Ahmed Rouaba
BBC News

One person is believed to have died after a fire broke out in the offices of the Ennahda party in the Tunisian capital, Tunis.

Videos shared on social media show smoke coming out of the windows and staff being evacuated by the fire brigade.

Former Prime Minister Ali Laaridh, a senior official of the party, has been taken to hospital for treatment, his son said on social media.

Mr Laaridh was seen jumping from the second floor of the building:

Police investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, local media report.

Ennahda is the largest party in parliament. The moderate Islamist party is a fierce opponent of President Kais Saied.

The haul includes figurines of ancient queens, hieroglyphic inscriptions and burial offerings.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

People in the city of Bamenda in north-west Cameroon have accused the military of setting fire to homes and businesses.

The area is at the centre of a five-year-old separatist rebellion which has displaced hundreds of thousands and forced most schools in the country's Anglophone regions to shut down.

Residents say soldiers torched the properties in Bamenda on Wednesday in response to a rebel ambush.

The Cameroonian authorities have not commented.

Unverified footage has been shared online, including by Kah Walla of the Cameroon People's Party:

More about the secessionist crisis:

• Cameroon's deadly mix of war and coronavirus
• 'I share my home with 28 refugees'

• The rebels: Red Dragons and Tigers

• Paul Biya: Cameroon's 'absentee president'

Rhoda Odhiambo
BBC health reporter, Nairobi

Image source, Getty Images

Ten African countries account for 46% of Omicron cases reported globally, according to the World Health Organization.

It says the majority of these countries are within southern Africa, where scientists are being extra-vigilant for other cases and are analysing samples to check for changes to the virus.

Hospitalisation rates and severe cases remain low in South Africa, local data shows. But research is still ongoing, the WHO says.

No coronavirus deaths have been linked to the Omicron variant and travel bans won't stop the virus from circulating, the global health body says.

Getting vaccines into people's arms will prevent the virus from mutating further, says the WHO.

In Africa, only Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia, Seychelles, Cape Verde and Botswana have reached the global target of vaccinating 40% of their populations by the end of this year.

Many African countries are yet to administer jabs for logistical reasons, while public scepticism about getting the vaccine remains a barrier.

Abdi Dahir
BBC Monitoring

Image source, Reuters

Somalia has formed a steering committee of commanders from various security agencies to discuss the imminent takeover of national security from the African Union mission (Amisom).

Amisom was created in 2007 to help the internationally recognised government in Mogadishu regain control of the country and fight al-Shabab. Countries contributing troops to the mission include Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Ethiopia.

The AU mission's mandate is set to formally end by 31 December, but the UN Security Council might grant it a temporary extension., external

There are fears that the country's security forces are not ready amid regular and deadly attacks by the al-Shabab militant group.

Government officials including ministers and security commanders attended the meeting aimed at assessing the security progress.

According to the ministry, the meeting aims to implement "the unified national strategic and political vision" to ensure the transfer of all security responsibilities from Amisom to the Somali Security Forces.

The government has been holding meetings with AU and UN officials on the matter.

In October, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council proposed a plan to establish a UN-AU hybrid mission in Somalia to replace Amisom, but this was rejected by the Somali government., external

Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea are among the countries highlighted for jailing numerous journalists in the past year.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says the number of reporters imprisoned around the world hit a record high in 2021, external - with China and Myanmar the worst culprits.

In its annual report, the New York-based organisation said 293 journalists were currently in jail worldwide, up from 280 last year.

Across Africa the CPJ found journalists were jailed in their dozens:

• Egypt: 25
• Eritrea: 16
• Ethiopia: 9

• Rwanda: 7

• Cameroon: 6
• Morocco: 3
• Algeria: 2
• Somalia: 2
• Benin: 2
• Nigeria: 1
• Central Africa Republic: 1
• DR Congo: 1

It said Mexico was the deadliest country for journalists, with nine murdered there last year. Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Russia were also highlighted.

BBC Africa Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Artists like Burna Boy, Black Coffee and Wizkid are paving the way for a generation of music stars in Africa.

They’re winning awards and collaborating with artists around the world who recognise the influence that sounds from the continent have had for centuries.

