Chris Ewokor
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, AFP

The UN has condemned the reported ambush and brutal killing of at least 37 civilians in Mukdolo village in Ngala Local Government Area of Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno State.

As we reported earlier, dozens of villagers were shot dead in an attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap) militants, reports say.

The attack took place near a stronghold of Boko Haram insurgents.

Aside from the deaths, several others were also injured, with many still missing following the deadly attack.

Security sources say that dozens of the Iswap fighters riding on motorcycles stormed a field and began shooting sporadically. Nine among the victims managed to flee.

In a statement, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, sent his condolences to the bereaved families.

He noted that the victims of the heinous attack were fishermen and farmers eking out a livelihood in a very insecure environment.

“This deeply shocking attack is another horrific reminder of the real threats of violence and insecurity that IDPs and other people affected by more than 13 years of the non-international armed conflict in the region continue to face daily in their struggle to survive," the statement said.

Mr Schmale called on state authorities to speedily investigate the incident and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.

He also reminded parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians from harm.

Seplat Energy, a leading oil and gas supplier in Nigeria, has denied racism and discrimination accusations against its chief executive Roger Thompson Brown calling them "vindictive".

This comes after the Nigerian government revoked the work and residence permit of the British executive, following the allegations.

The accusations were made by the employees of the company.

Nigeria's interior ministry also alleged that Mr Brown was fraudulently in possession of an expatriate residence permit.

But in a statement, external on Friday, the energy firm defended Mr Brown as a CEO with an "unblemished record of service and leadership", terming the accusations against him "spurious and vindictive".

"Seplat Energy will be engaging with the ministry to reject the impressions created by these allegations," it said.

Mr Brown joined Seplat in 2013 and became the chief executive in 2020.

Zimbabwean entrepreneur Tendai Moyo highlights the importance of texture representation in the hair industry.

Image source, AFP

Mozambique is “bracing for the impact” of Cyclone Freddy, which is expected to make landfall there in the next 24 hours, after battering its way through Madagascar earlier this week, Anne-Claire Fontan, from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), told the BBC's Newsday programme.

She described Freddy as "very dangerous" and says Mozambique can expect to see "violent winds" as well as the threat of flooding.

Once Freddy makes landfall, it will mark the second time it has hit Mozambique, having previously hit the country in February.

Ms Fontan described Freddy as "remarkable" because of how it has rapidly intensified and gained wind over its lifetime so far.

At least 21 people have died has a result of Freddy, and it is expected to cause more destruction when it hits Mozambique.

It could end up in the history books as the longest-lasting tropical storm on record - although this is not yet confirmed.

You can listen to Anne-Claire Fontan's full interview below.

Favour Nunoo
BBC Accra

A Ghanaian gang of three has been sentenced to a combined 73-year jail term in jail for robbing and raping some British volunteers at gunpoint.

The trio had pleaded guilty to all charges of conspiracy, robbery, rape and possession of firearms without lawful authority.

A High Court in Accra sentenced each of them to a maximum term of 25 years jail term.

Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh said the convicts will serve their jail term with hard labour.

The three were accused of committing the offences at a guest house in December 2018.

They were arrested after being identified through footage from an ATM machine where they had gone to withdraw money using a bank cards they stole from the victims.

Police caught up with them after triangulating one of their phones.

The third suspect, who prosecutors say owns a Nigerian passport, fled to Nigeria but was extradited to Ghana for prosecution.

Jose Tembe
BBC News, Maputo

Image source, Reuters

Mozambican authorities say 158,000 people could be affected by Cyclone Freddy in its epicentre in the central province of Zambezia.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall on the coast of central Mozambique late on Friday.

Cyclone Freddy is headed back to Mozambique after it wreaked havoc in late February. It could end up in the record books for the longest-lasting tropical storm on record.

The national agency for natural disasters says 8,000 of those affected could be in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, according to their projections.

The provincial government has ordered the closure of all schools from this Friday.

Ahead of the new season, BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall says he wants to see the continent create its own star names.

Nichola Mandil
BBC News, Juba

Image source, AFP

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his first deputy, Riek Machar, are expected to meet on Friday at the State House in the capital, Juba, to discuss the recent dismissal of Defence Minister Angelina Teny.

Mr Kiir also swapped the ministries of defence and interior, taking defence to his political party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the interior ministry to Mr Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).

The SPLM-IO termed the presidential decrees “unilateral” and “a violation” of the revitalised peace agreement and demanded that Ms Teny be reinstated to her position.

The peace agreement gives parties the power to remove their representatives in the council of ministers and nominate the replacements by notifying the president.

The meeting on the changes was initially planned for Thursday but was moved to Friday at the request of the president, an official in Mr Machar's office told the BBC.

An international body monitoring the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement has welcomed the announcement of the meeting.

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) said it was encouraging "consultation to resolve the issue of the removal of the defence minister, and urge the parties to observe the letter and spirit of the revitalised agreement".

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Getty Images

Ethiopia's Somali regional state has issued a statement denying claims by the self-declared republic of Somaliland that it had sent troops to support clan militias in restive Las Anod town.

"We are telling the Somaliland administration that there are no DDS [Ethiopia's Somali regional state] troops who are part of the violence in Las Anod," state-owned Somali Regional TV (SRTV) posted on Facebook on Thursday.

It denounced the accusations which it termed "reckless", adding that Somaliland was "seeking to reduce political pressure by pointing fingers at non-existing enemies".

It also warned Somaliland officials against remarks and actions that could create hostility between communities in the breakaway region of Somalia and those in the south-eastern Ethiopia state.

The statement was issued hours after Somaliland's cabinet urged the Ethiopian regional state to withdraw troops that it said were supporting clan militias fighting against Somaliland forces on the outskirts of Las Anod since 6 February.

