1. Photos: South Africans protest amid tight securitypublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    South Africans are holding protests against the government and are calling on the president to resign amid high cost of living.

    The government has deployed soldiers to help safeguard key infrastructure during the protests.

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned protesters against damaging property or harming people.

    Members of the the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gather at Church Square in Pretoria on March 20, 2023 during a "national shut-down" called by their party to bring the country to a haltImage source, AFP
    Members of the the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gather at Church Square in Pretoria on March 20, 2023 during a "national shut-down" called by their party to bring the country to a haltImage source, Reuters
    A barricade is seen in the road as members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gather on Inanda Road in Durban on March 20, 2023Image source, AFP
    Members of the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF) are seen at the south lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria on March 20, 2023Image source, AFP
  2. Buses transport protesting EFF members to Pretoriapublished at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Supporters of South Africa opposition party EFF are being transported to venues where they're holding anti-government protests.

    A journalist with News24 has shared a video of one group singing as they arrived at Church Square in the centre of Pretoria.

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    The party said its "national shutdown" protest was meant to put pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa to leave office, they accuse him of corruption and of mismanaging the economy and an energy crisis.

    The government has beefed up security across the country.

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  3. Photos: Kenyan police crack down on protesterspublished at 09:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Kenyan police have been using water canon and tear gas to disperse protesters in the capital Nairobi.

    The nationwide protests have been planned by opposition leader Raila Odinga over his claim - without evidence - that the last election was stolen. He also accuses the government of failing to address the high cost of living.

    In Kibera slums, where Mr Odinga draws fanatical support, the police clashed with protesters.

    Police use water canon against protesters
    Protesters burn tyres in Kibera in Nairobi
    Police arrest protesters in the capital Nairobi
    Police crack down on protesters
  4. Ramaphosa warns against destruction of propertypublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    A member of the the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) walks past a banner that reads "Ramaphosa must goImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Protesters are calling for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has told citizens that their rights to protest does "not give anyone the right to harass, intimidate or threaten anyone else".

    He has also warned against damaging property or harming other people.

    It comes amid protests organised by the minority Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party across the country.

    Dubbed the national shutdown they are calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign accusing him of corruption and mismanaging an energy crisis.

    South African police have so far arrested 87 people in connection with the protests. The state has also deployed more than 3,000 soldiers to help guard key infrastructure.

    "Just as the state has a duty to uphold the right to peaceful protest, it has a responsibility to prevent any attempt to violate any of the other rights in the constitution," the president said in a statement., external

  5. Businesses closed in Nairobi city centrepublished at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Protests in Nairobi

    Business have closed in Nairobi city centre as Kenyan riot police fired tear gas to disperse opposition protesters on Monday morning.

    There are running battles on the main Kenyatta Avenue between police and demonstrators, some of whom are throwing stones at the security officers.

    Shops have closed as business owners feared looting.

    Protests in Nairobi
    Protests in Nairobi
    Protests in Nairobi
  6. Kenya opposition leaders arrestedpublished at 08:13 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Kenya police have arrested opposition leaders for taking part in anti-government protests in the capital, Nairobi.

    Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo together with MPs Amina Mnyazi, Opiyo Wandayi and Ken Chonga are being held in custody, local media report.

    "They have arrested the minority leaders in both houses of parliament and a number of other leaders," tweeted Senator Edwin Sifuna.

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  7. One person shot in Kenya protestspublished at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Police lob tear gas against protesters in Nairobi

    One person has just been shot at a market near Kibera slum in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, as protests are under way in the city.

    The BBC's Ferdinand Omondi reports that traders are screaming that he is a mechanic, not a protester. They say it's a police officer who fired at him.

    The wounded person has been taken to hospital on a motorcycle.

    Opposition leader Raila Odinga draws fanatical support in the area.

    It comes amid heavy presence of security officers across the city.

    Access to some roads in the city have been restricted to prevent people from gathering.

    The opposition has called for planned mass protests against the high cost of living and what they term an illegitimate presidency.

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  8. Police block access to Kenya state housepublished at 07:39 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Kenya police

    Kenya police have sealed off all roads leading to the president's official residence, the State House, in the capital, Nairobi, ahead of planned protests.

    Opposition leaders have said they are planning to lead their supporters to the state house to protest against what they call an illegitimate government and the high cost of living.

    Police have also been rounding up people in the city centre. It appears the aim is to prevent the demonstrators from gathering.

    Kenya police
  9. Dozens arrested in South Africa protestspublished at 07:18 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gather on Inanda Road in Durban on March 20, 2023Image source, AFP

    South African police say 87 people have been arrested across the country in connection with opposition protests.

    Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Monday that most of the arrests were made in Gauteng province.

    “Most were found making fires, blocking roads and trying to prevent people from going to work. They were not peaceful,” he said.

    Mr Cele said over 24,000 tyres have been confiscated by police in different towns.

    He said police are working with the military to maintain calm.

    Opposition minority party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is leading the so-called national shutdown. It kicked off protests well before Sunday midnight, local media report.

    EFF is calling for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa and an end to the energy crisis in the country.

  10. Netherlands in Zimbabwe 2023published at 07:14 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Results and scorecards from the Netherlands' limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe, featuring three ODIs.

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  11. Tear gas and road blocks ahead of Kenya protestspublished at 06:56 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Kenya police on streets

    Kenya riot police have fired tear gas on residents of the largest slum in the capital, Nairobi, to block them from marching to the city centre for planned opposition protests.

    The BBC's Ferdinand Omondi says there is a heavy police presence in the city and access to roads leading to the president's official residence is being restricted.

    Some parents have opted to keep their children away from school on a day learning was meant to resume after mid-term breaks.

