Catherine Byaruhanga
BBC Africa, Kampala

Image source, AFP

Civil society organisations in Uganda have filed a case against the governments of Uganda and Rwanda over border restrictions between the two countries.

The case against the two governments has been lodged at the East African Court of Justice, arguing that the effective border closure contravenes the treaty establishing the East African Community and the regional Community Market Protocol.

The complainants want the court to rule against what they call the arbitrary border closure and that those affected are adequately compensated.

They say key border towns and villages between Uganda and Rwanda have turned into ghost towns and put women traders in particular at risk of "plunging into poverty".

Since February, Rwanda has stopped Ugandan goods entering its territory and prevented its citizens from crossing into Uganda. Kigali says this is because of renovations of a border post but it comes at a time of increased tensions between the neighbours.

The two governments are yet to respond to the suit. Both countries have traded accusations over interference in each other’s affairs - and many see the problems at the border being a result of the diplomatic fall-out.

Cases at the court can take years to be heard but the activists hope the publicity can put pressure on leaders to resolve the stand-off.

Read: How the Rwanda-Uganda border crossing came to a halt

Ahmed Rouaba
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

The arrest of an elderly "war hero" has caused an outcry in Algeria.

Lakhdar Bouregaa, a veteran who fought in the country’s war of independence with France, was arrested on Saturday by security services for "insulting the military".

Mr Bouregaa recently criticised Ahmed Gaid Salad, the army chief of staff who is also considered to be the de facto leader of Algeria.

He said Mr Salad "has been for years promoting Bouteflika's regime" and that the Algerian government had "never been legitimate since the independence in 1962 up to now".

The 86-year-old soldier has been a long-time critic of Algeria's now-ousted former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Emmanuel Igunza
BBC Africa, Nairobi

South Sudan's stalled peace process has been high on the agenda as President Salva Kiir begins a two-day state visit to neighbouring Kenya.

He arrived in the capital, Nairobi, on Monday and was received by his counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta at State House with a 21-gun salute and guard of honour.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss trade and business ties - including plans to hold the first Kenya trade expo in South Sudan.

President Kenyatta says the trade expo is to show that South Sudan is on the path of recovery following years of conflict.

A civil war has been raging in South Sudan since December 2013, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions.

Kenya and Ethiopia are guarantors of the peace process in South Sudan.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), an eight-country trade bloc in East Africa, brokered the latest peace deal signed last September, but the two warring sides are yet to fully implement it.

Image source, Getty Images

Kunle Falayi
BBC Yoruba, Lagos

Nigeria is in the grip of a kidnapping epidemic. Thousands of people have been taken, millions of dollars in ransoms paid.

What began as a protest against the unequal distribution of oil wealth has now become a major security threat to Nigerians at all levels of society.

The Intelligence Response Team, or IRT, was set up specifically to tackle kidnapping and armed robbery.

Led by Commander Abba Kyari, known by many as “Nigeria’s Supercop”, the unit has tracked down a who’s who of Nigerian kidnappers since 2015.

Is this unit the answer to Nigeria’s kidnap crisis or just more of the same corruption and violence that has plagued policing in the country for decades?

Afro Napoli is a team trying to stamp out racism which is rife in Italian football, and increasing across the country.

The team's players are mostly migrants from African countries.

Sports director Pietro Varriale told BBC OS: "The team is directly addressing one of the biggest issues Italy's facing at the moment relating to migration."

Video journalist: Patrick Clahane

Image source, Getty Images

A protest group in Zimbabwe has called for a five-day nationwide stayaway from Monday to protest against the worsening economic crisis in the country following the government's decision to outlaw the use of foreign currencies.

The Tajamuka Sesijikile Campaign group said it was demanding the resignation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the five-day protest would be peaceful.

"We do not anticipate any death or killing, as people will peacefully sit at home to register their disquiet over the escalating political and economic crisis," Promise Mkwananzi, the leader of the group said in a video published by VOA Zimbabwe., external

Read: Why Zimbabwe has banned foreign currencies

Kalkidan Yibeltal
BBC Amharic, Addis Ababa

Image source, Walta TV

Some of the soldiers who marched to the Ethiopian prime minister's office in October last year, were involved in the recent regional coup attempt, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said.

Speaking to the upper house of parliament on Monday, Mr Abiy confirmed that the killings of five top military and government officials in the northern regional state of Amhara and the capital Addis Ababa in June were aimed at toppling the regional government.

“Any attempt to seize power through guns and not the ballot box will take Ethiopia a hundred years backwards,” he said.

In addition to reacting to the killings, Mr Abiy addressed issues of deteriorating security, the displacement of citizens and Ethiopia’s plan to liberalise key state-run companies.

Telecommunications and sugar industries will be the first sectors to be open for private investment, the prime minister said.

He also rejected allegations that some of the two million internally displaced Ethiopians, who have recently gone back to their homes, had been forced to return.

Favour Nunoo
BBC Pidgin, Accra

Some Ghanaian MPs are pushing to criminalise the insulting of women involved in politics, as part of efforts to boost the number of elected female officials.