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed claims that his new cabinet is bloated and says he is committed to restructuring the government.

Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen on Thursday asked President Ramaphosa in parliament if it was fair for ministers to be “living like rock stars” while ordinary citizens suffer.

“[They have] 98 mansions worth over a billion rand, free generators, free electricity and high-end luxury vehicles,” Mr Steenhuisen said.

“Well, I don’t know about rock stars,” the president responded.

Mr Ramaphosa denied the opposition leader's claims that South Africa had the largest cabinet across the globe, saying the country was “basically in line with others”.

The DA has said it will picket on Monday against the "luxurious" lifestyles of ministers, local media reported.

The president made changes to his executive early this week – including the creation of two new ministries.

South African ministers are amongst some of the highest paid in Africa, drawing annual salaries of up to $135,000 (£113,000) in addition to personal staff and luxury cars.

Public outrage over their remuneration has been common in the face of a floundering economy.

The Newsroom
BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

Police in Nigeria say at least 25 people have been killed in an attack by Islamist militants in north-eastern Borno state.

The attack took place in the fishing town of Dikwa which is near a stronghold of Boko Haram insurgents.

The UN says extremist violence since 2009 has left more than 350,000 people dead and displaced millions of others.

Image source, Reuters

Senegal’s former prime minister, Cheikh Hadjibou Soumare, was taken into police custody on Thursday after questioning President Macky Sall if he had financed a French politician.

His lawyer told the media that Mr Soumare was summoned by police over his letter to the president about the alleged donation.

In the letter, Mr Soumare had asked the president whether he had donated 12m euros ($12.7m; £10.6m) to a "French political figure" whose party is distinguished "by hatred and rejection of others".

The Senegalese government on Tuesday denied making any financial donation to the leader of France's National Rally, Marine Le Pen, who visited Mr Sall on 18 January.

It "rejected and condemned" the insinuations and described them as "cowardly and unfounded", according to a statement.

Image source, Getty Images

Kenya's education ministry has launched a crackdown on what it described as the infiltration of LGBTQ agenda in schools.

It will see government establish chaplaincies in schools, minister Ezekiel Machogu told senators on Thursday.

There are fears the programme could see misinformation about LGBTQ people and same-sex relationships taught in schools.

Gay sex remains illegal but anti-gay attitudes have been hardening after last month's ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the gay community's right to register an association.

A committee has already been formed to deal with LGBTQ issues in schools, the minister said, and suggested its role could include reviewing school literature.

It will be headed by an archbishop from the Anglican Church in Kenya.

"These are issues that we can not be able to allow to infiltrate into our schools," Mr Machogu said.

The minister was responding to a senator who was concerned over the alleged spread of the LGBTQ agenda in primary schools.

Videos falsely targeting African migrants in Tunisia have gone viral on TikTok and other platforms.

People (Check On Me) is poised to enter the UK Top 10 this week - a first for a Cameroonian artist.

Accusations, imprisonment, and vindication: The lie that changed Ishmail's life, taking away his freedom, and breaking up his family in Malawi. Nearly 20 years later, Ishmail reflects on the painful reality of being falsely accused. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

Produced by Mary Goodhart

It’s a year since Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, so we catch up with Mary – a student from Nigeria who was studying medicine in Ukraine when war broke out. De-Graft also speaks to BBC Africa reporter, Soraya Ali, who explains what’s happened to thousands of other African students who fled Ukraine. And Korrine Sky, a British-Zimbabwean who was studying medicine in Ukraine, also drops in. She’s been campaigning for support and access to university places for students whose lives were uprooted.

This episode drops on World Book Day, a worldwide celebration of books and reading. But, for some people grabbing a book to read isn’t a simple thing to do. De-Graft gets into this with Sofia Akel, who started the Free Books Campaign. It’s a non-profit company that gets books by authors of colour to those who cannot afford them, for free!

And Soweto Kinch - the multi-award-winning saxophonist, composer, poet, MC and producer – is in the building! He spills the tea on his latest album, White Juju, which is a collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Drop us a line and let us know what you want to hear on the podcast, even if it’s just to say hello. Our WhatsApp number is +44 0330 123 9480. Remember to start your message with IYDK, to make sure we see it.

Presenter: De-Graft Mensah Producer: Kamilah McInnis Researcher: Paige Neal-Holder Sound: Kamilah McInnis and Dave O’Neill Editor: Alison Gee

At least six people have been confirmed dead after a passenger bus collided with a commuter train in Lagos.

A bill is tabled in parliament to criminalise anyone identifying as LGBTQ+, and to imprison them.

Rescuers are hunting for survivors after a ferry sank of the coast of Gabon, leaving two people dead.

Royal Cost Marine (RCM), the company that owns the Esther Miracle ferry, said on Facebook, external that the vessel sprang a leak as it was travelling from Port-Gentil to the capital, Libreville, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

In a message posted on Thursday afternoon, the firm said 121 people had been rescued so far and taken to hospitals in Libreville.

The AFP news agency quoted officials as saying 151 passengers and crew had been onboard, meaning 28 people are still missing.

RCM said operations to find further survivors were continuing.

"The search is continuing but if at nightfall we don't find anyone, we will sadly have to consider the strong probability that those missing have died," AFP quotes public prosecutor Andre Patrick Roponat as saying.

Relatives of those on board are gathered by the quayside in Libreville waiting for news, AFP reports.

"My daughter called me in the middle of the night to say that something was going on," a man in his 50s is quoted as saying.

"She said: 'Dad, we're sinking', and then there was no more," he said.

RCM's Facebook page has photos of the Esther Miracle's inauguration at a ceremony in November last year: