Thomas Thabane denies organising the killing of his estranged wife.

Nichola Mandil
Juba

Graduating soldiers will carry sticks at their passing out parades because of a dearth of weapons in South Sudan since a UN embargo three years ago, the president has said.

Yet in recent months the US' acting ambassador to South Sudan has said there's no lack of weapons in the conflict-stricken country - but there is a lack of food.

"We have repeatedly informed the UN system about the negative impact of the arms embargo... all we have received in return are conditions that do not recognise progress achieved so far. We have no option other than to graduate these forces with sticks," said President Salva Kiir at a governors’ forum in Juba on Tuesday.

President Kiir and his former arch-rival, Riek Machar, now First Vice-President, formed a unity government in February last year and agreed, as part of a revitalised peace deal, to form a unified national army of 83,000 forces, a key part of the 2018 peace agreement they are yet to fulfill.

The embargo was due to expire in May this year, but it was renewed for another year.

Ishaq Khalid
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, AFP

Nigerian security forces have killed more than 13,000 civilians in the last 10 years, according to a non-governmental organisation focusing on the advancement of democracy and human rights in Africa.

The Centre for Democracy and Development says torture, unlawful detention and extra-judicial killings in the last decade have become "common" with impunity.

The Nigerian authorities have yet to publicly react to the report.

Researchers say they examined Nigeria’s democratic journey in the past two decades in several areas including human rights, press freedom and citizen participation in governance.

Their report published on Tuesday criticised what they called the use of "excessive force" to tackle separatists and "terrorist’" activities as well as peaceful demonstrations.

The research also cited the authorities' handling of last year's nationwide #EndSARS protests against police brutality.

The centre says the events created an environment of fear among citizens in Africa’s largest democracy.

It argues that security forces must be given more training on human rights and violators be held accountable, and citizens must be allowed to fully participate in governance for proper development.

Ferdinand Omondi
BBC News, Nairobi

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked countries around the globe not to lock Africa out of international travel on account of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.

The US, UK, Israel and the 27 member states of the European Union are among those who've enforced travel bans mostly targeted at southern African countries.

South Africa announced discovery of the new, highly infectious virus strain last week, although it has also been detected across Europe - and Dutch authorities now believe it was already present in their country when South Africa first alerted the World Health Organization.

President Kenyatta made the comments in what could be his last state of the nation address before parliament ahead of next year’s general election in Kenya.

He said African countries had made great progress in tackling coronavirus since it was first detected, and added the new Omicron variant would not be defeated by locking off or shutting down the continent.

President Kenyatta noted that Kenya for instance had vaccinated more than seven million people, about 13% of the population, against a set target of 10 million by December.

He also said that Kenya had greatly improved the country’s health infrastructure since March last year when Covid-19 was declared a pandemic.

Football Kenya Federation head Nick Mwendwa is freed on bail after being charged with stealing $337,700.

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

The head of the World Health Organization says some countries are introducing blanket measures aimed at the Omicron coronavirus variant which are not based on evidence or effective on their own.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said these were penalising southern African countries that reported the strain.

He said there were still many questions regarding Omicron, including its transmission, severity of disease, and the effectiveness of tests and vaccines.

Dr Tedros called on WHO member states to take rational, proportional measures.

More on this topic:

• How can I tell I have Omicron?
• South Africa complains it's 'punished' for detecting new variant
• The UK's red list is back... which countries are on it?

A spokeswoman for Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says "the belligerence of the TPLF" is to blame for a blockage of aid into the Tigray region.

The only viable overland route into Tigray has been through the neighbouring Afar region, and Mr Abiy's spokeswoman told journalists the rebels have been trying to "choke off the Afar corridor" but that federal forces had since cleared the way.

The TPLF has previously blamed the government for the blocked route, while USAID says the government has "created de facto blockades, making communications, banking, and other vital services needed for aid efforts almost non-existent".

More than five million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions, according to the United Nations. It says 100 trucks a day are needed to reach Tigray alone to meet needs there.

