BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

The upcoming Russia-Africa summit scheduled for July will continue for two days instead of the originally planned four days, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Earlier on Wednesday, an announcement appeared on the summit's website saying that the planned meeting would be held on 27-28 July in St Petersburg.

Previously it was announced that the summit would take place between 26 and 29 July.

Commenting on the change, Mr Peskov told journalists it was because of "nuances to the summit programme", state news agency Tass reports.

Nkechi Ogbonna
BBC News, Lagos

Image source, Reuters

Nigeria’s suspended central bank governor Godwin Emefiele has challenged in court his detention by the country’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS).

The 61-year-old, who was taken into custody on 10 June - a day after his suspension by newly inaugurated President Bola Tinubu, has not been formally charged.

At the time the president's office said it was part of an "ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector".

His lawyer argued that the continuing detention of Mr Emefiele, who was not in the Abuja High Court for Tuesday's hearing, was a breach of his rights.

DSS lawyers said a lower court had allowed the agency to hold the banker as investigations continue.

The case was adjourned until 13 July for a ruling.

Marcus Erbe
BBC World Service newsroom

Reports from Sudan say fighting has broken out in all parts of the capital just before a three-day ceasefire expired early in the morning.

Witnesses say the Sudanese army and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) clashed in Khartoum.

There are also reports of anti-aircraft fire during an army aircraft operation in Omdurman.

The latest truce had been brokered by Saudi Arabia and the US - as with previous ceasefires there were reports of violations on both sides.

Armed conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary RSF began in April.

Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service newsroom

At least 36 people have died in two separate waves of violence in Somalia - in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland and in the Lower Shabelle region.

Doctors said at least 26 people were killed in heavy fighting on Tuesday in Garowe, the state capital of Puntland.

Ten others died after remote-controlled bombs exploded in a village south-west of the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Witnesses said several people were killed in the first explosion and a second bomb then went off as civilians and soldiers came to the rescue.

Thomas Naadi
BBC News, Accra

Image source, Getty Images

Ghana’s football star Asamoah Gyan has officially announced his retirement from football.

“It is time to hang the jersey and boots in glory as I retire officially from active football.’’ Gyan said in a statement on his Twitter page, external.

The striker scored 51 goals in 109 appearances for the country, making him Ghana’s all-time top scorer.

The 37-year-old started his club career in 2003 playing for Ghana's premiere team, Liberty Professionals, and later played in Europe for Italian Serie A’s Udinese, French Ligue 1’s Rennes and English Premier League side Sunderland, where he broke the club’s transfer record.

He had a stint in the United Arab Emirates, playing for Al Ain, supporting the team to win the UAE Pro-League title and becoming the league's top scorer with 28 goals in 32 matches. He also played for Shanghai SIPG, Kayserispor and North East United.

Back home in Ghana, Gyan featured prominently for the senior national team, the Black Stars, in three Fifa World Cups - in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

He is Africa's top World Cup scorer, with six goals in total.

He played for his country in seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, where the Black Stars finished third place in 2008 and in runner-up positions in the 2010 and 2015.

Gyan spent his final football career days playing for Legon Cities FC in Ghana. He also released a memoir titled LeGYANdry, detailing his life and football journey.

Residents of part of South Africa’s Northern Cape province have been warned to be careful and be on the lookout for a cheetah and leopard roaming the streets.

State broadcaster SABC quoted a representative of an organisation cautioning that wildcats are dangerous and had been seen crossing roads close to a nearby town.

“It’s a bit of a concern they are hungry. They can walk 35km [22 miles] in one night. We have warned the community. The police have warned the community. I have been out telling the people,” Michelle Oppernan of Olifantshoek Animals is quoted as saying.

It is not clear if the cats have escaped from a game serve.

This was the case earlier in the year with incidents of wild cats, including tigers, on the loose which triggered safety warnings in areas of Gauteng province and the capital, Pretoria.

