Summary

  • Tanzania arrests Iranians "smuggling heroin in dhow'"

  • UN says some Cameroonians trapped in forests after fleeing unrest

  • Airstrikes in Libya kill women and children

  • Nigeria signs deal with Russia to ease electricity crisis

  • Nigeria's government agrees to compensate Biafra war victims

  • East African supermarket giant goes into administration

  • South African rapper apologises for showing penis on Instagram

  • South Africa recommended to host 2023 Rugby World Cup

  1. Scroll down for Tuesday's storiespublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    We’ll be back tomorrow

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

    A reminder of today's wise words:

    Quote Message

    The one who built the drum knows what is inside."

    A Kirundi proverb from Burundi, sent by Robin Ntatangwa in South Africa

    Click here to send us your African proverbs.

    And we leave you with this picture from South Africa of a little superman:

    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. Al Ahly fans prompt training cancellationpublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    African Champions League finalists Al Ahly had to cancel a training session at their Cairo headquarters after too many fans turned up to watch.

    The Egyptians are eyeing a record ninth African title when they take on Wydad Casablanca in Morocco on Saturday.

    The tie is delicately poised at 1-1 on aggregate following last Saturday's first leg in Alexandria.

    Ahly have one more training session at home in the Egyptian capital before leaving for Morocco tomorrow.

    Al Ahly fans overrun Tuesday's training session in Cairo
    Image caption,

    Al Ahly fans unwittingly caused the cancellation of Tuesday's training session in Cairo

  3. Dengue fever breaks out in north Senegalpublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Laeila Adjovi
    BBC Africa, Dakar

    MosquitoImage source, SPL
    Image caption,

    Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes

    A total of 36 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Senegal's northern Louga region, Abdoulaye Bousso, the director of the emergency operation centre at the health ministry, has told me.

    "All the cases are benign. None of the patients suffered complications or were hospitalised," he added. Dengue fever has symptoms which can be very similar initially to flu.

    Most people who get it will suffer from headaches and fever. Some get rashes, aches and pains and their symptoms usually last for two or three days.

  4. Why Ivory Coast has such low breast cancer survival ratespublished at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Tamasin Ford
    BBC Africa, Monrovia

    It’s thought that less than a quarter of people with cancer get diagnosed in Ivory Coast.

    The majority of those that do get diagnosed here are already in the late stages of the disease.

    More than half don’t come back for treatment because of the cost.

    The government recently announced free breast cancer treatment but the head of the National Programme Against Cancer, oncologist Professor Innocent, told me it’s not all free and patients still end up paying a large bulk of it.

    The consequences are stark.

    In Ivory Coast survival rates are at just 30%.

    Compare that with the developed world where, if the breast cancer is caught early, survival rates are close to a 100%.

    Even if people can afford treatment, the options are limited.

    In the whole of West Africa, only Ghana, Nigeria, Mali and Mauritania have working radiotherapy machines.

    Sinanta Awa Traore’s family paid to send her to the US for radiotherapy after she was diagnosed with the advance stages of breast cancer.

    When I met her she was hiding her bald head with a colourful beaded wig. She told me she didn’t rate her chance of survival:

    “When you get the confirmation, the reality hits you. My children aren’t old. I saw myself leaving too soon, without seeing my children grow up. I saw it as the end. In fact, I saw death facing me.”

    Radiotherapy machineImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    There isn't a single radiotherapy machine in Ivory Coast

  5. Airstrikes in Libya kill women and childrenpublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Rana Jawad
    BBC North Africa correspondent, Tunis

    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

    An airstrike in Libya’s eastern city of Derna - once a stronghold of the militant Islamic State (IS) group - killed at least 12 women and children on Monday night, according to a statement by the UN mission in the North African state.

    Unverified pictures circulating on social media show the charred remains of victims of the airstrikes.

    Reports citing a witness and medical sources say people were killed when airstrikes hit two separate areas in and around the city.

    An international human rights observer, who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity, said that several children between the ages of five and nine suffered severe burns and eye-sight loss.