At the same press conference on Tuesday, the spokeswoman for Mr Abiy's office was also asked to name the foreign powers Ethiopia accuses of attempting to weaken the country.

"I think the forces know who they are so I’ll leave it at that," she replied.

BBC World Service

Thousands of people are taking part in a protest in Sudan's capital Khartoum, against the country's military leaders.

Reports say the security forces near the presidential palace fired tear gas to disperse them.

The opposition had called for the protests despite a deal last week that reinstated Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and released most civilian leaders detained since October's coup.

Prominent political parties and Sudan's powerful protest movement have opposed Mr Hamdok's decision to sign the accord with the military.

Some have called it a betrayal or said it provided political cover for the coup.

Former BBC journalist Mohanad Hashim says demonstrators on Tuesday have been chanting "No militia can rule a country" and in reference to the country's military ruler "Burhan your barracks awaits":

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Fana TV

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has expressed confidence that federal forces will "disperse and destroy" rebels loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in the north-western Amhara region, the pro-government Fana TV reports.

Violence that broke out in TPLF's northern Tigray region stronghold a year ago has spread to neighbouring Amhara and the north-eastern Afar region.

"The enemy is in that mountain called Gashena [in Amhara]. We are planning from here, but we have finalised a plan to disperse the enemy and be on that mountain tomorrow," the prime minister said while standing in a mountainous defence line with a pair of binoculars hanging from his neck.

"Tigrayan youth are falling like leaves. They should realise that there will be no victory in their blind and tactless strategy and surrender to the national defence forces starting today," Mr Abiy said.

Earlier, state TV reported that the prime minister had called on those fighting for the TPLF to surrender as "victory is imminent".

The state-run ETV first showed Mr Abiy on the frontline last week, days after he said he would lead federal troops in battle.

For its part, the TPLF says it has made significant territorial gains over the Ethiopian military. There is no independent confirmation of either sides claims.

More on this topic:

• ANALYSIS: Suspicion and sacrifice as fighting spreads
• EXPLAINER: Why the Ethiopia conflict matters to the world
• ANALYSIS: How Ethiopia's once mighty army has been outflanked

DR Congo international Cedric Bakambu, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona, leaves Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan.

Image source, Getty Images

A man accused of selling fried grasshopper snacks to passengers aboard a Ugandan Airlines plane has been charged by police alongside a second man who's accused of filming it.

Footage has been widely shared online since the weekend:

Mubiru Paul and Hajib Kiggundu were arrested on Monday on arrival from Dubai and charged on Tuesday with three counts - creating nuisance, refusing to follow airline crew's instructions and negligent acts likely to cause the spread of an infectious disease.

The charge for spreading an infectious disease attracts a sentence of up to seven years, the Daily Monitor reports.

The national carrier Uganda Airlines condemned what it called "unruly" behaviour and local media reported that some staff were suspended.

Yet Uganda Airlines said it would consider adding the delicacy to its menu upon request, noting the excitement onboard from passengers during a low season for grasshopper numbers in Uganda.

Malawi has announced that President Lazarus Chakwera has cancelled all public engagements "in order to attend to emerging national and regional matters", external.

The government statement doesn't explain what those matters are, but these cancellation comes amid protests in the country over the high costs of living and alleged government corruption.

President Chakwera was elected last year on a promise to reform.

In recent days, he has branded as "Afrophobia" the travel bans on southern African countries by the US and other nations.

Among the cancelled events Mr Chakwera was to preside over are the commemoration of Malawi police day on Tuesday, and world aids day on Wednesday.

Jose Tembe
BBC News, Maputo

Image source, Getty Images

Portugal’s foreign minister has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the suspension, as of Monday, of flights to and from Mozambique.

Augusto Santos Silva has promised repatriation flights as soon as possible for passengers waiting to leave or enter Mozambique, saying at a press conference: "The only thing I ask you for now is patience, as it was a very sudden decision [suspending flights] taken on the basis of news of the new variant last week, and the European Union had to act immediately."

