Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Almost 500 migrants have managed to enter the Spanish North African enclave of Melilla after more than 2,000 people tried to jump the fence at the border with Morocco.

The Spanish authorities say it was the largest attempt on record.

They say 16 police officers were injured and 20 migrants from sub Saharan Africa were being treated for minor injuries.

Officials said the migrants used hooks to help them climb and threw stones at border officials.

Image source, Getty Images

Photos from the area show Spanish police using a ladder to try to reach some of the migrants who had clambered to the top of the high fence.

Melilla as well as Ceuta, which is also on North Africa's Mediterranean coast, are popular entry points for migrants seeking a better life in Europe.

Image source, Getty Images

The delegation of the European Union (EU) to Kenya has denied reports of discrimination against Africans levelled at member states bordering Ukraine.

More than 200 Kenyans were stranded in Ukraine because of Russia's invasion, a press release from the bloc stated.

"The EU regrets the incorrect and skewed media reporting on this issue that has repeatedly appeared in various Kenyan outlets and social media, and calls for careful verification of the facts," the press release said.

"Given that in some cases deliberate disinformation is being spread, the EU Embassies present in Kenya are ready to provide accurate data," it continued.

Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania have granted unrestricted access to those fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine, including Kenyans, the delegation said.

"Contrary to some media reports, those Kenyans who have arrived at the borders have been assisted and allowed to enter safely into EU Member States," the statement continued.

Numerous African students in Ukraine have shared stories of being blocked by Ukrainian security agents from leaving the country. Ukraine is not a member of the EU.

The African Union has condemned the reports of discrimination.

The EU mission to Kenya said that out of 350,000 refugees who crossed into Poland between 24 and 28 February, there were "7,721 Africans, including 88 Kenyans".

It added that an extra 4,150 people from 40 African countries have crossed into Slovakia in the last four days.

At least five people, including a senior official and a mayor, have been killed in Cameroon after an explosive device was detonated, sources say.

The incident took place in the English-speaking south-west region.

The victims’ convoy was “targeted in an attack by separatists” on the motorway between Ekondo-Titi and Bekora, according to a senior police officer quoted by AFP.

Some Anglophone groups took up arms in 2017, demanding independence from the rest of the country where French is the main official language.

Image source, Getty Images

Some people online have expressed anger after footage emerged of a group of Nigerian governors' wives celebrating the first lady's birthday, apparently in Dubai.

Aisha Buhari's birthday was on 17 February, when she turned 51, but the video has only just emerged. It is not clear when it was filmed.

A group of women, who local media say are wives of local politicians, can be seen carrying a large box and flowers, while singing Happy Birthday To You. There is also a cameraman in the background.

Some people have questioned how the attendees paid for their travel to Dubai.

"How many of them would have embarked on this trip with their personal funds?" one critical tweeter questioned., external

Others felt it was tone deaf for the women to travel to celebrate the first lady's birthday, when the country is facing so many problems.

"So much insensitivity truly sad", one person wrote., external

"No fuel in Nigeria for the common man but Aisha and her husband can enjoy life outside of Nigeria while citizens suffer!" the journalist Jackson Ude wrote., external

The footage does not show if President Muhammadu Buhari himself was present.

The BBC has contacted the presidency for comment but they have not yet responded.

A Nigerian doctor is helping Africans fleeing from Ukraine by connecting them to their embassies.

Chukwudi Okonkwo, a medical practitioner in Romania, told the BBC he had been offering family support to those affected.

He works with faith-based groups to help accommodate the new arrivals.

Stories of Africans being stopped from entering countries and freezing out in the cold for days have been told to the doctor, who is offering a listening ear.

He said Romanians were kind and had opened their doctors to all those affected irrespective of their race.

His number has been shared widely for anyone in need of assistance to reach out.

Here is Dr Okonkwo's full interview:

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

In the northern Nigerian city of Kano hundreds of relatives of detained foreign exchange traders have held a protest calling for their release.