The measure comes in the Affirmative Action Bill, which parliament is considering.

The chairperson of the Women's Caucus of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, revealed that clause 38 of the draft bill says: “A person who victimises, obstructs or exerts undue influence and submits a female politician to verbal attack among others, commits an offence."

She told participants at a summit in Japan that the government is "committed to passing the bill to bring about gender parity in the country”.

Some critics have however questioned the constitutionality of the clause if enacted into law, while others maintain the clause amounts to bias and creation of gender-based laws which is unfair.

President Nana Akufo-Addo came under attack last month for his claim that there is not enough dynamism and activism from women who want to get elected.

Louise Dewast
BBC Africa

Senegalese customs authorities have seized nearly 800kg (1,700lb) of cocaine on a ship, officials say.

The cocaine was packed in travel bags, hidden inside 15 new cars that arrived in Dakar from Brazil.

It was reported that the cars were destined for Germany and Ghana.

An investigation is under way to identify those involved in trafficking the drugs.

Local media present at the port during the haul say a foreign couple were among those detained for questioning.

The discovery follows the seizure last Wednesday of 238 kg of cocaine smuggled in a similar manner and destined for Angola.

There have been record cocaine busts in nearby Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau earlier this year.

The recent large drug hauls indicate that West Africa is increasingly becoming a transit point for drugs from South America to the rest of the continent and into Europe.

Emmanuel Igunza
BBC Africa, Nairobi

South Sudan's stalled peace process will be on the agenda as President Salva Kiir begins a two-day state visit to neighbouring Kenya.

He arrived in the capital, Nairobi, on Monday and was received by his counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta at State House with a 21-gun salute and guard of honour.

Image source, State House kenya

The two leaders are also expected to discuss trade and business ties.

A civil war has been raging in South Sudan since December 2013, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions.

Kenya and Ethiopia are guarantors of the peace process in South Sudan.

The regional body Igad brokered the latest peace deal signed last September, but the two warring sides in the conflict are yet to fully implement it.

A Nigerian pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, who is at the centre of a rape allegation, which he denies, says he's taking a "leave of absence from the pulpit of the church".

In a video circulating on social media, Pastor Fatoyinbo was accused by a woman of raping her twice before she turned 18. He has said that he was "absolutely innocent".

In a statement on Instagram released on Monday he said he has spoken to Christian leaders around the world and he has now decided to step aside temporarily.

The allegations against him started a huge social media conversation as people shared stories of alleged sexual abuse.

Tanzanian and Mozambican police have agreed to work together after 11 people were killed close to the border by suspected militants who had crossed over from Mozambique. Some of the victims were beheaded.

Speaking alongside his Mozambican counterpart at the border on Sunday, Tanzania's police chief Simon Sirro said that those who go against the law will be dealt with.

Earlier, the police had said that on Wednesday the Tanzanians from near the city of Mtwara had gone to their farms on the border.

They were attacked with guns by a group wearing military fatigues coming across from Mozambique, they then crossed back.

Over the past 18 months, northern Mozambique has seen several violent attacks blamed on Islamist militants.

Nduka Orjinmo
BBC Pidgin

There were protests at the weekend in Nigeria after a woman accused a well-known pastor of twice raping her before she turned 18, several years ago.

The protests and social media discussions have led some to ask if this is Nigeria's #MeToo moment.

In a video, that has been circulating on Twitter, the woman said the first incident happened at her father's house early one morning. The second incident happened on a secluded road. She gave detailed accounts of both attacks.

In a statement on Instagram, the pastor has said: "I have never in my life raped anybody even as an unbeliever and I am absolutely innocent of this."

Sunday's protests took place outside different branches of the pastor's church as people held placards saying: "Thou shall not rape."

Police and other security operatives protected the church in the capital, Abuja, and elsewhere congregants formed a ring around the church buildings stopping the protesters from entering.

On social media, people are sharing their experiences of alleged sexual assault at the hands of religious leaders, school teachers, housemaids, parents and neighbours.

They're using hashtags #MeToo, #ChurchToo and #SayNoToRape in what appears to be a shift in attitudes, with younger people feeling able to speak out about what's happened to them.

Of course, this is a discussion on social media, but Sunday's protests show that it is moving into the real world.

Nigeria has a huge Pentecostal Christian population, with some pastors often accused of extravagant lifestyles and flamboyance. Most of them have an overbearing influence on their followers.

People are now waiting to see what will be done in a country where rape is a criminal offence, but very few convictions have been obtained in court.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

The ruling military junta in Sudan has held the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) responsible for the loss of life during the million-man march on 30 June, state-owned Sudan Radio reports.

“The military council said the Forces of Freedom and Change bears full responsibility for the excesses and loss of lives of the security forces and citizens,” the radio quoted a statement of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) as saying.

Earlier, the state news agency said seven people had died and 181 were hurt, citing the health ministry.

The TMC said that despite allowing the million-man march called by the FFC to proceed and providing security for the march and despite the attempts by the protesters to cross the security barriers and head to the Republican Palace, the security forces “maintained self-restraint”.

The TMC statement also revealed that “infiltrators” who fired at the protesters and security forces were arrested.

