Patience Atuhaire
BBC News, Kampala

Image source, Pen Pinter Prize

A Ugandan writer accused of tweeting derogatory statements about the president and his son has been charged in court, weeks after he was arrested.

Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was charged with two counts of offensive communication and has been sent to prison until 21 January, when he will appear in court again.

Eron Kiiza, his lawyer, said that the author was limping, and he told the court that his health was failing.

The lawyer had previously said that his client had been tortured in detention.

Mr Rukirabashaija was arrested in December and a court last week ordered that he be released unconditionally but the authorities did not heed the order.

On Monday, the court ordered that he be presented in court.

Human rights organisations and diplomats have been calling for Mr Rukirabashaija to be presented in court or released unconditionally.

The writer won the PEN Printer International Writer of Courage prize in 2021, for his novel “The Greedy Barbarian” which centres on gross corruption in a fictional country.

Mr Rukirabashaija had previously been arrested and accused of violating coronavirus social distancing rules and promoting sectarianism. At the time he said that he had been tortured.

Image source, AFP

Kenya has suspended all inbound and transit passenger flights from the United Arabs Emirates, for seven days.

The suspension is effective from Monday this week.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), says this was done to reciprocate a ban on Kenyan passenger flights to UAE.

The ban will not affect cargo flights, which will continue with normal operations.

In December last year, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority suspended all air transport services with inbound and transit passenger movements from Kenya.

The Dubai aviation regulator expressed concern that travellers from Nairobi were testing positive for Covid-19 on arrival, despite carrying negative test results.

Speaking to local dailies, KCAA director general Gilbert Kibe said there was a scheme involving private medical testing centres colluding with travellers to issue fake Covid PCR results to aid their travel to Dubai.

Kenya’s health ministry has launched a probe on the matter.

Image source, Reuters

The public prosecutor in Uganda has withdrawn a case against opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi popularly known as Bobi Wine.

The politician had been accused of giving false details about his age while registering for a diploma at Makerere University.

Bobi Wine has in the past had his academic credentials questioned.

He ran against Uganda's long-term President Yoweri Museveni in last year's elections and complained of fraud.

Bobi Wine is a fierce critic of the president.

Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa is determined to win what he says is his last Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

A court case involving members of the Zulu royal family is set to begin on Tuesday in an ongoing succession battle for the throne.

The royal feud followed the death in March last year of King Goodwill Zwelithini from diabetes-related complications at the age of 72.

The late king had picked his third wife Queen Dlamini-Zulu as his successor because she was the only wife with royal blood – but her death soon after triggered a power struggle over the succession.

She had designated Prince Misuzulu, her son and the eldest son of the king - as successor to the throne.

Prince Misuzulu ascension to the throne has been contested by the late king’s daughters, who are challenging the authenticity of his will and allege that his signature was forged.

The late king first wife, Queen Sibongile Dlamini- Zulu is also seeking to inherit half of the late king’s estate on grounds that she was the only wife who was legally married to the king.

Prince Misuzulu is yet to be officially coronated since he was chosen as the successor amid the court battle.

The high court in Pietermaritzburg will be hearing the matters concerning the late king's will as well as a bid to stop an alleged secret coronation.

Image source, Reuters

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has fired the state security minister Owen Ncube.

In a press statement, the president’s office said Mr Ncube had been removed “with immediate effect for conduct inappropriate for a minister of government”.

No further details were given.

The sacked minister was placed under US sanctions in 2019 over the government’s crackdown on protesters, the opposition and the civil society.

The UK also slapped sanctions against him and three security chiefs last year over alleged human rights abuses.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Somalia's spy agency has ignored an order to hand over the security of the country's main airport to the security ministry.

The agency has instead deployed more security to the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu after the minister's order, privately-owned Caasimada Online reports.

The recent orders were issued amid an ongoing power struggle between President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.

The security minister is an ally of Mr Roble, who, on 27 December, said the army and other security forces should take orders from his office and not the president’s.

Meanwhile, the spy agency’s acting commander,Yasin Abdullahi Mohamud, is an ally of the president and was appointed to the position despite opposition from the prime minister.

The website said that the security minister’s orders were also rejected by Western diplomats who live within the airport’s compound, amid concerns for the airport’s security if the especially-trained Nisa agents were removed.

Chris Ewokor
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, AFP

Nigeria's first census in more than 15 years is due to be held in May, the head of the country's National Population Commission has said.

