BBC World Service

The influential Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has said that - based on results it has seen from Sunday's elections - there was a clear winner among the 21 presidential candidates.

But the Catholic bishops at a news conference in the capital, Kinshasa, did not name the presumed victor.

Their comments follow a warning from the information minister for people to "resist the temptation to broadcast results" before the official tally from the electoral commission, Céni, due on Sunday.

The electoral body says it will not announce results until 100% of the tallying sheets have arrived, and so far 20% have been received. Despite earlier suggestions that the results could be delayed, Céni has told reporters it is "working hard" to get provisional results ready for Sunday.

The bishops urged the commission to be truthful and accurate to avoid political unrest.

On election day, the Church fielded hundreds of observers across the country - more than any other organisation. Monitors deployed by the African Union Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said the polls were "reasonably well-managed".

But in their report, the bishops said over a third of polling stations were missing election materials at the start of polling day. They identified other irregularities including voter identity, the sealing of ballot boxes and voting machine malfunctions.

The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that five crew members died in the military helicopter that crashed on Wednesday evening in the country's north-east.

It adds that their bodies have been recovered from the wreckage.

The cause of the crash has not been confirmed. The aircraft had been supporting ground troops against Boko Haram militants in the Damasak area which borders Niger, a military spokesman said.

BBC World Service

Sudan's government has announced an increase in civil servants' salaries.

At least 19 people have been killed since the demonstrations began in mid-December against sharp price increases.

In a speech today, President Omar al-Bashir marked the country's independence anniversary with a speech highlighting his government's achievements - despite the continued protests in many towns and cities.

Addressing workers' unions, he blamed the economic crisis on the loss of oil revenue since the 2011 secession of South Sudan, which he said had been worsened by the impact of US economic sanctions that ended in 2017.

The opposition, demanding that President Bashir steps down after three decades in power, has called for another wave of mass protests to take place on Friday.

Image source, Reuters

Kennedy Gondwe
BBC News, Lusaka

Image source, TP Mazembe

Congolese football giants TP Mazembe have appointed Zambian legend Charles Musonda as assistant coach.

The former Anderlecht player, who is Chelsea midfielder Charly Junior's father, joins his midfielder son Lamisha at Mazembe, who recently joined the five-time African champions after a successful trial.

Musonda was introduced to the entire coaching staff yesterday and he will work alongside coach Pamphile Mihayo, assisted by David Mwakasu and Robert Kidiaba, according to the club’s website.

He said of his appointment: "I am extremely determined to meet the challenges that lie ahead."

Musonda played for Mufulira Wanderers in Zambia before moving to Belgium where he played for the Cercle Bruges and Anderlecht.

He also had stints in the United States and Germany before his career came to a premature end because of a knee injury.

South African doll manufacturer Khulile Vilakazi Ofosu wanted to create a diverse range of dolls so children could play with toys "that look like them".

She co-founded Sibahle Collection after her daughter complained about her natural hair "not flowing enough".

As well as having black and albino dolls, the company has just introduced a doll with vitiligo.

A BBC Africa One Minute Story by Vumani Mkhize.

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

The Supreme Court in Senegal has rejected the final appeal by the imprisoned former mayor of Dakar, Khalifa Sall, against a corruption sentence - one day before presidential election campaigning is due to start.

Mr Sall, who is one of the main opposition challengers, was sentenced last March to five years in prison, accused of embezzling $3m (£2.4m).

The opposition has accused President Macky Sall of sidelining opposition figures by selectively enforcing corruption laws. He is standing for re-election in February.

Another challenger has been exiled to Qatar. Karim Wade, who is the son of the former President Abdoulaye Wade, was banished after being given a conditional pardon for corruption, and reportedly told not to return to Senegal until after the election is over.

Louise Dewast
BBC Africa, Kinshasa

Image source, Getty Images

As a post-election ban on the internet enters its fourth day in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the government has called the shutdown a necessary step against the spread of unofficial results.

"It’s our place to call on all professionals who work in communication - both nationals and foreigners - to resist the temptation to broadcast results, due to our concern that this could sensationalise and intentionally skew results," said Lambert Mende, the minister of information.

He added:

Mr Mende did say however that the government would consider a request from civil society to restore the internet.

Provisional results are officially expected on 6 January, but the electoral commission now says there could be a delay, Reuters reports.

People on social media are praising 19-year-old model Adut Akech for revealing her struggle with depression and anxiety.

"I would wake up every morning crying," she wrote on her Instagram page (scroll right):

The model, who was born in South Sudan and raised in Australia, said that her status as a Vogue cover girl may make some people wrongly believe she is immune to life's pressures.

"I go through the same ups and downs as most people... I'm a young woman with everyday feelings," she said, adding: "I don't know how I'm still here today but I'm so grateful".

Ms Akech went on to praise her family and friends for supporting her.

Fans have thanked the model for her candour.

"When people like you - those who seemingly have it all - share their truth and pain, the value and impact is undeniable," said Instagram user Proofwithjillstanley.

Another, called Jessegenao, commented: "I have so much respect for you for being public about this".

Image source, Vogue

You may also be interested in:

• The model who sometimes feels insecure about her looks
• How can I spot the signs of depression?
• Why are more teenagers struggling with depression?

Nigerian star Burna Boy has taken to Instagram to vent against his low billing on flyers for this year's Coachella festival in the US.

"I am an African giant and will not be reduced to whatever that tiny writing means," the Afrobeats muscian wrote in a since-deleted post:

Image source, Instagram/Burna Boy

Coachella is one of the most famous festivals in the world and it's reported that nearly 250,000 people went to it in 2017. It's also regarded as a tastemaker.