And with African artists streaming and touring in these markets, it's big business.

In fact, Nigeria’s music industry could be worth $15bn (£11bn) by 2025, according to PwC.

"The world is now obsessed with hearing people's own voices, and their own history. We're in an era where - with social media - you can't distort it," amapiano star Focalistic tells Africa Daily.

"The story is selling the music, we are selling a feeling - and when you can sell that internationally, that culminates in a good show."

• Listen in full here

Emmanuel Igunza
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

Fighting between government-allied groups and the opposition in South Sudan has led to "unimaginable violence" in recent months that could potentially amount to war crimes, according to a new report by Amnesty International.

The report says dozens of civilians were killed and tens of thousands others displaced in the fighting in West Equatoria state between June and October this year.

It reveals harrowing atrocities committed against civilians in Tambura region.

"The testimonies we have gathered speak of unimaginable violence, including civilians killed as they fled and bodies set on fire and mutilated,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s director for East and Southern Africa.

Survivors interviewed by the organisation gave distressing accounts of escaping indiscriminate gunfire lasting for hours, and of entire neighbourhoods being set alight.

The report, which is the first detailed human rights analysis of the conflict, says some of the atrocities potentially amounted to war crimes.

South Sudan has seen rising cases of inter-ethnic clashes and politically incited violence in recent months.

This is despite the signing of a revitalised peace deal between President Salva Kiir and rival Riek Machar in 2018.

Kenyan gay rights activists welcome Sauti Sol star Chimano's decision to "no longer live a lie".

Why fintech, healthcare and green economy hold the key for African economies in 2022.

Lalla Sy
BBC News

Image source, AFP

The number of Malians facing hunger has tripled since last year, and hunger is now at its highest level since Mali's security crisis began in 2012, says a coalition of 22 humanitarian organisations.

Rising insecurity, droughts, and the socio-economic impact of coronavirus have plunged 1.2 million people into a food crisis this year, according to the Humanitarian Working Group of the International NGOs Forum in Mali (Fongim).

Only half the money needed for food security responses in 2017 was actually secured, and this has dropped to a quarter in 2021, Fongim's members say.

Drought has hit the country hard and is affecting more than 3 million people mainly in Mopti, Ségou and Timbuktu in central and northern Mali.

Staple foods like corn and rice are unaffordable for many families, having been driven up 22% in some areas. Last week, the transitional government halted exports of many local agricultural products to prevent a food shortage.

A decade of conflicts has also weakened people's livelihoods, the humanitarian groups say, adding that they must adapt their responses to the ongoing crisis to avoid rising hunger in Mali in coming years.

Azeezat Olaoluwa
BBC News, Lagos

Image source, TWITTER/ PERRIE

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has assured citizens that the death of a schoolboy will be thoroughly investigated and justice served.

Sylvester Oromoni, 12, was allegedly tortured in his school hostel at Dowen College in Lagos last month and later succumbed to injuries.

President Buhari condemned the alleged torture and promised this would act as a trigger leading to a permanent solution to cultism and bullying in schools.

The Oromoni family accuses five senior students of allegedly assaulting their son for refusing to join a cult group.

The school has been closed indefinitely. Its authorities, who initially claimed Oromoni sustained injuries while playing football, said in a new statement that they had started investigations into bullying a day after a call from his family, but he unfortunately died the same day.

Members of the school's parents forum held a candlelight procession on Wednesday evening, and earlier that day a number of women staged a protest in front of the college.

A peace walk is planned for Friday.

It's reported that up to one million doses of Covid vaccine in Nigeria have expired and are to be destroyed.

A member of Kenya's afro-pop band Sauti Sol has come out as gay.

Chimano's public declaration came as he explained the idea behind his new song, Friday Feeling, in which he featured members of the LGBT community.

"No hiding anymore," he told local media.

He said he was now living his truth and would use his music to challenge toxic masculinity, prejudices and hypocrisy.

Chimano has never publicly come out as gay though he has in the past been spotted with male partners.

The public declaration could be a boost to the fight for LGBT rights in Kenya, where gay sex is criminalised and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Mercy Juma
BBC News, Nairobi

Image source, Getty Images

Kenyan police have condemned the actions of a group of newly graduated officers who recorded a video threatening civilians once they were deployed.