Nearly a year ago, around 40 men were arrested by the authorities on suspicion that they were involved in the transfer of money to Islamist militant groups.

They have not been formally charged. Wives and children of the businessmen headed to the Kano state governor’s office carrying placards and demanding that their relatives be tried in court or released.

Last month, the Nigerian government said more than 600 individuals and organisations were being investigated in connection with financing terrorism.

Pumza Fihlani
BBC News, Johannesburg

Image source, AFP

The third part of South Africa's Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s investigation into widescale corruption has recommended that former President Jacob Zuma should be investigated further.

Zuma and other senior officials should be investigated for corruption relating to their dealings with Bosasa, a firm that was repeatedly awarded government contracts, according to the Zondo commission report.

It found that Zuma likely breached his obligations as president under the constitution when he accepted gifts from the company, in the form of lavish parties.

"Corruption was central to Bosasa's business model," Judge Zondo states - adding that "everything for the company came down to corruption”.

The firm was found to have regularly bribed government officials and some members of the governing African National Congress (ANC) in exchange for business contracts within a number of state entities.

Further recommendations included that current Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and senior ANC politicians Nomvula Mokonyane and Thabang Makwetla be investigated for unduly benefitting from Bosasa.

The report comes after a four-year investigation into allegations of grand corruption between the government and private sector during Zuma’s term in office.

Zuma refused to give further evidence at the commission, leading Judge Zondo to find that he willingly turned down the opportunity to present a defence for the allegations made against him at the commission.

• PROFILE: Jacob Zuma - the survivor whose nine lives ran out

Image source, Getty Images

The association of atheists in Kenya has written to the education ministry seeking a ban on prayer days in public schools ahead of national examinations.

The group says the prayer days are in contravention to students' rights.

Public schools have a tradition of organising for prayer days before students sit for national examinations.

Schools have this week called parents to join in the tradition to pray for a smooth examination period.

“Most Kenyans have gone through a public education system where organised, mandatory observance of religious practice was a must," the atheist association wrote in part.

The group says children should be left to make their own unbiased decisions about religion.

Image source, Getty Images

Nigerian Afropop star Yemi Alade has been appointed as the Global Ambassador for a pan-African campaign in partnership with the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the Mastercard foundation to encourage Africans to get vaccinated against Covid-19, called "It's Up to Us".

The campaign warns that Africans are "being left behind" when it comes to Covid vaccinations.

Writing on Twitter, Alade said she was excited to join the Africa CDC and thousands of Africans to stop the spread of coronavirus "one shot at a time".

According to the Africa CDC, 12.33% of the continent's population is fully vaccinated, and just 0.91% have received their booster shot.

Nichola Mandil
BBC News, Juba

Image source, AFP

European Union (EU) diplomats have condemned the powerful son of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for expressing support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Gen Kainerugaba had on Tuesday tweeted:, external "The majority of mankind (that are non-white) support Russia's stand in Ukraine. Putin is absolutely right!"

The deputy head of the EU delegation in neighbouring South Sudan termed the comment as “unacceptable”.

Dionyz Hochel suggested Uganda may face unexplained consequences if it formally supports Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

“We condemn this statement. We expect sensitivity and we expect countries of this region to be aligned with the EU and like-minded countries and to adopt the UN resolution condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine," Mr Hochel told reporters in the capital, Juba.

The UN General Assembly will on Wednesday vote on a resolution censuring Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Read more:

• How Russia forged closer ties with Africa

A relative of one of those killed in the Olembe Stadium crush says compensation his family have received can never make up for their loss.

Image source, Getty Images

Five Sudanese football players died when their boat capsized on Sunday, local media reported.

The players were members of al-Milaha football team, a local team in Shendi town 95 miles (150km) north of Khartoum.