    A picture taken on February 21, 2016 shows the Sahaba Mosque in the eastern coastal Libyan city of Derna.Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Derna is a port city which was once controlled by Islamic State militants

    Egypt has carried out airstrikes in Derna in the past, but no-one has claimed responsibility for the latest attack.

    The city has largely been surrounded and cut-off from the rest of eastern Libya in recent months by forces loyal to the controversial military strongman Khalifa Hefter.

    Read: Why is Libya so lawless?

  6. Anglophone Cameroonians 'flee to Nigeria'published at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    BBC World Service

    A demonstrator carries a sign calling for the liberation of detained activists during a protest against perceived discrimination in favour of the country's francophone majority on September 22, 2017 in BamendaImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Cameroon's English-speaking population is demanding more rights

    The UN refugee body says at least 5,000 people have fled Anglophone Cameroon, where there have been a series of anti-government protests, into neighbouring Nigeria.

    UNHCR says other people may be trapped in forests on the Cameroonian side as they attempt to cross the border.

    It says it's working with the Nigerian authorities on a contingency plan to provide assistance for 40,000 people arriving in Nigeria, though it is worried that numbers might go up, if the problems in Anglophone Cameroon continue.

    Read more about Cameroon

  7. 'More than 200 applicants' for Uganda coaching rolepublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Moses BasenaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Interim coach Moses Basena is one of hundreds to apply for the vacant Uganda post

    Uganda interim coach Moses Basena has joined Togo coach Claude LeRoy in applying for the vacant Cranes post.

    The duo are among more than 200 coaches who have applied for the job, said a Ugandan FA official.

    "I have worked as an assistant coach for some time now and played a role in helping the team qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations," Basena told BBC Sport.

    Basena, who is also coach of Premier League side UPDF FC, has been in charge of Uganda since Serbian-born Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic quit two months ago.

    The successful coach will be announced on 15 November.

    Read more on BBC Sport.

  8. Daytime truck ban imposed in Mogadishupublished at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Trucks and tankers will be banned from entering Somalia's capital Mogadishu during the day, after attacks in the city.

    Mogadishu's mayor, Thabit Abdi, announced that trucks and tankers cannot pass through the city from 07:00-20:00.

    Those flouting the ban risk a fine of $1,000 (£750).

    On 14 October a truck packed with explosives killed more than 350 people on a busy junction.

    Mogadishu attackImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    It was the deadliest attack in Somalia's history.

    The Somali government blames militant Islamic group al-Shabab for the bombing, but the group has denied it.

    Read more on the BBC News website.

  9. Rwanda genocide 'orphan' reunites with fatherpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    A father has been reunited with his daughter 23 years after she was mistaken as an orphan and taken from Rwanda to Italy for adoption, reports the Guardian, external.

    The tale is quite extra-ordinary.

    During the Rwandan genocide, Jeanette Chiapello was found by villagers alive among a pile of bodies.

    Her mother and two siblings were lying dead nearby.

    Her father had been hiding in a different location with the couple’s three other children.

    He eventually found Ms Chiapello at an orphanage and left her there with plans to return.

    But when he was away she was taken to Italy as part of a group of children registered as orphans to be given up for adoption.

    About a decade ago, one of Ms Chiapello’s brothers, Vincent Twizeyimana, began searching for her.

    He traced her, but Ms Chiapello - known as Nyirambabazi Beata before her adoption - rejected his overtures until this year.

    The Guardian reports that earlier this month she went back to Rwanda - with her Italian husband - to meet her family and was welcomed with a traditional ceremony.

    That ceremony was tweeted by Rwandan photographer Cyril Ndegeya:

    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
    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 2

    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 2
  10. Tanzania MP freed after being arrested twice todaypublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Tulanana Bohela
    BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam

    John Magufuli delivers a speech during the swearing in ceremony in Dar es Salaam, on November 5, 2015Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    President John Magufuli's critics say he is showing intolerance towards the opposition

    A prominent opposition MP in Tanzanzia, Zitto Kabwe, has been freed on bail - after being arrested twice today.