South Africa has complained it is being punished - instead of applauded - for discovering the new coronavirus variant known as Omicron.

Since then many countries have announced travel bans on South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho and Eswatini to prevent its spread.

Yet Omicrom cases have been detected in numerous non-African nations which aren't being subjected to the same stringent travel restrictions, prompting complaints of double-standards.

A video of an elephant charging at a group of people on a safari vehicle in South Africa has been shared widely on social media.

Local media report that students learning to become wildlife guides were touring the Selati Game Reserve on Sunday when the incident happened.

Their training company, EcoTraining, confirmed the events to News24:

"An elephant bull, who was with the breeding herd, mock-charged the vehicle and mock-charged again when they moved forward slowly - the elephant made contact with the vehicle and pushed it off the road."

At that point in the video, people shout "Get out, get out" to the passengers and the animal leaves the scene.

There was damage to vehicle but nobody was injured, the manager of the Selati game reserve was quoted as saying.

A video of the incident was shared on Twitter:

Patience Atuhaire
BBC News, Kampala

Image source, AFP

The Ugandan army has launched joint air and artillery strikes against the rebel group the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Flavia Byekwaso has confirmed this via her official twitter account., external

She said that the operations were carried out with Congolese allies, against ADF camps, but did not give further details on the areas they have been conducted.

Ugandan authorities blame the ADF, which is affiliated to so-called Islamic State, for a series of bomb attacks in the country since October.

Two weeks ago, IS claimed responsibility for twin bombings just outside the capital Kampala’s central police station and near parliament.

At least five civilians have been killed in these bombings, some of which were suicide attacks, according to the Ugandan police.

Image source, AFP

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says he is "deeply concerned" by travel bans on southern Africa.

In a statement , externalshared by his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, he added that the lack of vaccines in those countries was a factor in the emergence of the new variant.

"The people of Africa cannot be blamed for the immorally low level of vaccinations available in Africa – and they should not be penalised for identifying and sharing crucial science and health information with the world," the UN chief said.

Mr Dujarric further explained in a press briefing , externalthat the UN chief viewed the "blanket barring of certain citizens" as a "form of collective punishment".

The UN chief has appealed to governments to consider scientific-based solutions such as increased testing and quarantine, if need be.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Getty Images

Sudanese activists have called for more protests across the country on Tuesday to denounce the 21 November political deal that reinstated Abdalla Hamdok as prime minister, despite a meeting between Mr Hamdok and members of Resistance Committees on 28 November.

"If the creation of fictitious bodies could protect the authority, then [ousted president Omar] al-Bashir would still be in power," Khartoum State Resistance Committees reportedly said in response to Prime Minister Hamdok’s meeting with alleged representatives of Resistance Committees, according to privately-owned Al-Sudani newspaper website, external.

On Monday Mr Hamdok reiterated that the "political atmosphere does not allow for the beating of protesters".

In recent demonstrations held before his deal with the military, at least 42 people were killed after security forces fired live bullets at the protesters, according to the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors.

The mother of a Ugandan legislator has stormed parliament over the detention and ill health of her son.

Justine Nakajumba, the mother of Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya, has walked to parliamentary buildings where she has been received by female guards.

She is demanding to speak to parliament speaker, Jacob Oulanyah.

Here is a video shared by NTV Uganda:

Mr Ssegirinya - who is in opposition - was charged in September in connection with the rebel activities in Masaka region.

His health deteriorated while in detention and leaders have been calling for him to be allowed to seek proper medical care.

Prison authorities took him to the national referral hospital where he was admitted.

What does the 'scramble', between major powers, for influence in Africa and its resources mean for its people?

China's President Xi Jinping has promised to send to Africa some one billion Covid vaccine doses to help close the "vaccination gap".

The president made the pledge during the China-Africa summit.

Out of the one billion, 600 million doses will come from China directly while 400 million will come from other sources like funded production sites.

China has already been giving doses to African countries.

The recent pledge comes amid the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant that was first detected in southern Africa.