Summary

  • Nigeria 'deploys' warship to The Gambia

  • President Jammeh declares state of emergency

  • Kenya bans all chicken imports from Uganda

  • Botched air strike in Nigeria 'kills 50' refugees and aid workers

  • Outrage after Somalia 'gang rape posted on Facebook'

  • Self-styled South African prophet 'cures people with engine fluid'

  • Troops open fire in Ivory Coast

  • Cleric who predicts Mugabe's death 'laughs off' charges

  • 'Tortured' Libyan can sue UK

  • Email stories and comments to africalive@bbc.co.uk - Tuesday 17 January 2017

  1. Scroll down for Tuesday's storiespublished at 18:09 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    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.

    A reminder of our proverb of the day:

    Quote Message

    The antics of a market buffoon provide laughter, but nobody prays for their child to become a buffoon."

    A Yoruba proverb sent by Paul Obafemi, Lagos, Nigeria

    Click here to send us your African proverbs.

    And we leave you with this picture of Ghana fans cheering on their team following their 1-0 victory over Uganda in the Africa Cup of Nations:

    This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Instagram
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip instagram post

    Allow Instagram content?

    This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of instagram post
  2. Ashanti royalty parade at queen mother's funeralpublished at 18:03 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    It is the second day of a four-day funeral for the queen mother of the Ashanti kingdom in Ghana. 

    Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II reigned for 39 years and died aged 109 in November.

    Photographer Emmanuel Bobie is at the funeral in Ghana's second city Kumasi.   

    He has captured these shots of Ashanti royalty paying their respects:

    This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Instagram
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip instagram post

    Allow Instagram content?

    This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of instagram post
    This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Instagram
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip instagram post 2

    Allow Instagram content?

    This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of instagram post 2
    This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Instagram
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip instagram post 3

    Allow Instagram content?

    This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of instagram post 3
  3. Red Cross volunteers 'killed'published at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Twenty volunteers with the Red Cross were among the 50 people killed in a botched air strike by Nigeria's military, an unnamed aid worker has been quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying. 

    Medical charity Doctors Without Borders said its team based in Rann in the remote north-east had counted 50 bodies and had treated 120 wounded, the agency reports. 

    In a statement, it said:

    Quote Message

    Our medical and surgical teams in [neighbouring] Cameroon and Chad are ready to treat wounded patients. We are in close contact with our teams, who are in shock following the event.''

  4. Buhari 'regrets' civilian bombingpublished at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhadri deeply regrets the "accidental" killing of civilains in an air strike by the military in a remote part of north-eastern Nigeria, hs edia adviser Femi Adesina has said. 

    The air force was engaged in the "final phase of mopping up insurgents" when "this regrettable operational mistake" happened, he added.

    See previous post for more details.

  5. Nigeria air strike 'kills 50'published at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    A total of 50 people were killed and 120 wounded when Nigerian fighter jets "mistakenly" bombed people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency and aid workers in north-eastern Borno state, Reuters news agency is quoting medical charity Doctors Without Borders as saying. 

    The International Committee of the Red Cross said that six of its staff were killed in the air strike, AFP news agency is reporting. 

  6. Afcon: Burkina Faso and the derby of the 'in-laws'published at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Burkina Faso's supporters attend the 2017 African Cup of NationsImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    For Burkina Faso fans, picking a side between Ivory Coast and Togo was not a straight call

    For people from Burkina Faso picking a side was not so easy when Ivory Coast and Togo went head to head yesterday in their  Africa Cup of Nations match.

    That's because they have affection for both.

    For nearly 30 years Burkina Faso's first lady was Ivorian.

    Burkina Faso's ex-First Lady Chantal Compaore (L) and her Ivory Coast counterpart Mrs OuattaraImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Ex-First Lady of Burkina Faso Chantal Compaore (L) is Ivorian

    People in Burkina Faso have taken to calling the Ivorians the in-laws.

    But they later acquired other in-laws when Roch Marc Christian Kabore was elected as president last year. 

    The Burkinabe is married to Sika Bella Kabore who is from Togo.

    Burkina Faso's current First Lady, Sika KaboreImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    The current First Lady of Burkina Faso Sika Kabore is from Togo

    So yesterday, as Ivory Coast and Togo battled it out in Gabon, fans in Burkina Faso saw more than just another Afcon match: It was the derby of the in-laws. 

    So with the two teams drawing in their game, all sides came out of watching the match with no hard feelings.

  7. Kenya bans Ugandan chickens amid bird flu fearspublished at 17:21 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Michael Kaloki
    Nairobi

    eggsImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    There's a big difference in the price of eggs in Kenya and Uganda

    Kenya is banning all imports of live chicken and chicken products from neighbouring Uganda.

    It follows the recent announcement by Ugandan authorities that they had detected bird flu in the south of the country.

    Officials on the border have been placed on high alert to ensure no chicken products get through.  

    The fear is that the disease could spread to humans.

    Despite the health risk, the move isn't going to be popular with everyone because Ugandan eggs are cheaper than Kenyan eggs.

  8. Gambian state of emergency to be 90 dayspublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Umaru Fofana
    BBC Africa, Banjul

    Gambian state radio and TV have announced the state of emergency will be for 90 days.

    There are no more details.

  9. Gambia's Jammeh 'declares state of emergency'published at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
    Breaking

    Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh has declared a state of emergency. 

    He made the announcement on state television. 

  10. Ghana scores against Ugandapublished at 16:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Andre Ayew of Ghana has converted a penalty with a left footed shot to the centre of the goal.  

    It's now 1-0 to Ghana in their Africa Cup of Nations match against Uganda.

    Follow the latest on BBC Sport.

