Image source, Getty Images

South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has issued a statement, external calling on the president to explain what it describes as "the bizarre recall" of the country's finance minister from a foreign investment trip to London (see previous entries).

It called the decision "a major setback for the economy in South Africa", where the rand has fallen by as much as 1.7% amid speculation over the move.

The DA said:

Pravin Gordhan's appointment as finance minister was intended to restore confidence after President Zuma sacked his two predecessors in the space of five days in 2015.

Tanzania's Information Minister Harrison Mwakyembe has ordered the rapper Ney wa Mitego to be released.

He was detained on Sunday for releasing a song deemed insulting to the government.

The song emerged last week and has been widely shared on social media.

One line in it asks: "Is there still freedom of expression in the country?" and refers to a "doctor" who can't tolerate criticism.

A tweet from the account of the spokesperson for the government says that the rapper should now "improve" the song.

The tweet says in Swahili: "Information Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe orders rapper Nay wa Mitego to be released but go and improve his song."

Tanzanians have been taking to Twitter to poke fun at President John Magufuli, as criticism mounts against his government's attitude towards freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

Last week he warned the media not to exaggerate coverage, saying journalists "thought they had freedom". 

And over the weekend, popular rapper Ney wa Mitego was arrested ( see earlier entry ) over a new song deemed to be insulting to the president. 

People have been using the hashtag  #ReportersUnderMagufuliEra, external to imagine what journalism might be like if everyone were to write stories portraying the country and its leader in a positive light: 

As you have probably guessed, the photo above is not of Dar es Salaam, but the New York skyline. 

Milton Nkosi
BBC Africa, Johannesburg

South African President Jacob Zuma’s instruction ordering Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to cancel an international investment roadshow to London has sparked speculation about a possible cabinet reshuffle. 

The move brings into sharp focus the divisions within his administration and within the governing African National Congress (ANC).

Mr Gordhan has made some political enemies after being seen as a bulwark against corruption and opposed to spending money on grand plans that are perceived as being politically motivated.

Markets are reacting negatively to the news of the recall. Consequently the country’s currency, the rand, has weakened by at least 2% since this controversy began this morning.

Some believe that Mr Zuma wants to create space in his cabinet for his ex-wife, the former chair of the African Union, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who is tipped to be a candidate in the ANC leadership contest later this year.

Image source, AFP

South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has had his international investor roadshow cancelled but what was he planning to do on his foreign trip? 

According to a treasury statement shared by one local journalist (see below), he would have spent two days in London, one day in Boston and two days in New York. 

Described as a "non-deal" trip, the Treasury said that it would "provide an update on the most recent developments, engage constructively with investors and share government's thinking behind its latest policy proposals". 

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has ordered Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to return home from a foreign trip where he was trying to drum up investment for the country, according to a government statement being shared on social media.

The Reuters news agency is quoting a source saying that Mr Gordhan did not get permission for the trip.

There are concerns that the recall could foreshadow a cabinet reshuffle in which Mr Gordhan is sacked.

This sentiment has led to a rapid plunge in the value of the currency, the rand, this morning:

A former member of Ghana's coaching team, Gerard Nus, has ended his sit-in as the football association settled his bonuses.

He had been refusing to leave his Accra hotel  since the end of the Africa Cup of Nations in early February.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) says it, external  "finally managed to raise the funds to pay all his outstanding bonuses on Saturday."

The Spaniard finally left Ghana on Monday to return home to Spain.

"Thanks to all people of Ghana. Great memories always from this passionate football country,"  Nus posted on his Twitter feed., external

According to the GFA statement there were disagreements over who should settle payments to the hotel where Nus had been staying.

More from BBC Sport

Image source, AFP

The government of Sudan is opening a humanitarian corridor to enable aid to get to South Sudan, where a famine has been declared in parts of the country. 

“Sudan will spare no effort to assist its brothers... until peace and stability are achieved there,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdel-Ghani al-Nai’m said in a statement carried by the Sudan Tribune website, external .

Last week, two US ships carrying 47,000 tonnes of the cereal crop sorghum docked at Port Sudan, nearly half of which is due to be delivered to South Sudan through Sudan, it adds.

A senior UN official in Sudan welcomed the government's decision to allow food aid through to Bentiu, a town in Unity State, South Sudan, experiencing famine. 

Marta Ruedas said:

At least 7.5 million people across South Sudan, almost two thirds of the population, need humanitarian assistance. 

Sudan is also currently hosting more than 350,000 South Sudanese refugees, who have arrived since the conflict erupted in December 2013.    

Image source, AFP

South Sudan conflict: The hungry emerge from swampland for aid

A South Sudan rebel spokesperson quoted by the Reuters news agency is blaming the government for the deaths of six aid workers at the weekend.

They were travelling between Juba, the capital, and the town of Pibor.

Spokesman for rebel SPLM-IO forces Lam Paul Gabriel told Reuters: "We don't have forces in that area. Instead it's the government forces and militias who control that area."

The government said it was too early to blame any side.

BBC Monitoring
Ibrahim Haithar

Kenyan soldiers have reportedly killed 31 al-Shabab militants after raiding their base in Badhade in southern Somalia. 

According to a government press release, the Kenyan army seized 11 AK-47 riffles, four improvised explosives, communication equipment, food and military uniforms. 

Image source, Kenya Government

The Sunday raid was carried out by ground troops supported by helicopter gunships. 

The government released pictures of some of the weapons it captured, included improvised explosive devices:

Image source, Kenya government

Kenya first deployed soldiers in Somalia in October 2011 in Operation Linda Nchi before they were absorbed into the United Nations-backed African Union Mission in Somalia the following year.

Kenya were the big winner's at Sunday's  World Cross Country championships, external , but the press in the host country this morning is focusing on a Ugandan winner:

Sixteen-year-old  Jacob Kiplimo, external  came first in a time of 22 minutes 40 seconds, three seconds ahead of Ethiopia's  Amdework Walelegn, external .

Kenya took the top two spots in the men's senior race and totally dominated the women's senior race coming first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth.

Image source, AFP

The UN has condemned the killing of six aid workers in South Sudan over the weekend, warning that further attacks could complicate efforts to deliver vital humanitarian relief to millions of people in the country facing starvation. 

The UN's Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Eugene Owusu said:

The full statement is below:

Sammy Awami
BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam

Image source, Ney wa Mitego

Popular Tanzanian rapper Emmanuel Elibariki, who performs as Ney wa Mitego, has been arrested for releasing a song called deemed insulting to the government. 

The song, Wapo, which has not made it to the radio airwaves yet, emerged last week and was widely shared on social media, especially on Whatsapp. 

Part of it asks:

It makes reference to a doctor who lances boils but cannot tolerate criticism. 

President John Magufuli has often spoken of "lancing boils" in reference to his no-nonsense approach to governing. 

The police told a local newspaper:

The rapper is popular for his scathing lyrics attacking not only the government but even his fellow artists. 

On his social media accounts he uses the name Nay true boy (translated from Swahili), saying he always speaks his mind and tells the truth.

His arrest comes just days after President John Magufuli warned media owners to be careful on how they use their press freedom.

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