Summary

  • Secessionist leader in Nigeria fails to appear at his treason trial

  • Zimbabwe's fruit import ban would "save foreign currency"

  • Somalia appeals for blood after bombing

  • Zuma sacks leading critic from cabinet

  • Imam's arrest leads to protests in Togo

  • Kenyan court lifts ban on demonstrations

Live Reporting

Farouk Chothia and Clare Spencer

  1. Foreign medics fly to Mogadishu after bombing

    A wounded man from the latest explosion in Mogadishu is carried on a stretcher to receive treatment in a Turkish hospitalAFP

    Some of the wounded have been evacuated to Turkey for treament

    More international medical teams and supplies have been sent to Somalia to assist victims of the bomb attack in Mogadishu on Saturday.

    Relief workers from Djibouti have arrived, and Somalia's information minister, Abdirahman Omar Osman, told the BBC that Qatar was expected to send an air ambulance today to transport more of the wounded for treatment.

    About 30 people have already been flown to Turkey for treatment. A total of 276 people are now known to have died in Somalia's deadliest attack in a decade, and 300 were wounded.

    The government has blamed al-Shabab militants, who've made no comment.

  2. Zuma fires critic from cabinet

    South Africa's embattled President Jacob Zuma has sacked a vocal critic of his from the government, as he tightens his grip on power.

    South African Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande - who has condemned widespread corruption in government and has backed former trade unionist and business tycoon Cyril Ramaphosa's presidential campaign - was removed as Higher Education Minister.

    In another controversial change, Mr Zuma appointed the Minister of State Security, David Mahlobo, as the Minister of Energy.

  3. Ban lifted on Kenya election protests

    BBC Monitoring
    The world through its media

    Riot Police in NairobiReuters

    Police are accused of using excessive force against protesters

    Kenya's High Court has temporarily lifted the government ban on protests against the electoral commission, reports the Daily Nation.

    The opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa) had already called off today's demonstrations against the electoral commission to allow its leaders to visit victims of alleged police brutality across the country, the newspaper reported.

    In a statement, Nasa leader Raila Odinga's spokesman Dennis Onyango said they would take the day off to sympathise with supporters who were injured by police during protests.

    Nasa has accused police for using excessive force against protesters, an allegation police deny.

    A student was shot dead on Monday in a protest in Kisumu, Western Kenya.

    Protests broke out after the disputed August election, won by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

    The Supreme Court ruled that the it was marred by irregularities.

    Mr Odinga says he will boycott the re-run scheduled for next week because his demands for electoral reforms have not been met.

  4. Zimbabwe ban on fruit imports

    A Zimbabwean mother carries a melon on her head on her way home in Mbare township on March 17, 2013AFP

    Zimbabwe was once the breadbasket of the region

    Zimbabwe's government has decided to ban the importation of horticultural products, including fruit and vegetables, in order to save foreign currency and to promote the sector's growth of, the agriculture minister has been quoted by the state-owned Herald newspaper as saying.

    Joseph Made said President Robert Mugabe had ordered him to "quickly stop" the imports, and "the foreign currency being wasted on the importation of carrots and grapes will now be utilised towards the purchase of more fertilisers and pesticides".

    The government also wanted to increase rice production because it has "become a very important source of starch, but is consuming a lot of foreign currency," Mr Made was quoted as saying.

  5. 'Giant corruption conspiracy' inquiry in SA

    Andrew Harding
    BBC News, Johannesburg

    Tens of thousands of South Africans from various political and civil society groups march to the Union Buildings to protest against South African president and demand his resignation on April 7, 2017 in Pretoria.AFP/Getty

    The president and his business allies have consistently denied wrongdoing

    South Africa's parliament is today beginning an inquiry into alleged corruption at the highest levels of government.

    Whistleblowers and prominent officials are expected to be called to give evidence into what's become known as "state capture".

    It could be an uncomfortable few days for some powerful people in South Africa.

    Ministers, tycoons, the president's son, and many other witnesses are likely to be summoned and, if they show up, grilled by MPs investigating claims of a giant corruption conspiracy.

    It is widely alleged that a powerful business family, the Guptas, have bought influence at the highest levels of government in order to win lucrative state contracts.

    The Guptas have denied such claims, as has their friend, President Jacob Zuma.

    Some South Africans see a parliamentary inquiry as a poor substitute for police investigations, arrests, and trials.

    But at a time of rising political tension over who will succeed President Zuma - this week's probe is like to produce some fireworks.

    Read: Will the 'Zuptas' fall?

  6. Today's wise words

    Our African proverb of the day:

    Half a loaf is better than nothing.

    A Shona proverb sent by Israel Katongo in Mount Darwin, Zimbabwe

    bread being passed to busGetty Images

    Click here to send us your African proverbs

  7. Good morning

    Welcome to BBC Africa Live where we will bring you the latest news from around the continent.