Image source, AFP

Inflation in Nigeria has reached its highest level since 2005, at 19.64% compared to 18.6% in June, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Food inflation was also up to 22.02% in July compared to 20.6% in June.

The cause of the surge is due to rising bread, transport, petrol and grain costs, according to business website Bloomberg News., external

The figures show inflation in Nigeria continues to supersede the central bank's target of 9%.

A rise in inflation means the cost of everyday living gets more expensive.

Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams says he will not regret his decision to switch allegiance to Ghana after representing Spain.

Members of the electoral commission in Kenya tussle over allegations of election vote rigging.

Deputy President William Ruto has a narrow lead over ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the latest count.

Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi is very proud his goal helped Nottingham Forest secure a first Premier League win in 23 years.

Linet Chepkorir is the youngest elected county woman representative in the Kenyan parliament.

Patience Atuhaire
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

Heavy rains and flooding have left at least 50 people dead and injured dozens in Sudan since May, according to the country’s National Council for Civil Defence.

More than 7,000 homes have also been damaged, with photos published by the Sudanese state media showing numerous properties either collapsed or under water.

Many of those affected have appealed to authorities for emergency shelter, saying they have had to sleep out in the open.

A spokesperson for the National Council for Civil Defence, Brigadier-General Abdul-Jalil Abdul-Rahman, told state TV that some of the victims drowned in floodwaters, while others died in their houses.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that more than 136,000 people had been affected by the flooding since May, and that poor road conditions are making it difficult for aid to reach certain areas.

Kordofan, Darfur and White Nile states are some of the worst-affected areas.

East Africa has experienced extreme weather conditions this year, from severe droughts and long dry spells, to flooding.

Nigeria book their place in the quarter-finals of the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica with a 1-0 win over South Korea, but Ghana are eliminated.

Image source, Getty Images

The authorities in Nigeria have uncovered a haul of crystal methamphetamine that was concealed in heads of fish packed in boxes for export to Dubai.

The haul was found on Friday in a 11.9kg consignment that was presented for export at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced the seizure on Sunday.

The agency said the haul was in 442 pieces - each wrapped with foil paper and concealed in the heads of hundreds of smoked catfish. They were carried in seven boxes.

The freight agent who took the boxes to the airport was arrested, NDLEA said in a statement., external

As the announcement of the result of Kenya's presidential election result is imminent, we are switching to special coverage of that.

Please go to this page for updates and reaction.

William Ruto announced as the winner despite some election officials disputing the process.

Richard Kagoe
BBC News, Nairobi

The national results tallying centre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, is teeming with activity as the electoral commission finalises processes ahead of declaring the presidential results.

There is little activity at the floor of the centre where presidential candidate’s agents, lawyers and election officials were earlier busy verifying results sheets submitted from around the country.

Workers have been busy clearing desks and chairs used by agents.

There are no commissioners at the dais where they often sit, but reports indicate that they could be holed up in a meeting where they could be working on the final report.

The auditorium, which has been a hive of activity for the last couple of days, with occasional flare ups disrupting the verification process, is unusually calm.

Politicians from the two coalitions who had set up camp in the hall to supervise the process seem exhausted and can be seen chatting.

Security has been enhanced at the main gate to the venue with rigorous screening at the entrance to the auditorium.

So far Deputy President William Ruto has a slight lead over ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga - 51% against 48%, according to local media.

The final results must be announced by 16 August, according to Kenyan laws.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Egypt has said it will temporarily suspend its participation in the UN peacekeeping force in Mali starting on Monday over concerns about the security of its troops.

The move follows the killing of seven Egyptian troops serving under the UN mission in Mali (Minusma) in attacks since January.

The decision also comes as activists backing Mali’s military-led government continue to demand Minusma’s expulsion over its perceived failure to protect civilians from attacks.

Egypt's mission to the UN in New York said last month that the Egyptian contingent of Minusma would be temporarily withdrawn but did not indicate how long the suspension would last.

Egypt has about 1,000 soldiers in Minusma, mainly providing logistical support.

BBC World Service

Image source, Reuters

Rights groups in Burkina Faso have accused the army of killing more than 40 people in the north of the country.

The Collective Against Immunity and Stigmatisation of Communities said there had been many cases of kidnapping followed by summary executions.

It said the victims' bodies had been found on the road between Taffogo and Bouroum blindfolded with their hands tied.

Another rights group, the Observatory of Human Dignity, said most of the victims were Fulani - a mainly Muslim ethnic group of semi-nomadic herders.

Burkina Faso's military has denied repeated accusations of rights abuses.

The incident is said to have taken place early this month in the village of Taffogo in Tougouri.

Burkina Faso's army has been fighting an insurgency of groups suspected to have links with al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, that has claimed more than 2,000 lives and forced some 1.9 million people to leave their homes.

Thomas Naadi
BBC News, Freetown

Normal life is gradually returning to Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, after last week’s violent protests over high cost of basic goods and alleged human rights abuses.

A sit-at-home strike that started on Monday and brought life in parts of the country to a standstill became violent on Wednesday.

Eyewitness say police used live bullets to suppress the protests.

At least 20 civilians and five police officers died during the clashes. All bodies are now in the main hospital morgue in Freetown.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on parts of the country following the clashes but was then eventually lifted on Saturday.

Calm has now been restored and businesses are slowly reopening though some traders are still afraid there could be a resurgence of protests.

On Friday, President Julius Maada Bio addressed the nation accusing the protesters of attempting to overthrow his government.

He said those responsible for the death of police officers would face justice while expressing condolences to the families of civilians who died.

In a surprise move, Mr Bio replaced some of the country’s military chiefs while retiring others.

BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

Six days after Kenya's election, it is still uncertain who the next president will be.

The slow count is making Kenyans increasingly tense.

With more than three quarters of the results confirmed, the deputy president, William Ruto, has established a lead over his rival Raila Odinga.

A group of well-known organisations including rights campaigners, lawyers and unions have urged Kenyans to avoid any action that might raise tension and trigger violence.

On Saturday, anti-riot police were called into the national counting centre as political party agents tried to disrupt the tallying process.

Legally, the electoral commission has a full week to announce the outcome of Tuesday's poll.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

Forty-nine Ivorian soldiers who have been detained for over a month in Mali after being accused of being mercenaries have now been charged and remanded in custody, reports say.

The soldiers were arrested on arrival at Bamako airport.

The Ivory Coast authorities have denied the accusation of mercenary activity and have been calling for their release.

Despite mediation efforts, the dispute has not been resolved.

Now judicial sources in Mali have told the French news agency that the 49 Ivorian soldiers were charged with attempting to harm state security.

To many observers this appears to be a sign of Mali's somewhat troubled international relations.

Apart from forging close links with Moscow, the military rulers in Bamako have fallen out with several European nations including France.

Relations in the West African region have also been strained.

The coup leaders in Mali are reported to be angry that Ivory Coast had been pushing for tougher economic sanctions to be imposed in order to speed up the transition to elections.

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