This year's inclusion of Burna Boy and fellow Nigerian Mr Eazi is a further sign that industry bigwigs in the US are waking up to the huge popularity of Afrobeats.

In the last two years, Sony and Universal Music have both established offices in Nigeria and struck publishing and distribution deals with up-and-coming musicians.

Coachella have not commented on Burna Boy's statement.

Image source, Facebook/Burna Boy

You may also like:

• 'My Ye is different to your Ye' - the Burna Boy meme explained
• Why a kiss got Diamond Platnumz in trouble

Ishaq Khalid
BBC Africa, Abuja

A helicopter being used to fight against Boko Haram has crashed in north-eastern Nigeria, the country's air force says.

It happened on Wednesday evening. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but a spokesman says the aircraft was supporting ground troops against militants in the Damasak area which borders Niger.

The Nigerian military has recently intensified air and ground operations in the region in response to an upsurge in deadly attacks by Boko Haram and fighters loyal to the Islamic State group - mainly targeting military positions.

Dozens of Nigerian soldiers have been killed and their weapons seized in such attacks in recent months.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Nigerian Air Force said it killed a number of fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province - a Boko Haram splinter group - when it targeted their meeting venue near the town of Baga.

Security is a key campaign issue as Nigeria gears up for presidential and parliamentary elections in February.

The electoral commission in the Democratic Republic of Congo says initial results from the country's presidential election could be delayed beyond Sunday's deadline.

The commission's president, Corneille Nangaa, is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying that counting centres are still waiting for more than 80% of voting tallies to be submitted by local polling stations.

He did not say what had caused the delays, but opposition candidates seized on his statement to repeat their allegations of electoral fraud.

Regional monitors - from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community - have described last Sunday's election as "reasonably well-managed".

Image source, Reuters

But the Roman Catholic Church's observer team reported more than 100 cases of election monitors being denied access to polling stations.

It added that around 20% of polling stations opened late, and there were reports of polling stations being moved at the last minute.

Another local observer group, Symocel, said some of its 20,000 agents were subjected to intimidation.

Some 1.26 million out of an electorate of nearly 40 million were excluded from Sunday's vote.

They are voters in the cities of Béni, Butembo and Yumbi who have had their vote delayed until March, well after the new president will be inaugurated in January.

The electoral commission said the deadly Ebola outbreak and insecurity made it impossible.

BBC World Service

The government of Niger says the army has killed more than 280 Boko Haram militants in days of land and air raids near the border with Nigeria.

In a statement read out on Niger state television, the defence ministry said most of the Islamist militants had died in air strikes.

The army said its troops had also captured rocket launchers, assault weapons and ammunition during an offensive on islands in Lake Chad and along the Komadougou Yobe river.

Niger has recently expressed concern about setbacks at the hands of Boko Haram suffered by Nigeria where the jihadists' insurgency began 10 years ago.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have blocked a TV station that is seen as pro-opposition from broadcasting, amid growing tension after Sunday's presidential election.

Canal Congo Television has had its accreditation taken away by the government. The same thing has happened to broadcaster Radio France International. Both were accused of broadcasting election results ahead of an official announcement.

Internet access has been blocked by the authorities since Monday, and people are unable to send text messages.

Canal Congo Television's boss, Jean-Jacques Mamba, is quoted on Virunga Business radio as saying: "Indeed, we do not have a signal.

"I tried to call the authorities in charge. They did not want to say anything except that they had received instructions."

The election result is expected on 6 January.

Image source, Reuters

Thursday's African proverb:

Image source, AFP

Click here and scroll to the bottom to send us your African proverbs.

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

Clare Spencer
BBC News

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:

Click here and scroll to the bottom to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this picture from Kaduna in Nigeria:

Image source, AFP

Thirteen civilians have been killed in Burkina Faso, Reuters news agency quote the government as saying.

On Monday night, armed men on motorbikes descended on Yirgou village, made up largely of people of Mossi ethnicity, and killed six people, government spokesman Jean Paul Badoun told Reuters.

Mr Badoun added that the following day Yirgou residents killed seven Fulani herders in what appeared to be retaliation.

The ethnic violence echoes problems seen in neighbouring Mali where Fulani have been accused of hiding Islamists who have carried out attacks across the region in recent years.

Muslim rebels in the Central African Republic have received new weapon supplies from traffickers in Sudan, AFP news agency quotes a UN panel of experts as saying.

The former Seleka alliance have been re-arming to counter the deployment of newly-trained government troops, the UN adds.

Seleka briefly seized power in the Central African Republic in 2013. They have since renamed themselves as the Union for Peace in CAR (UPC) and the Popular Front for the Renaissance of CAR (FPRC).

UPC and FPRC fighters have been seen with pistols and AK-type assault rifles, as well as rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machine guns mounted on their vehicles, according the report to the Security Council.

Image source, AFP

Kalkidan Yibeltal
BBC Amharic Service, Addis Ababa

Image source, Reuters

The authorities in Ethiopia have issued a warrant for the arrest of the country's former spy chief Getachew Assefa.

There has been speculation that this could be in connection with human rights violations.

Mr Getachew was the head of the intelligence agency before Abiy Ahmed became prime minister.

Mr Abiy has previously promised that officials who committed human rights violations would be held to account.

In parliament on Tuesday, Attorney General Birhanu Tsegaye accused the Tigray regional authorities of hiding Mr Getachew - who is of Tigrayan ethnicity.

Some ethnic Tigrayan politicians and activists accuse the government of targeting their group, a sentiment that might grow stronger with the news of the arrest warrant.

Nigerian performer Murphy taught himself the art of contortion with the help of online lessons.

His ambition is to squeeze himself into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Watch his jaw-dropping moves: