BBC World Service

UN investigators in the Democratic Republic of Congo say both government forces and militia groups have committed violations amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity in Kasai province, which descended into chaos two years ago.

The UN human rights report speaks of horrific atrocities, with militias forcibly recruiting children and government forces burning villages and raping and killing women and girls.

The investigators say the government must bring those responsible to justice and provide support for the victims.

The conflict has driven more than a million people from their homes.

History-making keeper Essam El Hadary has apologised to his nation for Egypt's exit despite saving a penalty in their 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia.

El Hadary saved Fahad Al Muwallad's first-half penalty but Salem Al Dawsari scored a winner for Saudi Arabia in stoppage time.

At the grand age of 45 years and 161 days, El Hadary is now the oldest World Cup player ever.

"I apologise to the Egyptian people on my behalf, and for my colleagues, after the three defeats," he said.

"I'm proud of what I have achieved and this achievement is worthy of Egypt," he added.

"We tried and did not have luck - this is football."

An Eritrean government delegation has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to hold peace talks aimed at ending the long-running border dispute between the two countries.

The delegation were greeted by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Photos of their arrival have been tweeted by privately owned news site Addis Standard:

Ethiopia announced earlier this month that it had decided to "fully" accept and implement a 2002 peace deal, under which Ethiopia is required to award disputed territories - including the town of Badme - to Eritrea.

It is hoped the talks will bolster the two nations' efforts to improve relations.

See our earlier posts explaining why this visit matters and showing welcome preparations.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

The arrival of an Eritrean delegation in Ethiopia will be a major step toward mending relations between the Horn of Africa neighbours.

Such conciliatory messages are unprecedented, especially because of two decades of conflict and hostile rhetoric.

The border dispute damaged relations between the neighbours and set them on a war footing.

While Ethiopia went on to forge close ties with the US on counter-terrorism operations, Eritrea became reclusive, using the conflict to justify political repression and curbing liberties.

The main issue has been Eritrea’s demand for Ethiopia to unconditionally accept the 2002 ruling agreement on boundary including the withdrawal of troops from the town of Badme.

Ethiopia’s indication earlier this month that it will cede the disputed territory could mean the neighbours are on their way to mending relations.

The visit comes days after a blast in Addis Ababa targeting a rally attended by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which some have termed an assassination attempt.

Eritirea was one of the first countries to condemn the attack, with one envoy calling it "an attempt to incite violence".

Today's visit, so soon after a major security incident, is a show of commitment to restoring ties with Addis Ababa.

It could also be seen as a statement of support for the Ethiopian premier, who is facing some opposition within the governing coalition.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

A high-level Eritrean government delegation has left for the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for peace talks, Eritrean state TV reports.

Our colleague Kumera Gemechu sends these photos from Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport where a welcome committee awaits the Eritreans' arrival:

Image source, Kumera Gemechu/BBC

Image source, Kumera Gemechu/BBC

Image source, Kumera Gemechu/BBC

Image source, Kumera Gemechu/BBC

Image source, Kumera Gemechu/BBC

Image source, Kumera Gemechu/BBC

Image source, Kumera Gemechu/BBC

Shingai Nyoka
BBC Africa, Harare

Neither President Emmerson Mnangagwa nor main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa have showed up to honour today's peace pledge - both have sent representatives instead.

Some at the meeting here in the capital, Harare, are disappointed and say the major players should have been here in person to reassure the nation after Saturday's political violence.

Today's event was intended to bring together all political parties and candidates in a renewed commitment to peace ahead of elections next month.

Yesterday, two people were confirmed dead having sustained injuries from an explosion on Saturday at a governing party rally in Zimbabwe's second-biggest city, Bulawayo.

At least 49 people, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa's two deputies, were injured in the blast. He said it was an attempt on his life ahead of the 30 July election.

What are Nigeria's chances against Argentina in their final group-stage match today?

Victory would ensure the Super Eagles reach the knock-out stage for a second successive World Cup, and for the fourth time in six appearances overall.

This fan told BBC Newsday he's expecting an "easy win" against a "struggling Argentina":

Nigeria World Cup facts:

• Nigeria's six World Cup wins have all come against European sides - they have never beaten opposition from another continent.
• The only previous time the Super Eagles won back-to-back World Cup games was in 1998, when they defeated Spain and Bulgaria in their first two matches.

• Ahmed Musa is Nigeria's all-time top scorer at the World Cup with four goals - two against Iceland at this tournament, and two versus Argentina in 2014.

Image source, AFP

The UK's Guardian newspaper reports, external that six albino candidates will run for office next year in Malawi's general election.

"We want to show the public that we are more than our skin," Overstone Kondowe, director of the Association of People with Albinism in Malawi, told the news site.

Mr Kondowe's association has pledged to field six candidates in the presidential and parliamentary elections in the belief it will challenge perceptions of people living with albinism.

