Lalla Sy
BBC News, Abidjan

Image source, AFP

Ivorian ministers were prevented from attending a cabinet meeting on Wednesday after they failed to present Covid-19 test certificates.

Health officials announced on 31 December the mandatory presentation of Covid-19 tests before being allowed to large gatherings.

Wednesday’s cabinet meeting was the first of the year, and the absence of eight members of the government was noted.

According to Ivorian media, absentees included the minister of communication, Amadou Coulibaly, due to illness, and other government members who did not submit their Covid test results to have access to the council room.

At the beginning of the meeting, President Alassane Ouattara expressed concern over the rising number of Covid cases.

Ivory Coast has registered more than 75,000 Covid cases and 727 related deaths since the beginning pandemic two years ago.

Eagan Salla
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

The rescue mission in Tanzania's boat accident has been called off after all persons were accounted for, according to the authorities.

The total fatalities have been put at 10 and 10 survivors. All those who died have been buried.

No missing persons reports have been filed so far.

The divers' team leader, Kasim Khalfan, says there is no evidence of any missing persons in the water.

Survivors say the engine went off twice then the boat started sinking.

Amour Nassor, who was on the boat, says he saw his nephew calling out for help before he died.

The locals are unhappy with the rescue unit's slow response despite their base being close to the site. Most survivors were rescued by local divers, eyewitnesses say.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Twelve Rwandans including women and children have been pushed out by Burundian authorities after refusing to get the Covid jab.

They spent more than five days on the Nyakarama hill in Kirundo province in northern Burundi.

They said they had fled the ongoing mandatory vaccination campaign in Rwanda.

The provincial governor, Albert Hatungimana, directed that they be deported to Rwanda.

Last Thursday, nine other Rwandan nationals were repatriated to their country by the authorities in the province. They had also fled the mandatory vaccination campaign.

In a security meeting, the governor signalled on Tuesday that he could not welcome people who do not adhere to the government's Covid-19 response programme.

He said everyone had to get vaccinated so as to be allowed to stay in the country.

Image source, AFP

A bill introduced in Senegalese parliament meant to toughen existing laws against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people has been rejected.

Gay sex is already punishable by up to five years in jail.

The bill would have lengthened the term to a maximum of 10 years and led to a threefold increase in the maximum fines.

It would also have specifically targeted LGBT and similar activities as crimes.

The Office of the National Assembly, which stopped the proposed bill from proceeding to the floor, said the current law is clear and severely punishes homosexuality.

The bill had been initiated by 11 MPs, who said they had the backing of key religious groups.

Senegal has a 95% Muslim population and homosexuality is widely considered unacceptable.

A Kenyan MP was on Wednesday suspended from parliament for one day for distributing sweets to colleagues during a contentious debate.

Fatuma Gedi said the "sugar levels of members had gone down" after the day-long session.

She had been accused by colleague Ndindi Nyoro of distributing money as bribes in the floor of the house.

Mr Nyoro was asked to substantiate his bribery allegations and was suspended for two days after he failed to do so.

Ms Gedi was suspended for a day for breaking house rules on conduct by distributing foodstuff in parliament.

The MPs passed several amendments to the law on political parties ahead of this year's general elections.

Here is an excerpt of the moment the MPs made the bribery accusations:

BBC World Service

Morocco and China have signed an agreement aimed at greatly increasing cooperation under Beijing’s joint "Belt and Road" initiative.

Under the agreement, which was sealed via video conference, Chinese companies will be encouraged to step up investment in Moroccan industries.

The deal involves establishing large-scale projects in technology, trade and agriculture.

China’s Belt and Road initiative, launched in 2013, is a huge infrastructure project aimed at expanding the country’s global trade links and political influence.

Chris Ewokor
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, AFP

The Nigerian government has formally designated armed gangs operating in the country as terrorist groups.

The gangs have been known locally as bandits.

The move comes more than a month after a high court in Abuja made a similar ruling about the gangs.

The criminal gangs, which have large swathes of land under their control, have abducted school children, tortured their kidnap victims, raped and forced others into prostitution or sexual slavery.

The action is expected to give the military the authorisation it needs to use lethal force in fighting them.

The declaration titled Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021, is contained in a document released by the justice minister on Wednesday.

The government had approached the court in October after repeated calls from across Nigeria for the gunmen to be so designated to enable security operatives to better combat them.

Jonathan Paye-Layleh
BBC News, Monrovia

Image source, Getty Images

All 15 prison facilities in Liberia have this week run out of food for inmates.

This has caused two prisons, including the main Monrovia Central Prison, to temporarily shut their doors to newcomers, prison officials have said.

The situation is being blamed on a number of factors including delays in remitting funds for food and upkeep of prison facilities.

But the director of prisons, Sainleseh Kwaidah, told the BBC on Monday that the government was doing everything to resolve the situation.

He said that after some interventions the two prisons that had stopped admitting inmates had reopened their doors and food was reaching others.

A prison warder told the BBC the prisons had shut the doors to avoid putting more people at risk because of the food shortage. He said there was also a possibility that angry inmates could stage jailbreaks.

A well-known businessman, Upjit Singh Sachdeva who is commonly known as Mr Jetty, has stepped in to provide food to mitigate the crisis. The businessman has often provided cooked meals to inmates in the Monrovia Central Prison.

