying, external

    The SABC's management has been strongly criticised by some of its journalists for imposing the ban, saying it amounted to censorship. 

    Earlier, SABC covered the ruling of the media regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa     

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  8. Ruling against SABC welcomedpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    A media campaign group in South Africa has welcomed a ruling ordering public broadcaster SABC to lift its ban on showing visuals of violent protests in the country.

    "It's great news for a Monday afternoon. It will be nice to see if the SABC board chair has the humility to apologise over the decision," Media Monitoring Africa director William Bird told the local News24 site.

    "Importantly, it at least confirms what we had said all along, that the SABC's decision was blatant censorship. It was anti-democratic, offensive and it was undermining the SABC and our constitution," he added. 

     South Africa's media regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (Icasa), gave SABC one week to reverse its decision  

    See our earlier post for more details

    Burnt book in South AfricaImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    SABC said it did not want to incite violence

  9. 'Hope fighters listen' in South Sudanpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    There's been swift reaction from a South Sudanese peace campaigner to the unilateral ceasefire declared by the government:  

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  10. South Sudan information minister on ceasefirepublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    The ceasefire in South Sudan was announced on state television by Minister of Information Michael Makuei on behalf of President Sava Kiir, as this tweet shows:  

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  11. Kiir announces ceasfirepublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 11 July 2016
    Breaking

    South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has declared a unilateral ceasefire to end fighting between his forces and those loyal to Vice-President Riek Machar, in the capital, Juba a media group has tweeted:  

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  12. Taking the pulse of African-Indian affairspublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    Mr Modi entertained by drummersImage source, AFP

    India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been on an African charm offensive, visiting four nations in a bid to tie up energy and trade deals and remind the continent of their cultural bond.

    Historic ties stretch back to British and Portuguese colonial rule, when a large number of Indians migrated to Africa. But how do things stand now?

    Find out by reading this BBC article 

  13. South African swimmer reveals parents fighting cancerpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    Chad Le ClosImage source, Getty
    Image caption,

    Chad le Clos won the gold medal for the 200m butterfly at the London Olympics in 2012

    South African swimmer and Olympic champion Chad le Clos has revealed that both his parents have cancer.  

    Le Clos said his mother, Geraldine, had undergone a double mastectomy in recent weeks after her breast cancer returned.

    He added that his father, Bert, has prostate cancer and has lost 30kg in weight in the past six months.

    "Having my mum and dad healthy would mean so much more than winning a gold medal," said Le Clos.

    He won gold in 2012 in the 200m butterfly at the London Olympics and is set to defend his title in Rio in August.

    He tweeted confirmation of the news:

    Read more on this story here: 

  14. South Sudan: What is behind the fighting?published at 15:39 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    About 200 people have been killed in four days of fighting in South Sudan between government forces and those loyal to Vice-President Riek Machar. 

    But what is behind the fighting?          

  15. France digitises recording of Mandela trialpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    French President Francois Hollande, right, gives an audio recording of Nelson Mandela to South Africa"s President Jacob Zuma before their press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, July 11, 2016Image source, AP

    French President Francois Hollande has given his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma the digitised recordings of the Rivonia Trial which led to anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela being sentenced to life in prison. 

    The audio recordings of the 1963-1964 court case - the most significant political trial in South Africa's history - were restored by France's National Audiovisual Institute as their quality had been deteriorating, AFP news agency reports. 

    Mr Zuma received the digitised recordings during a state visit to France, saying they would "safeguard an invaluable part of South African history for generations to come". 

    Mr Mandela was released in 1990 after 27 years in prison.

    He served one term as South Africa's first black president from 1994 to 1999 and died in 2013 aged 92.  

    Read: Six things you did not know about Mandela

  16. South Sudan's government to announce ceasefirepublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    At least 3000 displaced women, men and children gather to seek shelter in Juba, South Sudan at the UN compound in Tomping area, Monday, July 11, 2016Image source, AP
    Image caption,

    At least 3,000 people have taken shelter at a UN compound in Juba

    A spokesman for South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has told BBC Arabic that his office will announce a ceasefire shortly. 

     About 200 people have been killed since Friday in fighting in the capital, Juba, between troops loyal to Mr Kiir and his rival, Vice-President Riek Machar. 

    Read: Five obstacles to peace

  17. Al-Shabab seizes Somali portpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    Ibrahim Aden
    BBC Africa, Mogadishu

    Al-Shabab fightersImage source, AP
    Image caption,

    Al-Shabab is affiliated to al-Qaeda

    Somalia's militant Islamist group al-Shabab has taken control of the port city of Merka after government forces withdrew without giving reasons. 

    Residents said its fighters are now in the centre of Merka, which lies about 110km south-west of the capital, Mogadishu.

  18. SABC ordered to lift ban on coverage of protestspublished at 14:22 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    Milton Nkosi
    BBC Africa, Johannesburg

    Torched schoolImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Protesters have frequently destroyed schools and other public buildings

    South Africa’s national broadcaster SABC has been ordered by the country's media regulator to lift its ban on broadcasting visuals of violent protests.

    The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa made its ruling after civil society lodged a complaint against SABC, accusing it of censorship similar to that seen during minority rule. 

    Communication Minister Faith Muthambi had defended the ban, saying it would go "a long way to discourage attention-seeking anarchists". 

    The ban was imposed after more than 20 schools were torched in South Africa's Limpopo province in May during protests over the demarcation of new municipal boundaries ahead of crucial local government elections next month.

    Read: Is South Africa’s public broadcaster using apartheid tactics?

  19. India to 'finance cancer hospital' in Kenyapublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced plans to finance a cancer hospital in Kenya, The Star Kenya reports, external.

    Speaking during a joint press conference with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, Mr Modi said the plans would also include supplying medical equipment and medicine to hospitals across Kenya.

    "I understand healthcare is a key priority for President Uhuru Kenyatta," he added.

    Mr Kenyatta said Kenya was working towards building a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant with India's support.

    The Kenyan President Kenyatta and India's Prime Minister Narendra ModiImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    The Kenyan President Kenyatta and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hope for closer ties.

  20. SA terror suspects in courtpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 11 July 2016

    Twin brothers have been accused in court in South Africa of planning to blow up a US mission and Jewish institutions in the country, the BBC bureau in Johannesburg reports. 

    Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie were each charged with three counts related to terrorism when they appeared briefly in court today, initially covering their heads with hooded jackets.. 

    The 23-year-old twins will remain in custody until their next court appearance.

    They have not yet pleaded to the charges. 

    The provisional charge sheets say they may be linked to the militant Islamic State group, and were planning to cause explosions at a US mission and Jewish institutions.

    The alleged conspiracy to commit the crimes took place on three occasions between 2015 and 2016, the charge sheet says.

    The elite police unit, Hawks, said they attempted to travel to Syria last year, and had been under surveillance for some time.

    They were arrested, along with two others, during a raid of homes in Azaadvile and Newclare, two suburbs  near Johannesburg, the main city. 

    The elite police unit, Hawks, said it had confiscated a number of items, including computers and mobile phones, during the raids.

    See earlier post for more details