BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

The military authorities in Burkina Faso have announced the release of a Polish hostage who was kidnapped on 27 April 2022, state-owned RTB has reported.

Another news website, Infowat.net, quoted the information minister, external as saying that the Polish national had been taken hostage by an unnamed armed group on the Matiacoali-Kantchari axis in the east of the country as he was travelling to Niger.

He is said to have been released last Friday and transported by security forces to the capital, Ouagadougou, before being handed over to a Polish delegation on Tuesday.

Al-Qaeda militants have previously said they have been involved in kidnapping foreign nationals in the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso.

Last April, three foreign journalists - two Spaniards and one from Ireland - were found dead after they went missing in eastern Burkina Faso.

Ike Ekweremadu is said to have arranged the transport of a boy to the UK for organ-harvesting.

Cameroon, Zambia, Tunisia and Togo are in Group B of the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Morocco on 2 July.

Portuguese coach Ricardo Soares is named as the new coach of Egyptian giants Al Ahly to replace South African Pitso Mosimane.

Kenyans are paying tribute to veteran journalist Joe Kadhi, who has died at a hospital in the capital, Nairobi.

He had a long and distinguished career, once serving as managing editor of the country’s biggest newspaper, the Daily Nation - with some referring to him as the "godfather of print media" in Kenya.

He was also a media trainer and lecturer at the University of Nairobi, the University of Addis Ababa and the United States International University in Kenya before he retired.

William Ruto, Kenya's deputy president and presidential election front-runner, called him, external a “truly gifted, dedicated and enthusiastic journalist who leaves behind an extraordinary body of work”.

"His mantra 'Publish and Be Damned' still rings in my head each time I need to defy power," journalist Joe Ageyo tweeted.

Linus Kaikai, the editor of Citizen TV, said, external it was a “sad day” to lose “a mentor, professional guardian, legendary trainer and a pioneer of the golden generation”.

“Sad to learn of the passing on of Joe Kadhi, a respected member of my profession. He mentored many and inspired most of us with his knowledge and skills,” tweeted, external Philip Etale, spokesperson for prominent presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

Kadhi's family said he would be buried later on Thursday, according to the final rites of his Muslim faith.

Tom Symonds
Home Affairs Correspondent

Image source, AFP

A prominent Nigerian senator has appeared in court in London for a second time charged with arranging to bring a child to the UK for organ donation.

Ike Ekweremadu, who is 60, stood in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit and holding a bible.

He was told his case would next be heard at Westminster Magistrates Court on 7 July.

Part of the alleged offence was committed abroad and as a result the consent of the attorney general is required for the case to continue, which was the reason for the hearing.

No bail application was made and Mr Ekweremadu will remain in custody. He did not speak and has not been asked yet to enter a plea.

He faces a charge of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person for exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

His wife Beatrice, 55, is charged with arranging or facilitating the travel of another person for exploitation and will appear in court later due to a delay in her transport from prison.

Earlier this week the Nigerian Immigration Authority denied the victim was a child.

Nigeria's Comptroller General, Idriss Jerre, said the victim’s birth certificate and National Identity Number, which were presented during registration for his passport, showed that he was 21 years old.

In response, the Metropolitan Police in the UK said the child was 15.

Didier Bikorimana
BBC Great Lakes Service

Image source, AFP

The M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo are behaving “more and more like a conventional army rather than an armed group”, with “sophisticated” weapons, a senior UN official has said.

Bintou Keita, the UN’s special representative in DR Congo, told a UN Security Council meeting that the group has been using “long range” and “precision" weapons in the most recent fighting in Rutshuru in North Kivu province.

The rebels - who control the town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda - resumed attacks against the Congolese army in April after a decade without a major offensive.

Each side blames the other for starting the fighting, in which at least 23 civilians - including six children - have been killed and more than 170,000 people have fled their homes, according to the UN.

“In the most recent fighting, M23 has behaved more and more like a conventional army rather than an armed group,” Ms Keita said on Wednesday.

The rebels had sophisticated fire power “namely in terms of long-range firing capacity, mortars and machine-guns and precision strikes on aircraft”, she said.

“It is imperative that the council redoubles its efforts in favour of a rapid de-escalation of the situation and the disarmament, without conditions, of M23.”

But the rebel group says it will not lay down its weapons unless there are honest talks with the DR Congo’s government.

It says it is fighting for Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese - those it says are marginalised.