Ahead of the 30 June protests, the TMC had issued a statement saying it will hold FFC responsible for any casualty or property damage during the march.

Meanwhile, the main group that is organising the protests, the Sudanese Professionals Association, has called on its supporters to stick to peaceful means in their struggle against what they termed the “despots”.

Mohammed Allie
BBC Africa, Cape Town

The U-Dream Global team of South African teenage pilots, who built their own Sling 4 aircraft, have arrived in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania en route to their final destination of Cairo.

The team left Zanzibar on Sunday, after spending the past few days unsuccessfully negotiating flight clearance with Kenyan authorities to land in Nairobi.

“The authorities in Kenya say they were not happy with our routing and thus denied us entry,” said team leader Des Werner, father of 17-year-old Megan Werner, founder of U-Dream Global.

"We do have the option to change routings but we just don’t have the time for it. Our feeling is that if they are difficult then we just don’t go there. It is after all their own country that misses out in terms of our team interacting with and inspiring youth in their country."

The team is due to depart for Uganda tomorrow but they are still awaiting their permit to fly into Addis Ababa, which is currently following their scheduled stop.

"We are slightly behind schedule but will catch up. If all goes well we hope to be in Cairo around 7 July,” Mr Werner added.

The team is flying two four-seater Sling 4 aircraft - one flown by teenage pilots who have swapped since departing Cape Town on 15 June, and another flown by an experienced support crew.

Mr Werner, who is flying in the support aircraft, says the team is in good spirits and that flying conditions have generally been good.

"Bob Collymore" and "Rest in Peace" are trending on Twitter in Kenya as people share news that the chief executive of Safaricom, one of the region's most successful companies, has died of cancer at the age of 61.

In a statement, President Uhuru Kenyatta described him as a "visionary and exceptional leader".

Deputy President William Ruto has called him "exemplary, brilliant and courageous".

Others have described him as a "legend" and having a "brilliant mind".

Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga says that Mr Collymore "sustained us as a communication hub in Africa".

Last year, Safaricom was named by Forbes magazine as the top employer on the continent.

Mr Collymore told the BBC's Money Daily programme that the secret was that Safaricom invested in people adding that companies "need to give people meaning and purpose".

He also had advice for young employees: work hard and align your values to the values of the company.

Watch Mr Collymore here, eight minutes into the clip:

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa's Caster Semenya says she will not race at the World Championships in Qatar later this year if she loses an appeal against IAAF rules governing testosterone levels in female athletes.

She is the reigning 800m Olympic and world champion and won over the distance in Sunday's Diamond League meet in California.

She said: "If I'm not running 800m, I'm not running in the world championships.

"My goals are to defend my world title. So if I'm not allowed I'm not allowed."

Semenya is currently challenging the International Association of Athletics Federations' new rules.

She can race while she appeals and she won the 800m in California in one minute 55.69 seconds, nearly three seconds quicker than second-placed Ajee Wilson of the US.

It was the fastest 800m run by a woman on US soil and the twice Olympic champion has now not been beaten in the 800m since September 2015.

In other races, Ivory Coast's Marie-Josee Ta Lou won the women's 100m in 11.02secs, Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare won the 200m in 22.05secs and Kenya's Faith Kipyegon won the 1500m in three minutes 59.04secs.

Bob Collymore, the chief executive of one East Africa's most successful companies, Safaricom, has died, the company has announced.

In a brief statement the Kenyan company said he died of cancer on Monday morning at his home.

"In October 2017, Bob proceeded to the UK to receive treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and returned in July 2018 to resume duties," it adds.

He was receiving treatment since then but "in recent weeks his condition worsened".

Mr Collymore became Safaricom's chief executive in 2010 and helped maintain the company as the regional leader in mobile services, including the payment system Mpesa.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AFP

Vast crowds took to the streets in Sudan to demonstrate against military rule, with reports of deaths and injuries.

The state news agency said seven people had died and 181 were hurt, citing the health ministry.

The pro-opposition Central Committee of Sudan Doctors spoke of at least five protesters being killed.

Sudan has been in turmoil since the military ousted President Omar al-Bashir in April.

That followed a popular uprising against his rule. Mr Bashir seized power in a coup on 30 June 1989.

Sunday's protest has been the biggest since dozens were killed in a crackdown on pro-democracy activists on 3 June.

Read more on the Sudan protests.

Image source, AFP

Madagascar produced the shock of the Africa Cup of Nations so far as they beat three-time winners Nigeria 2-0.

Madagascar went into the last 16 as winners of Group B. Nigeria go through as runners-up.

Egypt maintained their perfect start to their Afcon campaign by beating Uganda 2-0 in Cairo to advance into the last 16 as Group A winners.

Uganda also reached the last 16 after coming second in Group A.

Meanwhile, DR Congo gave themselves a chance of qualifying for the last 16 from Group A with a 4-0 win over Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe are out of the tournament.

Monday's games:

• South Africa v Morocco
• Namibia v Ivory Coast
• Tanzania v Algeria
• Kenya v Senegal

Follow all the Afcon news on the BBC African football website.