  11. Nigeria's military 'grieves' after bombing civilianspublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    A photo shows a campaign signboad displayed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show its readiness to defeat Boko Haram Islamists on assumption office at Ogijo, Ogun State in southwest Nigeria, on July 3, 2015Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Nigeria's military has been battling the insurgents since 2009

    Nigeria's defence spokesman has said the military is grieving after mistakenly bombing aid workers and civilians in north-eastern Borno state, the epicentre of the insurgency by militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

    The spokesman, Rabe Abubaker, said:  

    Quote Message

    These kind of mistakes do happen in an operational zone, like the one we are conducting. It is a mistake, an operational mistake.

    Quote Message

    There was information that there were terrorist groups around that area and Nigerian aircraft dropped a bomb, but this was wrong information.

    Quote Message

    Even in the most developed nations these kinds of mistakes do happen. We are all in grief.

    Quote Message

    This was not actually an IDP (internally displaced people's] camp. It’s a settlement called Raan in Kala-balge local government in Borno state.

    Quote Message

    For now we cannot be certain of the numbers killed, we continue our investigation.”

  12. Nigeria 'mistakenly' bombs refugeespublished at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    SoldierImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The Nigerian army is in a long term battle against Islamist militants Boko Haram

    A fighter jet of Nigeria's military has mistakenly bombed refugees and aid workers linked to Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross during an operation against militant Islamist group Boko Haram in north-eastern Borno state, the army has said.

    There were deaths and injuries, but the exact number was still unclear, Maj-Gen Lucky Irabor has been quoted by the local Vanguard newspaper as saying., external

    Soldiers were among the wounded, he added. 

  13. Uganda compete in Afcon for first time since 1978published at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    The Africa Cup of Nations match between Ghana and Uganda is about to kick off. 

    And the two have a significant relationship - the Cranes are at the tournament for the first time since 1978, when they lost to Ghana in the final.

    Here's the Uganda line up from all that time ago:

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post

    Get the latest on today's line up and the match on BBC Sport and listen to BBC live commentary online.

  14. Nigeria 'deploys warship' to The Gambiapublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Tomi Oladipo
    BBC Monitoring's Africa security correspondent

    Nigeria’s newest warship, the NNS Unity, is sailing towards The Gambia ahead of possible military intervention over President Yahya Jammeh's refusal to accept election defeat and step down when his term expires on Thursday. 

    A Nigerian military source told the BBC the patrol vessel was currently sailing off the coast of Ghana after leaving from the commercial capital, Lagos. 

    The initial aim is to put on a show of force rather than to launch an attack. 

    Senegal is preparing ground troops ahead of Thursday’s deadline. 

    The Gambia’s tiny army is no match for the regional powers. In recent years, President Jammeh has been promoting his loyalists, including army chief Ousman Badjie,  to ranks beyond their competence. 

    This has further downgraded its military capabilities.

    The regional body, Ecowas, has said that military intervention will be a last resort to bring an end to the political deadlock in The Gambia.

    Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has been leading mediation efforts to persuade Mr Jammeh to hand power to former estate agent Adama Barrow, who won the 1 December election. 

    A photograph made available on 14 JAnuary 2017 shows President of Gambia Yahya Jammeh (L) welcoming President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari (R) at the State House in Banjul, Gambia, 13 January 2017Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Mr Jhammeh (L) has rejected appeals from Mr Buhari (R) to quit

  15. Ghana v Uganda line uppublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Here's the line up for the Ghana v Uganda Africa Cup of Nations match kicking off in the next 10 minutes:

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  16. Tanzania 'leads' in online shoppingpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Online sales are bigger in Tanzania than six other African countries - including Kenya, East Africa's biggest economy -  which feature in a report by the World Bank, as this tweet shows:  

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  17. Ghana footballers accept unknown bonuspublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Ghana playersImage source, Justin Tallis
    Image caption,

    Ghana's players are looking relaxed in Gabon

    In just under an hour Ghana will be playing Uganda in the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

    And in the nick of time the Ghanaian players have agreed to accept whatever bonus the government decides to pay.

    The Ghana Football Association say the players want to show they are ready to play for their nation and are not motivated only by money.  

    The players have been accused of being greedy in the past.

    At the 2014 Brazil World Cup Ghana's government sent more than $3m (£1.8m) in cash by plane to pay the players.  

  18. Mutinous soldier 'killed' in Ivory Coastpublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    Ivory coast soldierImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Ivory coast soldiers took part in a two-day mutiny over pay earlier this month

    Elite loyalist troops from Ivory Coast have killed a mutinous soldier in the capital, Yamoussoukro, a military source has told AFP news agency. 

    "The mutinous soldier was killed by the Republican Guard in front of their camp," the source told AFP on condition of anonymity. 

    The soldier had been taking part in a protest that erupted earlier which involved firing shots in the air.

  19. Will more African footballers move to China?published at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    John Mikel ObiImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Mikel moved from Chelsea to China earlier this month

    Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traore has told BBC Sport that he expects more African footballers to move to the Chinese Super League. 

    "The important thing is to find a club where the football project is big, interesting and you really feel wanted," Traore, who is on loan at Ajax from Chelsea, said.

    The transfer season is open right through to the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations - so the BBC's Barney Cullum says some African players may be able to use the exposure to engineer big-money moves to China.

    They would be following what is becoming a familiar path. Former Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba became one of the first high-profile players to head east five years ago. 

    And midfielder John Mikel Obi left Chelsea to join Chinese Super League side Tianjin TEDA earlier this month.   

  20. Why South Africans are pretending to be deadpublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017

    One of the latest trends in South Africa is to photograph yourself pretending to be dead. But not everyone approves of the #DeadPoseChallenge, reports Christian Parkinson:

    Media caption,

    #DeadPoseChallenge Why South Africans are pretending to be dead