Naomi Scherbel-Ball
BBC News

Image source, Reuters

West African leaders have imposed sanctions on Mali after the country’s military government announced a long delay to the elections originally planned for February.

The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, which met in Accra on Sunday, agreed to close borders with Mali as well as implement a range of economic sanctions.

Mali's military government in response said that it was closing its land and air borders with Ecowas and recalling its ambassadors from member states.

In a statement, the junta said it "strongly" condemned "illegal" sanctions imposed on the country.

West African leaders have been calling for a return to civilian rule since a group of army officers toppled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta following street protests in August 2020.

Mali’s military rulers now say elections could take place in December 2025 instead of February 2022 as originally agreed - a delay the West African bloc deems unacceptable.

Sanctions have been seen to be effective in the past, but a second coup last year forced out the interim civilian government, testing the resolve of regional leaders pushing for reform.

Julio Tavares' first-half header gives Cape Verde a 1-0 win over 10-man Ethiopia in Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations

Hosts Cameroon come from behind to beat Burkina Faso in an absorbing opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations before Cape Verde beat Ethiopia.

Captain Vincent Aboubakar scores two penalties as Cameroon come from behind to beat Burkina Faso in the opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and captain Kalidou Koulibaly will miss Senegal's opening Africa Cup of Nations game after testing positive for coronavirus.

BBC World Service

Officials in the South African province of Eastern Cape say at least six people have been killed in flash flooding triggered by heavy rains.

The provincial premier, Oscar Mabuyane, has been visiting the worst-affected district - a low-lying area of East London.

Dozens of people living in a township to the east of the city have been displaced.

Officials said some roads had been completely submerged, complicating access to distressed communities.

Videos on social media show the extent of the flooding.

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

Sudanese security forces have fired tear gas to try to disperse the latest anti-government protest marches in the capital, Khartoum.

Among the groups joining Sunday's demonstrations was the Central Doctors’ Committee whose members say they are angry at the impact of October's military coup on health services.

Last week, Abdalla Hamdok resigned as prime minister amid continuing friction between the military and pro-democracy campaigners.

The UN envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, had called for both sides to engage in constructive dialogue, external.

But his proposal has been rejected by opposition trades unions and rebels in the Darfur region.

Read more:

• Viewpoint: How Sudan's generals betrayed my generation

The attacks in the northern Zamfara state are believed to be in response to military air strikes.

Hanef Bhamjee was awarded an OBE for his fight against apartheid.

Africa's top football tournament is about to start in Cameroon, despite a bitter four-year conflict.

Countries suffering Covid outbreaks will still have to play their Africa Cup of Nations matches if they have 11 players available.

Squads for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February 2022.

After serving a nine-month doping ban last year, Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana is confident of success at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Aid workers in northern Ethiopia say 56 people are killed in a strike on a camp for the displaced.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says the prisoners are being released in a bid to promote reconciliation.

Kenyans called for a KFC boycott after it was discovered that its fries were imported from Egypt.

The Africa Cup of Nations should "100% be more respected", says Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong.

The suspects had been detained at sea in the Gulf of Guinea in November. A fourth remains in custody.

Video assistant referees (VAR) will be used at all 52 matches at this month's Africa Cup of Nations.

DJ Edu
This Is Africa presenter, BBC World Service

Image source, Floby

Floby is Burkina Faso’s biggest pop star. He has been recording hits for over a decade, and he has managed to stay on top.

His most recent album Wend’so dropped last year, and both singles from it - Méditation and Batterie Kouda - have done well.

Over the years, Floby has picked up quite a few nicknames:

• “Le Baaba” refers to the fact that he holds a chieftaincy in his village.
• “Le Papa des Orphelins” - meaning father of the orphans - is perhaps most revealing.

Floby’s is a remarkable story of rags to riches: he spent six years living destitute on the streets of Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, after the urban wing of his family threw him out because he was determined to be a musician.

He does not forget the many young people who still face the hardship he suffered.

His nickname when he was on the streets was “Weedo”, which means “from the bush”, and in each album he has done a Weedo song - either recounting parts of his life story or giving inspirational messages to his more unfortunate young fans.

He told me:

Floby did have one big advantage though. Before moving to Ouagadougou he was brought up by his grandmother in the village. She was a griot, and she taught him to sing and introduced him to the traditional rhythms of his Mossi culture.

In one way the influence of Floby’s grandmother has grown stronger. Whereas his early songs, like his breakthrough hit Rosine, were in an imported genre - as he puts it - his recent work emphasises the Warba, a traditional Mossi rhythm.

You can hear more from Floby on This is Africa this Saturday on BBC World Service radio and partner stations across Africa.