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Rival Sudanese forces have accused each other of bombing the intelligence headquarters in the capital Khartoum, with photos online showing a huge blaze above the building.

The army said the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelled the building, while the RSF said the building "situated within areas under [its] control" was subjected to aerial bombardment and artillery attacks by the army.

The RSF in a statement accused the Sudanese army of "a clear attempt to erase the evidence of their heinous actions during their oppressive rule".

The intelligence headquarters is based in the same complex as the defence ministry, the army headquarters and a presidential residence.

The attack on the building came on the last day of a generally respected 72-hour ceasefire - which was due to expire at dawn on Wednesday.

Our proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

The story of Ulric Cross, who left his small island home of Trinidad in 1941 to join the war effort and became the RAF's most decorated West Indian airman of the Second World War.

His life took a dramatically different course when he followed the pan-African and independence movements sweeping the world in the 50s and 60s - becoming one of the Caribbean professionals who helped to liberate Africa from colonialism.

Many migrants leave from Tunisia by boat to reach Europe, but the consequences can be tragic.

Cameroon and Inter Milan striker Ajara Nchout on her work using football to combat the impact of Islamist insurgents.

Officials investigate if a local ownership dispute had a role in the killing of nearly 40 students.

That's all from the BBC Africa Live team for now. There will be an automated news feed here until Wednesday morning.

You can also follow the latest at BBCAfrica.com and listen to the new BBC Focus on Africa podcast for more on the big topics in the news.

A reminder of Tuesday's wise words:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

We leave you with this picture of Senegal's head football coach Aliou Cissé in a moment of concentration ahead of a friendly against Brazil:

Image source, AFP

Thomas Naadi
BBC News

Image source, Alia Fadera

The alleged mastermind of last year's attempted coup in The Gambia, Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera has denied wrongdoing.

He is standing trial alongside two other soldiers and a police officer for plotting to overthrow the government of Adama Barrow in December.

Lance Corp Fadera and his co-accused are facing charges of treason, concealment of treason and mutiny.

He told the court that he had not planned to overthrow the government or instigated any of his colleagues to stage a mutiny.

The junior naval officer also denied the prosecutor's claim that he was unhappy his application for promotion was rejected on two occasions after obtaining a university degree but admitted applying for promotion.

He also denied discussing with a state witness, Saikou Gassama, to take him to a marabout (spiritual guide) in Mauritania and subsequently make him the head of intelligence if the coup succeeded.

Ashley Lime
BBC News, Nairobi

Three people have been rescued and two militants killed after an operation to free those abducted by suspected rebels, following an attack on a school in Uganda's Kasese district last week that killed at least 42 people.

It is thought that eight people were kidnapped during the assault.

Ugandan army spokesman Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye has told the BBC that two boys and a woman were rescued in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"The soldiers ambushed the rebels and killed two of them and took their weapons," he said.

Meanwhile, a family who lost loved ones in Friday's attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe town by suspected rebels says they are relieved that 20 suspects have been arrested.

"It’s good news... However, I would like to go there to see for myself who these people really are," said Onesmus Kimadi Hurubana, who lost his son, security guard Elphanas Mbusa, and his grandson, pupil Elton Masereka.

Among those arrested on suspicion of assisting Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants in the attack are the school’s headteacher and director, who are yet to comment on their detention.

The late Mr Mbusa’s wife, Biira Slivia, is in agony as her son Brian has not been found, explaining: "They took my blood sample to do the DNA test but I’ve not heard back from them. We shall wait for what the government will tell us."

Ms Slivia says the family received 10m Ugandan shillings ($2,700; £2,100) to cater for the burial expenses of their two relatives.

The BBC learnt that a girl who was in a critical condition at the intensive care unit at Bwera General Hospital has died. A surgeon had advised that she could not be moved because of a severe head injury from being hit with a hammer by the attackers.