The government accuses it of being a Rwandan proxy, receiving logistical support from neighbouring Rwanda - a claim both the authorities in Kigali and the M23 have vehemently denied.

Former English Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg is appointed the head of Egypt's newly created refereeing committee.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, AFP

Sudan's foreign ministry has summoned the UN envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, over remarks he made regarding the planned Thursday anti-military protests.

Sudan's under-secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dafa’allah al-Hajj Ali, is quoted by the state-run Suna news agency, external as having told Mr Perthes that his remarks were “unacceptable as they show guardianship and violation of national sovereignty”.

Mr Perthes had reportedly said in an interview on Wednesday with Saudi-funded Al-Hadath TV that the government and security agencies “should ensure and maintain the right of freedom of expression and the right for assembly”.

He added that authorities “should avoid using excessive force and violence against the protesters”.

A statement on Twitter, external by Mr Perthes on Tuesday had said "violence against protesters will not be tolerated" while calling for the authorities to "ensure their commitment to protecting the rights" of the people.

Mr Perthes has been at loggerheads with the military authorities since the coup against the civilian-led transitional government last October.

Meanwhile, the internet has been blocked and security forces have closed major bridges linking the capital Khartoum to the twin cities of Omdurman and Bahri amid calls for mass anti-coup protests on Thursday across the country.

On Tuesday, a Sudanese lawyers’ union said on the authorities had launched a fresh campaign of arrests against activists as the country braced for the nationwide protests.

Angel Maxine, Ghana's first openly transgender musician, talks about the journey to becoming herself.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, AFP

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said his country is willing to unconditionally resume grain exports to Africa and other parts of the world should Russia end the naval blockade in the Black Sea.

In an interview with Tanzania's privately owned The Citizen newspaper, he said despite many African countries maintaining a neutral position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, his country would make sure it kept its part of the bargain.

"Ukraine will continue working closely with all African nations in the coming days and weeks to ensure that all our contracted goods reach your markets, and to overcome the global food crisis provoked by Russia’s irresponsible actions," Mr Kuleba said.

He also urged the world and all African states to work together and "pressure Russia to allow a safe sea route for our food exports".

Fuel and food prices in Africa have skyrocketed since 24 February when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out and attempts by some leaders to ease the burden caused by the conflict have been unsuccessful.

More on this topic:

• Ukraine calls for safe passage for grain exports
• How Russia has outflanked Ukraine in Africa

The teenagers are training bare chested and in socks after arriving in South Africa without luggage.

South African Louis Meintjes has twice finished eighth in the Tour de France and explains what it is like to ride in the world's most famous cycling race.

Image source, AFP

Internet access has been cut in Sudan ahead of nationwide protests on Thursday to press for civilian rule.

Internet monitoring organisation Netblocks reports that internet access was disrupted across the country at 08:00 local time (06:00GMT).

The protesters have been using social media platforms to organise.

Security forces are reported to have closed major bridges linking the capital, Khartoum, to the twin cities of Omdurman and Bahri ahead of the protests.

A Sudanese doctors' union said 103 people had been killed as a result of the crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrations prompted by last year's military coup.

More on this topic:

• How Sudan's generals betrayed my generation
• Sudan alarm at return of Bashir loyalists and the NCP

Halima Nyanza
BBC Swahili, Tumbatu

Image source, BBC/Nicholaus Mtenga

Six years ago, Tumbatu, a remote island north of Tanzania's Zanzibar archipelago, had no car transportation - it was just a dream for many of its inhabitants.

Since then, its population has more doubled to an estimated 25,000, with transportation now becoming one of the most important services.

The small wedge-shaped district island, which is 8km (five miles) long and about 2km wide, now has five vehicles that are used to carry cargo and transport passengers - with only six drivers.

Image source, BBC/Nicholaus Mtenga

Bakari Haji Shekha, who is one of the first drivers on the island, says it was like a miracle four years ago when residents witnessed the first cargo lorry, which also carried passengers, arrive on the island.

He also remembered a particular incident where locals had to be restrained by security officers, with many of them wanting a ride.

"When the first car docked, we couldn't move because of the number of people who boarded it. We had to move the car from the port at night with security officers. But there were still many people on it," he told the BBC.

Image source, BBC/Nicholaus Mtenga

Today the arrival of the five cars to Tumbatu has brought relief for the sick, pregnant women and the elderly who have had to walk long distances to access medical care.

