Hanna Temauri
BBC News

Image source, EPA

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has said western countries are to blame for the soaring global food prices and fuel crisis, whilst on a trip to Ethiopia as part of a six-day Africa tour.

He met Ethiopian officials and representatives of diplomatic corps.

In his remarks to diplomats on Wednesday, he said the problems with the international food market started at the beginning of the pandemic and pre-date the Ukraine war.

He said western governments used trillions of dollars to buy food without any substantial reason.

“Yes, the situation in Ukraine did additionally affect the food market but not because of Russian operation rather due to absolutely inadequate reaction of the west which announced sanctions undermining the availability of food in the market’’ he said.

Mr Lavrov added that the increase of the price of fertilisers was caused by what he called the reckless western policy of the so-called green transition which he said discriminates the classic energy sources.

Africa imports 40% of its wheat from Ukraine, however, that was disrupted because of the Russia-Ukraine war.

However, the signing of a deal to export grains has brought hope that those disruptions could be resolved soon.

Image source, AFP

Public university lecturers in Nigeria, who are currently on strike over pay, have called for a law to regulate the children of government officials studying abroad.

"If this is done, it will build a better society by developing formidable educational institutions and improve funding of the university system in Nigeria," Kingdom Tombra, chairman of the University of Niger Delta Wilberforce Island chapter of the lecturers' union, is quoted as saying in the People's Gazette paper., external

"If the rich and poor go to the same university or institution, I don’t think the strike will occur again," Mr Tombra continued.

Children of many public officials have gone to university abroad, including the children of the current president and vice president.

"If they school here and their children are here they will show total support for the university system and the tertiary institutions in Nigeria," Mr Tombra commented.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike since 14 February, leaving many students in limbo.

A 2020 strike by public university lecturers lasted nine months.

Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick says they plan to stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations - but organisers insists Guinea will host.

Image source, Lucapa Diamond Co

The 170 carat "Lulo Rose" is the fifth largest diamond ever discovered in Angola's Lulo mine.

Image source, EPA

Kenyans had hoped that Tuesday's presidential debate would be steeped in policy and with sound bites to define the upcoming election.

But a snub by one of the main frontrunners, Raila Odinga, saw the Deputy President William Ruto appear alone in what quickly descended into a review of the latter's past 10 years in government.

Opinion polls suggest the election, scheduled for 9 August, will be a tight one between the two former allies.

At stake is the country's faltering economy, rising cost of living, ballooning debt burden, corruption in government and a high youth unemployment rate.

In media interviews, all the main presidential candidates have separately spoken of the solutions they offer.

Mr Odinga has said he will steer the country from a Sri Lankan-style crisis. Mr Ruto has spoken of his bottom-up route to economic recovery.

George Wajackoyah promises to turn the nation into a major exporter of marijuana, snake venom and hyenas' testicles. David Mwaure has focused on integrity and fighting corruption.

None of these was talked about in detail at the debate. It was a missed chance for candidates to flesh out their proposed solutions and the Kenyan voters were left not better informed.

Read more on Kenya's presidential candidates:

• Raila Odinga: The eternal candidate hoping it will be fifth-time lucky
• William Ruto: The former chicken seller with presidential ambitions
• George Wajackoyah spices up Kenya election with marijuana and snake venom

William Ruto appeared alone in the TV studio to answer questions on a range of topics.

Jonathan Paye-Layleh
BBC News, Monrovia

Image source, EPA

University students have been injured in Liberia after their protest against the high cost of living was allegedly disrupted by supporters of the ruling party - the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

The incident happened as the country celebrated its independence anniversary on Tuesday.

The protesters included some members of the ruling party, who are unhappy with the government's performance..

They had gathered in front of the US embassy, as President George Weah attended an official programme with visiting heads of state.

An image of a protester severely-bruised has been shared on Facebook, sparking outrage.

It is unclear how many of them were wounded.

According to local media on Wednesday, the group disrupting the protest, called the “Council of Patriots”, was heard saying they had gone to stage a counter protest to dispel claims by the student demonstrators that the government of George Weah was not performing well.

Supporters of the counter-protesters also called Liberian radio stations on Wednesday supporting opposition to the original demonstration, saying it was wrong to have such an event on independence day.

