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Pro-democracy activists in Sudan have announced fresh protests amid a political crisis deepened by the resignation of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Monday.

At least three protesters were killed on Sunday after thousands of demonstrators opposed to military rule took to the streets, according to a doctor’s union.

The number of protesters killed since October's military coup has risen to 56.

The Sudanese Professionals’ Association (SPA), a coalition of trade unions leading the campaign against military rule, said protesters “will be heading to the presidential palace until victory is achieved”.

“You will not rally alone on 4 January! The Sudanese Professionals’ Association and wage workers are with you,” it said in a Facebook post.

The country’s de facto head of state, Lt Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, told military leaders yesterday that the army was the "nation's safety valve" and that it will "protect the democratic transition”.

UN envoy to Sudan Volker Perthes has said he regretted Mr Hamdok’s decision to step down and called for dialogue.

“The lack of trust among Sudanese actors needs to be overcome through a meaningful and inclusive dialogue. Unitams [the UN mission in Sudan] stands ready to facilitate such a process,” he said.

Mr Hamdok’s resignation plunged Sudan into further uncertainty and could embolden pro-democracy groups as it hands the military complete control of the country.

Image source, AFP

Liberian opposition figure Alexander Cummings says forgery allegations against him in a case filed by a party in an opposition coalition are "unfounded and political".

The Monrovia City Court has issued an arrest warrant against him to answer to the crime of forgery and criminal conspiracy linked to the alleged forgery of the coalition’s documents.

The case against Mr Cummings was brought to court by Benoni Urey of the All Liberian Party (ALP).

The ALP accuses him of forging the coalition agreement document by editing and replacing a section on how parties can exit the coalition.

Mr Cummings told the BBC's Focus of Africa programme that the ALP wanted to leave the coalition and accused Mr Urey of being used by the government to create disunity within the opposition.

"This action will leave us undeterred, we are determined to run our political course and make our case to the Liberian people to make Mr [George] Weah a one-term president," he said.

But Mr Urey said a crime had been committed and the ALP had to seek redress in court after internal mechanism to resolve disputes failed.

He said there had been many disagreements within the coalition but most parties were ready to work together.

"We want to preserve that coalition ... I can assure you that in a few days of weeks we will form another group because the Liberian people want us to do that," he told Focus on Africa.

President Weah will be running for a second term in next year’s general elections.

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi and First Lady Isaura Nyusi have tested positive for Covid and are in isolation.

A statement from the presidency said Mr Nyusi and his wife had decided to isolate in accordance with health guidelines after testing positive, even though they were not showing symptoms.

It said they had decided to do the tests after "several activities we’ve done over the past few days".

Coronavirus cases have been rising in recent days.

The country has so far recorded more than 193,000 Covid-19 cases, 2,031 deaths and 158,680 recoveries.

Image source, AFP

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

Guinea's main opposition leader says more than 100 of the country's political parties will present a joint demand for a return to civilian rule to the military junta that seized power in September.

Cellou Dalein Diallo told a news conference that the Collective of Political Parties had agreed a timetable for a political transition.

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) is demanding elections within six months.

It suspended Guinea from the regional bloc after President Alpha Condé was deposed in a coup nearly four months ago.

On Monday the United States dropped Guinea, along with Ethiopia and Mali, from a Africa trade preference agreement over human rights concerns.

Image source, AFP

Tunisia's interior ministry has said a detained former justice minister is suspected of “terrorism”.

Noureddine Bhiri of the Ennahdha party was detained over the weekend.

He has refused food and medicine and was transferred to a hospital on Monday where he is reported to have continued with the hunger strike.

Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine said on Monday that there were reports of acts of terrorism prompting the authorities to act.

The Ennahdha party has been at crossroads with President Kais Saied after he sacked the prime minister and suspended parliament last year.

A party member and activists have said Mr Bhiri’s health is at risk as he has a chronic illness and has been denied professional care.

His wife is quoted by the AFP news agency saying that he had suffered a heart attack and that she was denied access to him.

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