Kalkidan Yibeltal
BBC News, Addis Ababa

Image source, Getty Images

The UN says tens of thousands of civilians have fled the self-declared republic of Somaliland and crossed the border into neighbouring Ethiopia following fighting between regional government forces and local militias.

The number of people who have left Somaliland’s Las Anod district and arrived in Ethiopia’s Doole area in the past month could be as high as 80,000, the UN’s refugee agency, the UNHRC, has said.

Most of those arriving are women, pregnant and lactating mothers as well as children - including some who are separated from their families - according to the agency.

Last week the UN said that an average of 1,000 people were crossing into Ethiopia each day fleeing the violence.

This has increased humanitarian needs in the hosting areas which themselves are among the worst hit by a severe drought affecting East Africa following five consecutive failed rainy seasons.

Additionally, more than 180,000 people are believed to have been internally displaced and settled in 66 camps within Somaliland.

Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in the early 1990s but has not been internationally recognised.

It had been a relatively stable region in the volatile Horn of Africa.

Tensions have however been fermenting in recent months after elections were delayed. Scores were killed earlier this month when fighting broke out in Las Anod.

Image source, Getty Images

Tunisian President Kais Saied has called for “emergency measures” to be taken against large numbers of irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr Saied is quoted as saying that the influx of migrants was aimed at changing the country’s demographic make-up, in remarks criticised by rights groups as racist.

"The undeclared goal of the successive waves of illegal immigration is to consider Tunisia a purely African country that has no affiliation to the Arab and Islamic nations," the Reuters news agency quotes him as saying.

The president spoke at a meeting with the country’s national security council on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights termed Mr Saied's remarks "a racist approach just like the campaigns in Europe... the presidential campaign aims to create an imaginary enemy for Tunisians to distract them from their basic problems".

Tunisia is a key transit point for migrants and refugees seeking to move to Europe.

This month, dozens of migrants have been detained by Tunisian authorities in a crackdown.

Image source, Twitter/ @OAG_Kenya

Kenyans embezzling public funds should be encouraged to invest their loot in the country instead of stashing it abroad, according to Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu.

She said illicit financial flows, if allowed to be invested locally, could lead to more development in countries.

The World Bank estimates that up to $2.6bn (£2.1bn) is stashed in offshore bank accounts by Kenya's ruling elite who enriched themselves from public funds, according to research released in 2020, external.

Ms Gathungu told a meeting in Nairobi:

She added that it was an approach being considered by auditor-generals in the region.

The comments drew varied reactions on social media. Some thought the auditor-general was being pragmatic, while others described it a surrender in efforts to streamline use of public funds.

The auditor-general is an independent constitutional office that monitors use and management of public resources in Kenya.

Emmanuel Igunza
BBC News, Nairobi

Image source, Get

The US, Britain and European Union are to announce fresh sanctions targeting military commanders and militia leaders involved in the ongoing fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

This fresh round of sanctions will target military commanders from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the BBC has learnt.

The two countries have traded accusations over the conflict in the mineral rich region of DR Congo.

Eastern DR Congo has seen an escalation of fighting in recent days between Congolese forces and rebel groups that has killed thousands and displaced millions more.

Diplomats have told the BBC that others on the list include leaders from the M23 rebel group, Rwanda-backed militias and the Islamic State affiliate ADF.

Fighting has escalated in recent weeks in the east with all the warring sides accused of violating a ceasefire agreement.

Regionally backed peace talks to end the violence have collapsed.

Our proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

With online medical degrees not recognised in Nigeria, some students want to return to Ukraine.

Parliament orders an inquiry after dozens of women speak of abuse on British-operated tea farms.

Kenyan Lily Mugane reveals the importance of teaching her children their mother tongue - Kikuyu.

That's all from the BBC Africa Live team for now. There'll be an automated service until Tuesday morning.

You can also follow the news here or listen to our podcast.

Our wise words of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

We leave with a person dancing on stilts at a campaign rally in Nigeria's city of Lagos ahead of Saturday's presidential elections:

Image source, AFP

BBC World Service
Newsroom

At least 15 soldiers are reported to have been killed and more are missing after another attack in the north of Burkina Faso.

Earlier, the head of the military government, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, promised to defeat the Islamist insurgency after the loss of more than 50 soldiers in the same northern region on Friday.

The latest clash came late on Monday in the town of Tin-Akoff where a Burkinabe detachment was ambushed by militants.

Some civilians are also reported to have been killed.

Since the Islamist insurgency began in 2015 almost two million people have been displaced by the conflict.

Nichola Mandil
BBC News, Juba

Image source, AFP

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar have agreed to scrap a controversial law that allows the National Security Services (NSS) to arrest people without an arrest warrant.

This is a significant part of reforms agreed in a peace agreement to end a brutal six-year civil war.

Rights groups have described the NSS as a feared agency used to silence dissent and which has been accused of widespread human rights abuses.

The peace deal was signed by Mr Kiir and Mr Machar in September 2018, but it took another 17 months for the two to agree to form a unity government.

Now the pair say a three-year transitional period has been completed and they are moving into a new phase that will see elections in December next year and a formal transition of power by February 2025.

More than 400,000 people are thought to have died as a result of the conflict and violence continues in parts of the country.

Nigerian First Lady Aisha Buhari says she ordered fake news posts that appeared on her social media accounts to be deleted.

Earlier on Tuesday the Central Bank of Nigeria issued a warning about a fake press release that was shared by her accounts with incorrect information about the phasing out of old naira notes.