The young graduates can be heard in the widely shared video boasting that they are the "bad guys in red berets" and "civilians…we are getting out, we are not coming to play".

The National Police Service termed their remarks "irresponsible, unacceptable and reckless", in a statement released on Wednesday evening.

The recruits are members of the General Service Unit (GSU), a paramilitary unit of the Kenya police who wear red berets.

The police service said the behaviour portrayed in the clip was "unacceptable and does not reflect the values of the GSU, Kenya Police Service and the National Police Service".

The statement has been posted on Twitter:

Many Kenyans have been raising concern over their remarks, at a time when cases of police brutality have been increasingly recorded.

It comes months before the general election next year. Police have in past elections been linked to killings and human rights abuses.

The police service now says an internal review is ongoing with a view of taking appropriate measures regarding the incident.

Patience Atuhaire
BBC News, Kampala

Image source, AFP

The military court in Uganda has convicted two soldiers for the killing of three people during protests last year.

The demonstration broke out following the arrest of then-presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, at a campaign rally.

The first soldier was sentenced to life in prison for killing Grace Walungama at a vehicle repair shop – allegedly for being a protester.

He also shot Hussein Ssenoga – a colleague who refused to help in the arrest.

The second soldier was a member of the Local Defence Unit – a paramilitary outfit operating under the army that has a reputation of being quick to open fire.

He received 35 years in prison for killing Ibrahim Kirevu – a man he was supposed to escort to a cell at a police station.

These are the first convictions related to killings by the security forces during last year’s protests. More than 50 people were killed over two days.

Police claimed that Bobi Wine had been arrested to prevent the gathering of crowds, as a coronavirus control measure.

Image source, Getty Images

US President Joe Biden has nominated Meg Whitman as the ambassador to Kenya.

The businesswoman and politician is quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying that she looks forward to working with the Kenyan government if confirmed by the senate.

Ms Whitman vied in the elections for governor of California in 2010 on a Republican ticket but lost to Democrat Jerry Brown.

She has a vast experience in business having been the former chief executive of Hewlett Packard and sits in the General Motors and Procter & Gamble boards.

Ms Whitman donated to President Biden's campaign.

Lalla Sy
BBC News, Abidjan

Image source, AFP

The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, Minusma, has condemned the killing of seven soldiers in an attack on a convoy they were in.

El-Ghassim Wane termed it a "cowardly attack".

The UN convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device in the Bandiagara region of central Mali.

The soldiers who were killed were Togolese.

Togo is the second largest contributor of troops to Minusma from the West African regional bloc Ecowas.

The country has recorded several losses of soldiers in recent years in the framework of this mission.

Minusma says the latest attack involving improvised an explosive devices is an urgent reminder of the need to increase efforts to stabilise central Mali.

Guy Bandolo
BBC News, Yaoundé

At least a dozen people were killed and scores wounded in the second day of inter-communal clashes in Kousseri, in the far northern region of Cameroon.

The Wednesday clashes were between Arab Choas herders and Mosgoum farmers.

Some of the Mosgoum farmers attacked Kousseri town and set on fire the market and some houses belonging to Choas businessmen.

Six villages were reportedly burnt on Wednesday alone.

The new round of clashes began on Sunday after a land dispute between the two communities over scarcity of water, which has been worsened by climate change.

Local governor Midjiyawi Bakari has called on both communities to stop fighting but it hasn't stopped. He has since planned a security meeting for Thursday.

There have been inter-communal clashes in northern Cameroon in the past.

Nicolas Negoce
BBC News

Image source, AFP

Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré has in a decree dismissed Prime Minister Christophe Joseph Marie Dabiré and dissolved the government.

"The functions of the prime minister are terminated, the government is dissolved," a presidential decree said.

There is no indication yet of when a future head of government will be appointed.

The West African country of 20.5 million people has been plagued since 2015 by recurrent jihadist attacks that have left a million people internally displaced.

Mr Kaboré has promised to bring "security and stability" to the country in his second and last term.

So far he has not succeeded in this task and he faces growing anger from the population.