    Opposition politicians have claimed on Twitter that their phones have been disabled without substantiating.

    Opposition leader Raila Odinga called for nationwide protests against President William Ruto and his government over what he called a stolen election and the high cost of living.

    Kenya police on streets
  12. Protests: SA police deny arming community volunteerspublished at 06:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    South African police have denied arming community patrollers to help contain anti-government protests that have already started in some cities.

    The radical opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, on Sunday claimed that patrollers in Honeydew, a suburb in Gauteng province, were given police uniform and probably guns ahead of Monday's protests.

    But in a statement, external, South African Police Service (SAPS) described the EFF's claims as fake.

    "The SAPS refutes this and ensures that our members remain committed to ensuring safety and security for everyone in South Africa," a police statement stated.

    Patrollers are community volunteers who support police in crime prevention but are not trained security officers.

    EFF is calling for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa and an end to the energy crisis in the country.

    More than 50 people have already been arrested in sporadic protests early on Monday.

  13. China condemns killing of its nationals in CARpublished at 06:30 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    A map of Central African Republic

    China has condemned the killing of Chinese nationals by militants in Central African Republic (CAR) outside the capital, Bangui.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “severe punishment” for the perpetrators, a statement from the foreign ministry said on Monday.

    The mayor of the central Bembari town told the AFP news agency that they “counted nine bodies and two wounded" in the attack at 05:00 (0300 GMT) on Sunday.

    The victims are said to have been working in a goldmine run by the Gold Coast Group

    The Chinese embassy in Bangui has urged citizens to avoid travelling outside the capital following the killings, raising the alert levels to very high.

    It said its government would work with embassies and governments to safeguard its citizens in African countries

    It comes amid several attacks on Chinese nationals abroad in recent months.

    The Central African Republic has been plagued by violence and insecurity since a civil war broke out in 2013.

  14. Nigeria's ruling party retains control of Lagospublished at 05:50 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Babajide Sanwo-OluImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Babajide Sanwo-Olu will serve a second term

    Nigeria's ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) party retained control of the country's commercial hub, Lagos, in state elections marked by low turnout.

    Lagos is Africa’s largest city with a population of more than 20 million people.

    Voters in the state had last month backed opposition candidate Peter Obi in disputed presidential elections that have been challenged in court.

    Incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu retained his seat with a tally of over 760,000 votes - double the count of his closest rival - in results announced by the electoral commission.

    His opponent rejected the outcome before the final count was announced citing fraud. He vowed to challenge the results.

    Nigerian governors control budgets worth millions of dollars and are in charge of schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

  15. Protests: Flight bookings disrupted in Kenya, SApublished at 05:11 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Passengers check in at the Jomo Kenyatta International AirportImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Kenya Airways says safety of employees and customers are its priority (file photo)

    Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced the closure of its booking offices in the western city of Kisumu and South Africa's Johannesburg on Monday due to planned anti-government protests in both countries.

    In a statement, Kenya Airways said the booking offices would reopen on Tuesday.

    "The safety and wellbeing of our employees and customers are our highest priority,” KQ’s statement says.

    The move does not affect the operations of other booking offices within the airports of the mentioned cities.

    Kenya’s protests have been called by veteran opposition Raila Odinga in a fight against the government of President William Ruto, which he says is illegitimate. He is also agitating for solutions to the high cost of living, among other demands.

    In South Africa, opposition leader Julius Malema, of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is mobilising a national shutdown, to push for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa and demand an improvement on the southern African nation's energy crisis.

    Kenya's police say the protests are illegal but Mr Odinga insists the plan will go on.

    President Ramaphosa has deployed over 3,000 soldiers across South Africa to help police maintain law and order in the country during the protests, local media reported.

  16. Tight security amid planned protests in Kenya, SApublished at 04:30 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    South African National Defence Forces (SANDF) are seen at the south lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria on March 20, 2023Image source, AFP

    South Africa and Kenya are bracing for a tense Monday ahead of planned protests with opposition parties in both countries having asked people to stay off work.

    In South Africa, several thousand soldiers are being deployed across the country to help guard key infrastructure during the planned protests.

    The radical opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, has called for people to stay away from work and help shut down the country.

    It wants the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, to step down over his handling of the economy.

    There is a lot of frustration and anger in South Africa because of the state of the economy, unemployment, corruption and the relentless power cuts.

    But it's not yet clear how much support there will be for this national shutdown called by the radical Economic Freedom Fighters.

    In Kenya, local media are reporting that there was a heavy presence of security officers in the capital, Nairobi, on Monday especially around key government buildings.

    Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga is planning countrywide protests against President William Ruto and his government.

    Mr Odinga says that the demonstration will be against the high cost of living and what he calls an illegitimate presidency.

    Amidst fears of violence, police have warned that decisive action will be taken against anyone who breaches the peace.

    President William Ruto has said he sees no reason for the demonstrations and has accused Mr Odinga of threatening the country with violence and chaos.

    Mr Odinga says they will be peaceful, although historically, the opposite has been the case when protests are held.

  17. Wise words for Monday 20 March 2023published at 04:30 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2023

    Our proverb of the day:

    Quote Message

    To knock down a big tree, you must try nine times."

    A Beti proverb from Cameroon sent by Paul Etoga in Tokyo, Japan

    A photo shows a palm tree plantation near Limbe in Cameroon, in January 2022.Image source, AFP

    Click here to send us your African proverbs.

  18. Not guiltypublished at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2023

    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

  19. Parenting and punishmentpublished at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2023

    “My dad beat me.” How the physical punishment of a child changed the lives of a Nigerian family forever. Behaviour which was the norm for a mother who grew up in Nigeria was treated as assault in the UK. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com