    Police first arrested Mr Kabwe - the leader of the opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency - for allegedly uttering seditious words during a by-election campaign rally in the main city, Dar es Salaam.

    He was released, only to be re-arrested and released again.

    Mr Kabwe told reporters that he has to report back to police next Tuesday and then go to court to face charges of releasing false statistics and breaking cyber-crime law.

    On Twitter at the weekend, Mr Kabwe casts doubts about the credibility of the government's quarterly economic growth figures for 2017.

    President John Magufuli recently called for the Statistics Act to be strictly implemented.

    Under the law, a person can be sentenced to up to two years in jail if convicted of giving misleading government statistics.

    See earlier post

  11. DR Congo police 'arrest anti-Kabila protesters'published at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Police in the city of Beni in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo say they have arrested nine demonstrators during a march to demand an end to President Joseph Kabila's rule, reports AFP news agency.

    It comes a day after clashes in the region left at least two people dead.

    The nine were from a youth campaign group called Lucha (Struggle for change), Beni's deputy police chief told AFP.

    Lucha tweeted from the protest earlier today:

    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

    The tweet says "nobody is going to stop the march. Kabila must go".

    Lucha is campaigning for Mr Kabila to leave office.

    His presidential term expired in December but he didn't step down and the electoral commission says there won't even be an election until 2019 at the earliest.

  12. Russia and Nigeria clinch nuclear power dealpublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Ishaq Khalid
    BBC Africa, Abuja

    Russia has signed an agreement with Nigeria to build and operate nuclear power plants in the oil-rich West African nation. The aim is to boost Nigeria's electricity supply.

    A man stands next to a placard reading 'No electricity! No industries!! No jobs!!! Provide electricity, revive industries, provide decent jobs' during a demonstration to protest against the 45 percent raise of electricity prices on February 8, 2016 in LagosImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Many Nigerians complain about lack of electricity

    Sources at the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission told the BBC that two nuclear plants will be built - one in the south, the other in the central part of the country.

    Some reports say the cost is likely to be around $20bn (£15bn) - the bulk of it provided by Russia.

    Construction is expected to begin in the next two years.

    Nigeria is the sixth largest oil producer in the world, but it suffers from a massive shortage of electricity so it is hoped that the building of the nuclear power plants will ease the crisis.

    Nigeria generates only about 4,000 megawatts of electricity for its population of about 180 million.

  13. What next for Kenya?published at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    We reported previously that Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga was expected to mention today whether he intended to mount a legal challenge to last week's election, which saw Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta win 98% of the vote.

    But, as the BBC's Alastair Leithead points out, Mr Odinga did not mention any legal challenge to the poll in a live announcement on TV today.

    Kenya's opposition now has six days to challenge the election in court.

    But that isn't the end to the court cases around this election. Our correspondent adds that at least one Supreme Court petition is pending - filed the day before the ballot - and it’s expected that more will follow.

    Supreme Court judgesImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    We may well be seeing more of the inside of this court room

  14. Odinga vows to continue protestingpublished at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Raila OdingaImage source, AFP

    The leader of the Kenyan opposition coalition Nasa, Raila Odinga, has vowed to continue protesting against the electoral body.

    "We will continue to assemble, protest, picket… as often as we choose," he said live on NTV.

    Mr Odinga boycotted the re-run of the presidential election last week because he said no reforms had been made to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after the Supreme Court found irregularities and illegalities in the original poll.

    Turnout for the vote was just under 39%.

    He said elections in Kenya "risk becoming coronation rituals".

    He announced he is launching a "people's assembly" which would include a task force investigating the "continuing failure in electoral bodies".

    Mr Odinga also took a stab at Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who won last week's poll with 98% of the vote, and Deputy President William Ruto, saying: "We will not allow two megalomaniacs to destroy freedom and democracy."

    Read: Odinga - love him or loathe him

  15. Kenyan journalists beaten up at opposition HQpublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Kenya's opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa) has apologised after youths beat up two journalists at its headquarters in the capital, Nairobi.