However, an outspoken ruling party member has condemned the attack on the student protesters.

"Attacking peaceful citizens from protesting and sending people to brutalize them is totally wrong and unacceptable," Karishma Pelham said.

The ruling CDC party's chairman, Mulbah Morlue, distanced the party from the violence, telling the BBC the party does not support violence.

"We do not condone or sanction violence; we have a zero tolerance policy on violence,” he said.

He also denied the CDC has an offshoot group, and said police should investigate what he called the "alleged" events.

"If anyone is found guilty, they should be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.

BBC World Service

The death toll following a suicide explosion in the Somali coastal town of Marka, in the regional capital of Lower Shebelle has increased to at least 20.

Previously we reported the toll at nine.

One of the victims include district commissioner, Abdullahi Wafow.

The Islamist militant group al-Shabab said it carried out the attack.

In a separate incident six people were killed in an explosion in the town of Afgoye.

In Mogadishu itself, security officials said two al-Shabab fighters died when their explosives went off before they could carry out an attack.

BBC World Service

Hundreds of workers have taken to the streets of the Nigerian capital, Abuja, in solidarity with university lecturers who have been on strike since February.

The rally was called by the most powerful union in the country - the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) - which represents millions of workers.

The lecturers have shut down their departments in disagreements with the government over pay.

The head of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said it would begin a three-day strike after the protest if the government failed to reach an agreement with the lecturers.

A previous strike by lecturers during the pandemic lasted nine months.

Catherine Schenk
BBC News, Johannesburg

Image source, Getty Images

Weeks before the new Zulu king is to be crowned, the royal family is still bringing disputes before the South African courts, however, the most recent court case has been struck off.

On Tuesday afternoon a judge described an urgent application to stop the coronation of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini as a non-urgent matter.

It had been filed by the king's uncle, Prince Mbonisi kaBhekuzulu, and 12 others who do not want King Misuzulu to replace his late father King Goodwill Zwelithini, who died in April last year.

For more than a year the family has brought a host of succession and inheritance disputes before the courts, with several members of the royal family forming factions about who the successor should be.

Another case is still open, in which members of the royal family dispute South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's recognition of King Misuzulu - something that is always done by the presidency as a symbolic gesture.

It does not seem like that case will cause a delay to the coronation, which now looks set to go ahead next month.

More on this topic:

• Death of a Zulu king: 'He is planted, not buried'
• Remembering the straight-talking king of the Zulus

This year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations has raised the stakes for women's football, but can the continent capitalise on its success?

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly criticised African leaders' response to the Ukraine war during a press conference in Yaoundé.

Mr Macron hit out at "the hypocrisy, particularly on the African continent" that denied the Ukraine conflict was a war.

Some African countries have held back from outright criticising Russia's aggression in Ukraine. In March, 17 African countries abstained in a UN vote to condemn the invasion.

He also said that the only solution to Cameroon's Anglophone crisis is decentralisation: "It is through this political process of dialogue and reform that a lasting solution can be found," the privately-owned Journal du Cameroun website quoted Mr Macron as saying.

He was speaking alongside Cameroonian President Paul Biya in Yaoundé.

According to Journal du Cameroun, the two leaders also discussed "jihadist threats in northern Cameroon with Boko Haram", and the conflict between the Cameroonian forces and armed separatist groups.

The French president began a three-country tour of Africa on 25 July, with food security, militant violence and France's relation with the continent expected to dominate his talks with African leaders.

Richard Kagoe
BBC News, Nairobi

Nine people have died following a suicide explosion in the Somali coastal town of Marka, in the regional capital of Lower Shebelle.

Reports indicate that there could be multiple casualties from the blast that happened outside the district headquarters.

The al-Shabab militant group said it carried out the attack that killed district commissioner Abdullahi Wafow and some of his security guards.

Marka town is situated 90km (56 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu.

Following the success of this year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations, there are calls for improved pay and prize money for women's players across the continent.

Image source, Lucapa Diamond Co.

Miners in north-east Angola have discovered a rare, pure pink diamond they believe to be the largest rough diamond of its kind to be unearthed in 300 years.

The Australian site operator named the 170-carat stone The Lulo Rose.

