A leading human rights activist has tweeted a photo of Ethiopian opposition leader Merera Gudina following his release from prison:

Meanwhile, a privately owned Ethiopian news site has tweeted what it says is an official letter, giving reasons for Mr Merera's release:

See earlier post for more details

Nick Cavell
BBC Africa Sport

All 16 teams have now played their first matches at the African Nations Championship, or Chan, in Morocco.

The biennial football tournament is for players in their own domestic leagues.

The tournament was moved to the North African country after original hosts, Kenya, was assessed as not being prepared.

In the pitch, the opening Group D encounters produced the second goalless draw so far between Burkina Faso and Angola, while a controversial penalty saw Congo-Brazzaville beat Cameroon 1-0.

Youssouf Kabore and Paty had good chances for Burkina Faso and Angola respectively but with both failing to convert the game ended goalless.

In the second match in Agadir, Cameroon will feel unlucky to have lost - not only did they dominate possession and create chances, the penalty given against them looked like a harsh decision.

Cameroon's goalkeeper Oscar Gwot Kitali seemed to get his hand to the ball as he dived at the feet of Prestige Mboungou - his compatriot Junior Makiesse then sent Kitali the wrong way for the only goal of the match.

Before the goal, Cameroon had struck the bar and the post within seconds but Rigobert Song’s men couldn’t find the target.

Cameroon now face Angola and Congo take on Burkina Faso - those games are on Saturday.

On Tuesday, it is the second Group A games with hosts Morocco looking for a second win as they play Guinea and Sudan are looking to do the same against Mauritania both matches in Casablanca.

Nigerian footballer Kelechi Iheanacho became the first player in English football to benefit from a goal decision awarded by Video Assistant Referee (VAR), a technology being introduced to help referees make decisions.

The Leicester striker was initially ruled offside by the linesman but the decision was overruled after the referee consulted VAR.

Leicester won 2-0 in their third-round FA Cup replay against Fleetwood Town.

BBC Africa's Stanley Kwenda, who was at the match, noted that the referee sketched a rectangle in the air to let everyone know that it was a VAR decision.

Stanley was kind enough to demonstrate the referee's action:

BBC Afrique

Police in Guinea have arrested a traditional healer for allegedly giving at least 100 women medicine which she said would make them pregnant.

Many of the women got symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness and swollen bellies, for more than 15 months, but they never fell pregnant.

The traditional healer has been arrested with two alleged accomplices.

You can listen to our correspondent Makéme Bamba's report in French here:

BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

The medical authorities in Uganda have warned that blood transfusion supplies in the country are critically low.

The blood bank facility in the capital Kampala is reported to be practically empty, with only about 100 units of blood available, rather than the thousand-plus units required every day.

The head of the Ugandan Medical Association Dr Mukuzi Muhereza, told the BBC that hospitals were having to cancel operations and that lives were being put at risk.

The state minister for health Sarah Opendi said extra money had been requested to get the blood transfusion back on track, but that it was up to people throughout the country to become blood donors.

Emmanuel Igunza
BBC Africa, Nairobi

Prominent Ethiopian opposition leader Merera Gudina has been released after more than a year in detention.

He is the first to be released since Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced on 3 January that the government will pardon several convicted politicians and those with cases in court in a bid to foster national cohesion.

Prison authorities told Mr Merera's family that he was released this morning, and will be allowed to return home.

Mr Merera, the leader of the Oromo Federalist Congress, has been in prison since December 2016 and was facing multiple charges, including links with terrorist groups.

He denied the charges.

The government announced on Monday that it will drop charges against more than 500 prisoners.

The announcement followed more than two years of anti-government protests that have rocked the country, with demonstrators calling for political and economic reforms and an end to state corruption and human rights abuses.

Image source, AFP

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