Mrs Buhari said in an Instagram post that this was not the first time her accounts had been tampered with:

“This person is a hacker, criminally minded with the intention to continue attacking my reputation through my social media platforms,” the wife of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari said.

“But I am assuring you that this is the first and last I am disclaiming fake news on my handle.

“It is the responsibility of the security agencies to find out who am I sharing my social media handles with, despite being verified accounts, and take all necessary actions.”

Concerns have also been raised about the spread of disinformation ahead of Saturday’s presidential election.

Mayeni Jones
BBC News, Lagos

Image source, AFP

The presidential candidate for Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has held his final rally in Lagos.

Thousands gathered at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, where the veteran politician - one of the three main candidates in Saturday’s poll - was joined by outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari and other party dignitaries.

Mr Tinubu very much views Lagos as his stronghold: he was governor here from 1999 to 2007, and in many ways helped shape Nigeria’s economic hub into its current form.

Often referred to as “the godfather of Nigerian politics”, he has claimed he was instrumental in securing President Buhari’s two victories at the ballot box.

The Lagos governors who have succeeded him have been his proteges.

His critics say a campaign phrase he has used “emi lo kan”, which means “it’s my turn” in Yoruba, represents the worse aspects of Nigerian politics.

But many people in Lagos believe Mr Tinubu is a savvy political operator who could help turn the country’s fortunes around.

The Nigerian economy has taken a nosedive since the election of President Buhari eight years ago, inflation is at more than 20% and unemployment has quadrupled.

Mr Tinubu, who is one of Nigeria’s richest politicians, says he made his wealth through sound investments and can improve the country’s economic fortunes.

His main rival is Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. But many young Lagosians, galvanised by anti-police brutality protests in 2020, known as EndSars, say they prefer to back Peter Obi of the lesser-known Labour Party.

The way young Nigerians vote in this elections could be decisive: a record 10 million new people have registered to vote, 40% of whom are under 35.

More on Nigerian presidential candidates:

• BOLA TINUBU: Lagos 'godfather' sets sights on conquering Nigeria
• ATIKU ABUBAKAR: The man who wants Nigerians to look back to go forward
• PETER OBI: The frugal businessman capturing young Nigerian hearts

• RABIU KWANKWASO: The red-capped man eyeing Nigeria's top job

Striker Gabrielle Onguene comes up with an unusual takeaway from the victory over Thailand that puts Cameroon one step away from World Cup qualification.

Kenya’s military and police units have been deployed to fight bandits and cattle rustlers in the northern region.

The Kenyan parliament has ordered an inquiry into BBC allegations of sexual abuse on tea plantations, local news site Capital FM reports, external.

Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei reportedly asked for its completion within two weeks.

The BBC found more than 70 women had been abused by their managers at plantations operated, for years, by two British companies, Unilever and James Finlay.

The companies say they are shocked by the allegations. Four managers have been suspended.

It followed a statement to MPs by Beatrice Kemei, woman representative for Kericho county, where the plantations are located.

She said she was shocked by the expose - and wanted all women to be respected in their places of work.

"I wish to warn all proprietors doing business within our county that they must not only employ our people but also respect their human rights.

"I urge all the residents of Kericho county, both men and women, to feel safe to speak up and report any allegation of sexual harassment in their workplaces."

• Click here to watch the full BBC investigation , external

BBC World Service
Newsroom

The east coast of Madagascar is being lashed by high winds and heavy rain as Cyclone Freddy makes landfall on the Indian island nation.

With gusts exceeding a 220km (136 miles) an hour, meteorologists are warning it could cause considerable damage following an earlier tropical storm late last month.

Traffic has been suspended in the regions directly in the path of Freddy, and schools have been closed.

The storm caused minor damage to the island of Mauritius on Monday, flooding beachside hotels.

A Nigerian man has told a jury he ran away and slept rough before going to a police station for help.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a warning about a fake press release, shared on social media accounts of the first lady, about the phasing out of old naira notes.

Posts of the fake statement, shared on the Facebook and Instagram accounts of the president’s wife Aisha Buhari on Tuesday morning, have since been deleted.

One of her aides told BBC Hausa that her accounts were briefly hacked.

The CBN reiterated, external that only old 200 naira ($0.43; £0.36) notes would remain in circulation until 10 April.

The old 500 and 1,000 naira notes were no longer legal tender as had been implied in the fake statement, it said.

The CBN said it was “working with the law enforcement agencies to investigate, apprehend and prosecute the purveyors of this fake news”.

A decision was taken last October to redesign the higher denomination 200, 500 and 1,000 naira notes and phase them in from mid-December over a six-week period.

The CBN had said it wanted to replace the dirty cash in circulation, to tackle inflation, curb counterfeiting and promote a cashless society.

It hoped the redesign would bring some of the money being hoarded by individuals and companies back into the financial system.

But a lack of newly designed notes led to a cash shortage - and the swap deadline was extended until 10 February. Last week it was extended by a further two months for the 200 naira note.

The currency crisis is adding to a growing sense of anxiety ahead of elections on Saturday.

More on Nigeria's cash crisis:

• Anger and chaos outside banks
• Hunting out savings from under mattresses

BBC World Service
Newsroom

There has been an increase in attacks on police in Nigeria ahead of the presidential election on Saturday.

Since the weekend, seven officers have been killed in the south-east of the country, where a separatist movement is seeking autonomy.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, has said the security forces have completed preparations for the election, and warned those who tried to disrupt the vote they would get a bloody nose.

Concerns have also been raised about the spread of disinformation ahead of the ballot, with the Centre for Democracy and Development warning of attempts to blacken the reputations of candidates by falsely accusing them of hoarding cash amid the continuing shortage of naira notes.