    In a statement, Nasa said the they had acted on their own, and the media should give it video footage of the incident for "investigation and action".

    Citizen TV’s senior political reporter Francis Gachuri and NTV cameraperson Jane Gatwiri were assaulted after the youth expressed dissatisfaction with the coverage of the 26 October presidential election re-run.

    Nasa leader Raila Odinga is due to hold a press conference to outline his next move after President Uhuru Kenyatta won the re-run with 98% of the vote.

    Mr Odinga boycotted the poll, saying conditions for a free and fair poll did not exist.

    Raila Odinga (C) addresses thousands of his supporters as he drives through Kawangware slum after attending a church service in Nairobi, Kenya, 29 October 2017Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Raila Odinga has demanded a fresh election in 90 days

  16. Baningime yet to decide international futurepublished at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Stanley Kwenda
    BBC Africa

    Everton's Beni Baningime and Leicester City's Shinji OkazakiImage source, Getty Images

    Everton teenager Beni Baningime says he has yet to decide whether to play for England or the Democratic Republic of Congo at international level.

    The midfielder, 19, impressed on his first-team debut at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup last week before making his Premier League bow on Sunday.

    "My dad and I will have to speak about it. We're focussing on the club first. Hopefully when we start winning - I need to get that bit done - then I will have to think about where I am going to go."

    Baningime was born in the Congolese capital Kinshasa but he has been at Everton's academy since he was nine.

    Read more on the BBC Sport website.

  17. 'Iranians charged with smuggling heroin in dhow off Zanzibar'published at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    Dhows
    Image caption,

    The traditional boats, called dhows, are often seen sailing off the coast of Tanzania

    Ten Iranians and two Tanzanians have been charged with smuggling 100kg of heroin in a dhow off the coast of the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar, reports Tanzania's Citizen newspaper, external.

    The 12 men - age between 21 and 40 - were not asked to plead during a court appearance.

    The newspaper says it is the largest quantity of drugs seized since Tanzania's new anti-drug agency was created in April.

    It adds that the boat attempted to change course but was stopped by a navy ship.

    The boss of the anti-drug agency Rogers Siyanga told the Citizen that drugs were being thrown overboard as the navy approached.

  18. Failed Nakumatt 'represented Africa rising'published at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    NakumattImage source, EPA

    Once seen as a symbol of the growth of the middle class in Africa, Kenya's supermarket giant Nakumatt is now in deep financial trouble, as the news site Quartz, external points out:

    Quote Message

    As recently as 18 months ago, Nakumatt had seemed to be a homegrown retail icon of the 'Africa rising' narrative of a fast growing middle class in urban areas.

    Quote Message

    The brand also represented the eventual shift from an informal economy of open air markets to a more Western style formal economy of supply chains, credit cards, and 24-hour stores.

    Quote Message

    But the chain, which grew fast to over 60 outlets in East Africa, seemed to struggle to manage its credit facilities efficiently and effectively with suppliers even as it grew rapidly and problems started to surface over the last year.

  19. SA recommended to host 2023 World Cuppublished at 11:29 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    South Africa team October 2017Image source, EPA

    South Africa has been recommended to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup ahead of Ireland and France, the tournament's organising board has announced.

    The World Rugby Council will now meet on 15 November in London to vote on the next host.

    The board made its recommendation following detailed consideration of the host candidate evaluation report.

    Read more on the BBC Sport website.

  20. East African supermarket chain goes into administrationpublished at 11:03 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2017

    David Wafula
    BBC Africa

    NakumattImage source, AFP

    Kenya's biggest supermarket chain, Nakumatt, has applied to court to be taken into administration under insolvency laws.

    Rumours have been circulating for months that Nakumatt is in deep financial trouble.

    Some landlords had previously filed suits to evict Nakumatt from their premises after it emerged that the retailer owed 19 of them about $5m (£3.8m).

    The company - which also has stores in Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda - had also been in talks with supermarket chain Tuskys about a possible merger.

    Bloomberg news agency reports that South Africa's Shoprite supermarket is looking at opening its first stores in Kenya following the collapse of Nakumatt.