It said the diamond will be sold at international tender by the Angolan state diamond marketing company.

The find in the Lulo alluvial mine was welcomed by the Angolan government.

“This record and spectacular pink diamond recovered from Lulo continues to showcase Angola as an important player on the world stage for diamond mining," Minerals Resources Minister Diamantino Azevedo is quoted as saying in a statement, external.

Similar stones, once cut and polished, have sold for record-breaking prices.

The Pink Star, a 59-carat pink diamond, sold for $71.2m in 2017 - the most expensive ever.

Shingai Nyoka
BBC News, Harare

Civil servants in Zimbabwe have begun a two-day strike to demand pay increases.

They also want their salaries to be paid in US dollars as the local currency rapidly devalues.

The government is doubling salaries this month, but unions say the increases have been eroded by high inflation which stands at about 190%.

Schools, health facilities and government services could face major disruptions as unions told the BBC that they expect all their workers to stay home.

But the strike does not seem to have been well observed, with teachers seeming to be at work.

The average worker including doctors and nurses earn about $200 (£165) a month.

The Zimbabwe dollar has lost over 50% of its value since January, partly due to the war in Ukraine.

Unions are planning a longer strike in September if their demands are not met.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Getty Images

Zambia's former First Lady Esther Lungu was on Tuesday questioned over ownership claims of ultramodern housing units in the capital, Lusaka, local media are reporting.

The 15 flats near the state lodge were seized by the Drug Enforcement Commission earlier this month, suspected to have been proceeds of crime.

The anti-money laundering agency summoned Mrs Lungu after she claimed she owned the flats. She was accompanied by her husband, former president Edgar Lungu.

The former first family has been on the radar of Zambian investigative agencies in an anti-corruption campaign launched by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Critics say the drive is politically motivated.

The president, who came into power in August last year, has vowed to recover all allegedly looted resources by the Lungu’s regime.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, AFP

Sudanese security forces on Tuesday killed at least one person while dispersing anti-coup protesters in the capital, Khartoum, and other cities.

In a statement, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said that the protester died "after he was hit by live bullets in the face".

The group accused "forces of the coup authorities" of killing him during anti-coup protests in the city of Omdurman.

It said so far 116 civilians had been killed in protests against the coup.

Pro-democracy activists have been organising protests against the military authorities since October 2021, when the army ousted the civilian-led transitional government and took over power.

Mediation efforts led by the UN mission in the country to end the political crisis in the country have failed.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Getty Images

Somalia has denied siding with Egypt over Ethiopia in the dispute between the two countries over the Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (Gerd) built on the River Nile.

In an interview with BBC Somali Service, presidential spokesman Abdikarin Ali Kaar said “the presidents of Egypt and Somalia shared no official joint position on the construction and filling" of the dam.

Mr Kaar insisted that Somalia’s position is to support international laws regulating the use of the Nile waters.

His comments came after Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said he discussed with his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud about the “dangerous unilateral policies” of Ethiopia on the issue.

Mr Kaar insisted that the Somali leader did not speak on his country's position on the dam during the joint press conference with President Sisi in Cairo.

Image source, AFP

Two of Kenya's four presidential candidates made good their threats to skip a televised presidential debate on Tuesday night that was organised by media owners ahead of next month's elections.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, one of the two frontrunners, and George Wajackoyah had separately expressed reservations about the formality of the debate.

Deputy President William Ruto, the other frontrunner, and David Mwaure Waihiga turned up for the debate, but each stood alone answering questions after the withdrawal of their respective opponents.

The debate was to be two-tiered, meaning Mr Odinga and Mr Ruto were to face each other after Mr Wajackoyah and Mr Waihiga - who have each scored less than 5% in opinion polls - had debated.

Prof Wajackoyah arrived at the debate's venue accompanied by his wife, but left after confirming with organisers that his demand to have all candidates debate in one session was rejected.

In the debate, the deputy president was put to task on the government's disobedience of court orders and the lack of transparency in public infrastructure contracts.

Mr Ruto was also pinned on the source of his vast wealth and "how much was enough", to which he responded that "enough is enough".

Post-debate analysts appreciated Mr Ruto for honouring the invitation and criticised Mr Odinga for boycotting the debate.