It has also come to the rescue of women who carry loads of firewood on their head and trek long distances from the forest going back home.

For Mr Shekha, his work as a driver has earned him popularity with the locals as well as challenges. He says his work requires him to be ready to serve his customers 24 hours a day.

Poor roads are also a challenge and he says at times they are forced to dig their way out to get through the roads.

But there is hope for the future. Island official Khatib Habib Ali says the Zanzibar government has approved funds for the construction of tarmac roads on Tumbatu

Guy Bandolo
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

The authorities in Chad have said more than $20m (£16m) was allegedly embezzled from a state-owned hydrocarbons company.

Information Minister Abderaman Koulamallah made the accusation on national television on Wednesday.

But a bank named in the alleged scandal has threatened to sue for defamation and has strongly denied any involvement in the transactions in question.

The minister - who is also the government spokesman - said “there was an investigation which led to the revelation of embezzlement at the Société des Hydrocarbures du Tchad".

The government had appointed a new head and deputy two days before the announcement.

The former managers were arrested by the Chadian intelligence services.

The opposition party has asked for a change in the transition team governing the country following the death of President Idriss Déby in April last year.

On Tuesday, the UN World Food Programme warned that one in 10 Chadian children suffer from malnutrition. In June, the head of the transitional military council, Mahamat Déby Itno - son of the former president, declared a food emergency in the country.

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

An official burial ceremony is taking place on Thursday for the tooth of the Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba in the capital, Kinshasa.

The relic is all that remains of the African country's first prime minister, who was murdered in 1961 by separatist rebels in collusion with Belgian mercenaries.

His body was dissolved in acid but a Belgian police officer kept the tooth as a trophy.

It was returned to Mr Lumumba's family last week at a ceremony in Brussels.

The tooth, in a coffin draped with the flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has since toured several parts of the country to allow people to pay their respects.

More on this story:

• Why Belgium is returning a Congolese hero's golden tooth

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, AFP

A Sudanese doctors' union said a protester was killed during anti-military demonstrations on Wednesday in Khartoum Bahri, after security forces used excessive force.

"A martyr, who was not identified, has died after he was shot in the chest by the forces of darkness", the Central Council of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said in a statement on Facebook.

The doctors said that the security forces "used excessive force, thinking they could silence the growing revolution".

The CCSD said "this brings the death toll to 103", as a result of the crackdown against the pro-democracy demonstrations prompted by the last October's military coup.

Activists have planned another nationwide protest for Thursday to press for civilian rule.

Reports say authorities have already taken a number of measures ahead of the protests, including the deployment of security forces, closure of bridges, and a possible disconnection of the internet.

Chris Ewokor
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, Getty Images

The authorities in Nigeria say they are expecting to receive at least 38 Nigerians who are being deported from the United Kingdom

The deportees include members of LGBTQ+ communities who had sought asylum in the UK.

Others are mothers, grandmothers and people who had lived in the UK for decades.

They are scheduled to arrive in Lagos early on Thursday morning on a controversial Home Office charter flight.

There are indications some Ghanaian nationals who are also being deported might be on the flight.

Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry told the BBC that the affected persons were being sent back to the country because of immigration-related offences.

Human rights campaigners in the UK say they are concerned about the welfare of the deportees.

They say about 10 women among the deportees are suffering from severe mental health problems and are on anti-psychotic medication.

Campaigners believe some of the affected persons could face persecution - either because of their religion or on the basis of their sexual orientation.

On Wednesday protesters gathered in County Durham in north-east England to demand that they remain in Britain.

More on this topic:

• Inside Nigeria's secret gay club
• Gay in Nigeria: 'Everybody sees me as an abomination'

Kalkidan Yibeltal
BBC News, Addis Ababa

The Ethiopian government-appointed human rights watchdog has called for the immediate release of thousands of Tigrayans who are being held in two detention camps in the north-eastern region of Afar.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission described their detention as illegal.

It says around 9,000 Tigrayans have been held there since December last year. They were from areas bordering Tigray where there has been a civil war.

The Addis Ababa government has said the detainees were being held for their own safety and also to allow screening to find criminals, including people linked to the fighting.

Some of the detainees have previously told the BBC that the lack of medical help in the camps was causing outbreaks of disease - something the rights commission has also said.

Earlier this week the government announced a negotiating team in a bid to end the war in Tigray.

More on this topic:

• Ethiopia's Tigray war: Inside Mekelle cut off from the world