In Malawi, like other countries in the region, people with albinism are hunted down because of the belief that potions made from their body parts can bring good luck and wealth.

In 2016, a UN expert warned that Malawi's estimated 10,000 albinos face "extinction" if they continue to be murdered for their body parts.

Graves of albinos are also targeted by criminals who remove bones in order to sell them.

Activists say poverty contributes to the suspicion surrounding albinos and the belief their body parts can be sold for large sums of money.

Read more:

• The albino who confronted a witchdoctor
• Challenging Africa's albino stereotypes

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

Political parties and candidates taking part in next month's election in Zimbabwe will sign a peace pledge today, days after an explosion at a campaign rally killed two people.

Nearly 50 others were injured in the blast in the country's second city, Bulawayo.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa narrowly escaped unharmed but his two vice-presidents were among those hurt.

Signatories of the pledge at a ceremony in the capital, Harare, will promise to use legal methods to resolve disputes.

The election, 30 July, will be Zimbabwe's first poll since Robert Mugabe was ousted in November after nearly forty years in power.

More on Zimbabwe's election:

• Will age be a factor in Zimbabwe's poll?
• Have Zimbabwe's generals turned into democrats?

Our African proverb of the day:

Image source, AFP

Click here to send us your African proverb.

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

BBC Africa Live
Farouk Chothia

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 today's wise words:

And we leave you with a 1977 picture taken by renowned South African photographer David Goldblatt, who has died aged 87:

Image source, David Goldblatt

You can see more of his photographs here.

A young Somali man who married two women on the same night has told the BBC that he will encourage other men to do it.

Bashir Mohamed said he courted both women for about eight months, and convinced them to marry him.

"I used to bring them together to socialise with me at my home," he told BBC Somali.

"I used to say openly to both of them that I love them. They were satisfied," he added.

The advantage of marrying both at the same time was that they would not get "jealous" later, and would know from the beginning that they were in a polygamous marriage, Mr Mohamed said.

He had taken two wives because he wanted "many children".

"I will encourage other men to do it, if they can afford it," Mr Mohamed said.

Polygamy is allowed in Somali culture, but it is unusual to marry two women at the same time, BBC Somali's Mohamed Mohamed says.

It has happened a few times in the last few years, suggesting that a new trend may be starting, he adds.

Mr Mohamed married the two women, Iqra and Nimo, in Sinai village in the breakaway state of Somaliland on 22 June, the private Somaliland Informer news site reported soon after their wedding., external

The video is on YouTube, but it is sideways:

Plastic waste is becoming an increasing problem all over Africa, but in Ghana one man is turning it into a business opportunity.

BBC Africa's One Minute Stories went to find out more.

Video Journalist: Sulley Lansah

Thomas Naadi
BBC Africa, Accra

Image source, AFP

Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has imposed a temporary ban on foreign travel by government officials - including all ministers, deputy ministers, heads of government agencies, as well as metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives - his office has said in a statement.

The reason is unclear, but the statement said the president will soon release guidelines on foreign travel in order to minimize disrupting government work at home.

In 2015, the government of John Mahama placed a similar ban on ministers to cut costs.

BBC Sport

Egypt's woeful World Cup ends in a third straight defeat. Salem Al-Dawsari won it for Saudi Arabia with an angled low finish.

Could Cameroon be the site of Africa’s next civil war?

BBC’s Africa Eye has found evidence of torture and abuse by both sides of a conflict involving French-speaking government forces and fighters from the country’s minority English-speaking regions.

Investigation by Aliaume Leroy and Emmanuel Freudenthal

Shingai Nyoka
BBC Africa, Harare

Image source, AFP

Two people have now succumbed to injuries following Saturday's an explosion at a rally addressed by Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the second city, Bulawayo, state media has quoted hospital officials as saying.

One of the dead is believed to be an aide to Vice-President Constatino Chiwenga, the former army who engineered long-serving ruler Robert Mugabe's downfall in November.

Almost 50 people were wounded, including eight senior government officials who suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Police have yet to confirm the details, but sources close to investigation believe a grenade was hurled at the rally in an apparent attempt to assassinate Mr Mnangagwa.

Image source, AFP

A Tunisian shepherd who was allegedly attacked by a group of Islamist militants as he grazed his flock has died of his injuries, the country's defence ministry has said.

Mohamed Griri, 28, was found by his brother on Saturday "screaming in pain" in a closed military zone on Mount Chaambi, in Kasserine.

"He was bashed in the head and his nose was cut off," his brother told private Mosaique FM.

Mr Griri was rushed to hospital in the capital Tunis, almost 200 miles (310km) away.

He succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night, Tunisia's defence ministry said in a statement, according to news agency AFP.

The ministry said he had been "attacked by a group of terrorists".

Extremists have attacked shepherds in Tunisia before.