Prison warders have in recent days criticised the government’s handling of the affairs of the crowded correctional facilities.

Coach Toni Conceicao says Cameroon fans "don't forgive failure" as the country prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on Sunday.

The mayor and his driver are arrested for allegedly trying to transport the record haul to Libya.

BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

Supporters of a former Tunisian justice minister say he’s fighting for his life after refusing food and medication since his arrest last week.

Noureddine Bhiri, deputy chairman of the Islamist Ennahdha party, is accused of possible terrorism offences. His supporters deny the allegations.

Mr Bhiri, who played a central role in Tunisian politics before President Kais Saied suspended parliament last July, is said to suffer from several serious pre-existing health problems.

His Ennahdha party colleague, Samir Dilou, said medical sources had described the former minister as being “between life and death”.

A report reveals how a business family allegedly secured control of South Africa under ex-President Zuma.

Image source, Getty Images

Police in Niger have seized their biggest-ever haul of cocaine - from the mayor of a town in a remote desert region, officials are quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

The mayor of Fachi and his driver were arrested as they were travelling towards the border with Libya in a state-owned vehicle allegedly packed with 214kg (471 pounds) of cocaine.

The drugs, and two detained men, were shown to the media following the operation on Sunday.

"It's the first time that our country has seized such a big quantity of cocaine," Niger's anti-drug agency spokeswoman Nana Aichatou Ousmane Bakoshe said, AFP reports.

She added that the cocaine's final destination was Europe, where its street value was estimated to be more than $19m (£14m).

Fachi is an oasis in the heart of the Tenere desert, more than 1,600km (1,000 miles) from the capital Niamey. Its economy revolves around trading in dates and salt.

Robert Kiptoo
BBC News, Nairobi

Kenya's government has imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew in the volatile coastal region of Lamu, following the killing of seven people - two of whom were beheaded - by suspected militant Islamists.

Interior Security Minister Fred Matiangi said the curfew was aimed at helping the security forces to hunt down the militants.

Several suspects have already been arrested, according to a police spokesman.

Despite the presence of Kenya and United States military personnel, al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, has carried out several attacks in the region, leaving tens of people dead and homes burnt.

In the latest attack on Monday, five people were shot dead and two others beheaded.

Image source, Getty Images

Rhoda
Rhoda Odhiambo, BBC News

One of the most active volcanoes in the world - Mount Nyiragongo in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo - is spewing huge clouds of black smoke and volcanic ash into the sky.

Photos posted on social media show Mount Nyiragongo’s crater filled with hot lava.

Geologists from Goma’s Volcano Observatory say it is not yet flowing, but they have noticed an increase in seismic activity.

The observatory’s director, Celestin Kasereka, told the BBC sporadic explosions were responsible for the smoke and ash that can be seen across the city of Goma. Despite this, Nyiragongo is unlikely to erupt, he said.

Residents have been advised to stay calm, but this will be difficult for many, as the devastating impact caused by last May’s eruption is still fresh in their minds.

It led to the deaths of 32 people, and forced thousands from their homes.

Many fled to neighbouring Rwanda while others are still living in temporary camps in Goma.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has condemned sanctions imposed on Eritrea, as he concluded a visit to the one-party state long been regarded as a pariah by Western powers.

Mr Wang held talks with President Isaias Afwerki, and invited him to China to strengthen their "strategic partnership", Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Meskel said.

The foreign ministers of the two nations issued a joint statement after the meeting, condemning "interferences in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of democracy and human rights".

"The Chinese side stands against any unilateral sanctions on Eritrea," it added.

Mr Yemane has been tweeting about the visit:

Mr Wang is now in Kenya, and will then go to Comoros.

Jean Claude Mwambutsa
BBC Great Lakes, Kigali

Image source, Getty Images

Eleven people have died in Rwanda's south eastern district of Bugesera since Christmas Day after drinking a local brew made from bananas, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has confirmed.

Four other are reported to be in hospital for treatment.

High levels of methanol, found in the stomachs of victims who drank the brew, could be linked to the deaths, according to the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority.

Five people have been arrested, including the brewery's owner, the RIB has confirmed.

The brewery was operating without a licence, and its operations have been suspended, the RIB added

A countrywide campaign has been launched to clamp down on unauthorized local brews.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

Medical staff in Ethiopia's war-hit Tigray region say patients - including children - are dying as a result of a blockade that's preventing medicine and other life-saving supplies from reaching hospitals.

Doctors from the region's biggest facility in Mekelle say surgeries have not been possible due to a lack of intravenous fluids and anaesthetics.

In a statement, staff at Ayder Referral Hospital say, external frequent electricity cuts and an irregular supply of oxygen have resulted in patient deaths while the neurosurgery team has no working scanners.

The Ethiopian government and officials from the Tigray People's Liberation Front have blamed each other for impeding the delivery of aid including medical supplies.

The UN recently said some health servcies had been halted in Tigray due to a shortage of essential drugs.

As Cameroon prepares to host the much-delayed Africa Cup of Nations competition, what shape is the country in?

Attendances at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon will be capped at between 60 and 80% of capacity because of the coronavirus pandemic.