They were travelling on a boat to the west bank of the river to play against El-Jiref, in the third division league in Al-Matammah town, north of the capital.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, AFP

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to travel to London for medical check-ups for approximately two weeks, local media reports.

The president has been criticised for failing to transfer power to his deputy on an interim basis as constitutionally expected.

Mr Buhari has also been heavily criticised for seeking treatment abroad while Nigeria’s healthcare system suffers from mismanagement and under-funding.

The Nigerian president arrived in Kenya on Tuesday to attend the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environment Programme.

He is expected to leave Kenya and head straight to London.

The Zimbabwe government has evacuated 118 students from Ukraine to neighbouring countries, the state-controlled Herald website reports.

The students have been relocated to Romania (28), Hungary (15), Slovakia (26) and Poland (49).

They will be provided with air tickets to return home, the information minister is quoted as saying.

The embassies in Russia and Germany are facilitating the evacuation.

The minister urged Zimbabwean students still in Ukraine to find their way to Poland where they will get government assistance.

Around 1,000 Ukrainian tourists are stranded in Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar.

Nichola Mandil
BBC News, Juba

Image source, Getty Images

Western diplomats in South Sudan have urged the country support a UN resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The United Nations General Assembly will on Wednesday vote on a resolution censuring Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Dozens of states are expected to formally abstain from the vote or not engage at all, Reuters news agency reports.

“We are just hoping that as the newest member of the UN, South Sudan will stand with the UN principles, stand with this international rule-based order that is preserving us from warfare and votes with the vast majority of the international community in favour of this resolution,” Marc Trouyet, the French ambassador to South Sudan, told reporters in the capital, Juba.

South Sudan's government has not responded to the diplomats' call.

Juba has neither condemned nor supported Russian aggression since the conflict broke out last week.

Some 79 Kenyan students have so far left Ukraine following Russia's invasion.

The government says one student has already arrived in Kenya, 74 others are in Poland, two are in Romania and two are in Hungary.

The authorities are co-ordinating the evacuation of many other students from various cities in Ukraine.

Four Kenyan students have expressed no interest in leaving Ukraine, citing personal reasons.

African students have joined Ukraine nationals leaving the country after Russia's invasion.

There were concerns of racism at the border points and the African Union has urged countries to respect international law and assist all those fleeing from the war.

Image source, Reuters

A Ugandan novelist charged with insulting President Yoweri Museveni has taken the government to court over his alleged torture by soldiers.

Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was arrested in December after posting tweets insulting Mr Museveni and his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba. He denied the charges.

He wants the East African Court of Justice to declare that his arrest, detention and torture were illegal.

The award-winning writer fled the East African nation last month after being granted bail by a court.

He fled Uganda by walking to neighbouring Rwanda and then travelled to a third country, from where the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) facilitated his journey to Germany.

His trial is meant to begin on 23 March.

Rukirabashaija won the Pen Pinter Prize for an international writer of courage , externalin 2021.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Getty Images

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has invited South Sudan's leaders for talks on the peace process in their country.

The meeting will bring together President Salva Kiir, Riek Machar and four other vice-presidents to discuss and evaluate the implementation of the 2018 revitalised peace agreement.

The leaders are expected to discuss the challenges facing the implementation of the peace deal.

Observers say most provisions of the agreement are yet to be implemented, including the graduation of the unified security forces.

Nomsa Maseko
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

A 22 year-old Nigerian medical student, Fehintola Moses, has told the BBC about his unsuccessful attempts to leave Sumy, in north-east Ukraine, where there has been fighting with Russian troops.

Sumy is also near another front line in Kharkiv.

Through WhatsApp message and voice notes, the Nigerian student spoke of how he was unable to leave the city after his university told him that the train lines nearby were controlled by Russian forces.

He said he had been told to stay at the campus.

He said there was no public transport in the city as some roads have been damaged.

Mr Moses said he was feeling mentally drained and wished the whole situation would end.

Over half a million civilians have fled Ukraine, according to the UN.