Nasir Isa Kwarra said digital technology would help to ensure that the nationwide survey was reliable and credible.

The findings of Nigeria's last census in 2006 were rejected by some southern groups; they claimed that the figures were manipulated to favour the north.

Estimates suggest that Nigeria's population is over 200 million, compared with 140 million in the previous census.

The exact date of the exercise is awaiting approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Image source, AFP

Malawi’s attorney general has been accused of protecting the country's politicians after announcing an amnesty for people who defraud the government.

Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda said for the next two months anyone who admitted fraud or corruption would not face prosecution provided they returned the money.

This comes as Malawi’s Anti Corruption Bureau is trying to arrest the land minister, Kezzie Msukwa, for a multi-million dollar fraud involving a prominent British businessman resident in Malawi, Zuneth Sattar. Both men have denied any wrongdoing.

The head of Malawi's Centre for Democracy and Economic Development, Sylvester Namiwa, said the announcement of the amnesty showed the attorney general was politically compromised and called for him to resign.

Following the criticism the attorney general held a press conference to say the amnesty would not apply to all cases.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

US President Joe Biden has raised concerns about civilian deaths caused by recent air strikes in Ethiopia during a call with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

This follows reports that more than 50 displaced people were killed in an air strike in north-west Tigray on Friday.

A White House statement said the US president welcomed the release of opposition leaders and pledged support in finding a peaceful end to the war with Tigrayan rebels.

Relations have not been good between Washington and Addis Ababa where the government has been upset by repeated criticism of human rights abuses during the war with Tigrayan rebels.

The fact that Mr Biden and Mr Abiy held a phone conversation at all is perhaps a sign of progress.

The White House statement says the two leaders discussed ways to accelerate dialogue towards a negotiated ceasefire.

It also says the recent release of opposition leaders was a positive step. But the subject of atrocities was once again raised.

Our African proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

The restored archive of a rural Ugandan photographer is helping people reconnect with their past.

Aaron Boupendza's first-half finish is the difference as Gabon edge past Africa Cup of Nations debutants Comoros in Group C.

Sofiane Boufal's 82nd-minute strike hands Morocco a narrow win over Group C rivals Ghana in their Africa Cup of Nations opener.

The Algerian journalists who suffered a knife attack in Douala on the opening day of the Africa Cup of Nations aim to carry on their coverage in Cameroon.

Guinea open their Africa Cup of Nations Group B campaign with a 1-0 win over a spirited Malawi side in Bafoussam.

That's all for now from the BBC Africa Live team until Tuesday morning Nairobi time.

There will be an automated news feed until then. You can also get the latest news from our website or listen to the Africa Today podcast.

Here's a reminder of Monday's wise words:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this shot of a relaxed-looking Burkina Faso fan at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday:

Image source, AFP

Three group matches are in still in play at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Cameroon - and you can follow the latest updates from BBC Sport here.

As things stand:

• Guinea leads Malawi 1-0
• Morocco versus Ghana is still goalless
• Comoros are gearing up to face Gabon at 19:00 GMT

Ahmed Rouaba
BBC News

Three Algerian journalists have been stabbed and robbed of their belongings near their hotel in the Cameroonian city of Douala.

The Algerian Football Association said Ismail Amokrane, Mehdi Dahak and Mohamed Aissani were covering the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) when they were attacked by a mob who took their phones and passports.

The victims sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. The local authorities are said to have opened an investigation into the incident but have not made a statement yet.

It is bad news for the Afcon organisers, who have strived to assuage security fears ahead of the tournament.

Algeria star Ismail Bennacer has posted a message of support to the journalists on his Twitter account, saying "our hearts are with you"., external

Algeria will kickstart efforts tomorrow to defend their title of African champions when they meet Sierra Leone in Group E.

Salima Mukansanga is set to make history at this year's Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Cameroon, by becoming the first woman to referee at the men's tournament.

The 33-year-old Rwandan is expected to make her officiating debut in the coming days.

In the past she has presided over matches in the Fifa Women’s World Cup, 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Africa Women’s Cup of Nations and the Confederation of African Football's (Caf) Women’s Champions League - as well as umpiring for the top men's teams in her home country.

Rwandan media report that as a teenager Ms Mukansanga dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player, but opted to become a football referee 15 years ago.