Residents of Mpondwe say they still feel unsafe and want more security personnel to be deployed to the area. Businesses have reopened but many are closing earlier than usual as traders fear another assault from suspected militants.

"Customers are still very few. We're really keeping time and when it’s time to go home, we go home," says Farida Birungi who has a food business.

BBC Arabic's Sudan Lifeline radio

With Sudan's two-day truce approaching its end, some citizens say their homes have been taken over in defiance of what is meant to be a humanitarian ceasefire.

Abeer Abdul-Mo’ety told BBC Sudan Lifeline how 20 people climbed up the fence at her home in the capital city's Manshiya neighbourhood on Monday, "breaking the doors down and storming into my house which was empty as my husband and children ran for their lives" after hearing gunshots outside.

She said a neighbour witnessed the intruders stealing all the valuables.

"Money can definitely be compensated but life cannot," Ms Abdul-Mo’ety added. She thanked God that her family was safe and sound but worried because they left their passports behind and cannot return home to get them.

Since the fighting began two months ago at least 305 people are now missing - according to the missing people initiative.

These are mainly from Khartoum. But the number may be much higher.

"One of the difficulties we face is that... because of their fear... the families are reluctant about most of the information, especially if the missing person was a member or still belongs to the regular forces. The fears also increase if the missing person is an active member in the resistance committees," Sarah Hashem of the missing people initiative told the BBC.

More on Sudan:

• The accountant fighting for his people in Darfur
• What is going on in Sudan? A simple guide

Claire Muthinji
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

Kenya - which counts the European Union (EU) as its biggest market, sending it roughly one-fifth of all its exports - has signed a trade deal with the economic bloc.

The agreement will give the East Africa nation tariff-free access to the EU, although the Kenyan market will not open up immediately to EU goods.

This Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), as the deal is known, has been hailed as historic by both parties, and is expected to boost trade between the two parties which stands at $3.6bn (£2.8bn) as of 2022.

Kenyan exporters are likely to see an increase in their earnings. The deal could also enable Kenyan farmers access a secure and wider market in Europe.

But there are concerns that eventually liberalising agriculture, which dominates the Kenyan economy, could expose the country to competition with subsidised products from the EU and threaten Kenyan farmers' incomes.

There are also fears that besides the agricultural sector, the trade deal could, down the road, stand in the way of development if more EU firms set up operations in Kenya.

The delay in opening up the Kenyan market is intended to give the economy here time to change.

Skills transfer and job creation are potential benefits, but homegrown businesses could suffer if they do not change in the long term.

Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service Newsroom

The head of the United Nations' refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, has said the number of people who've fled Sudan has reached more than 500,000.

He said two million others were internally displaced.

Sudan's warring military factions have accused each other of violating the latest temporary ceasefire.

The Sudanese army said the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces had carried out an attack in North Darfur for a second consecutive day.

US and Saudi mediators announced the 72-hour truce on Saturday.

Nomsa Maseko
BBC News, Johannesburg

Image source, Getty Images

Lawyers representing Rwandan genocide suspect Fulgence Kayishema, who had been on the run for 22 years before his arrest last month, have told the Cape Town Magistrates' Court that their client will apply for asylum on political grounds in South Africa.

It could delay his possible extradition to Rwanda for several years and significantly delay his trial on charges of genocide, complicity to genocide and crimes against humanity.

He is accused of directly participating in the killings as well as ordering the massacre on 15 April 1994 of 2,000 ethnic Tutsi people who were hiding in a Catholic Church in western Rwanda.

He was indicted in 2001 by the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which has since closed, with his case being transferred to Rwanda for trial.

Mr Kayishema, now in his sixties, was arrested on a grape farm in South Africa’s Western Cape province last month.

He also faces 54 charges in South Africa related to fraud and contravening the immigration act.

On Tuesday, lawyer Juan Smuts said Mr Kayishema had abandoned his bail application, which had been due to be heard on Tuesday.

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority has said Mr Kayishema’s asylum application has no bearing on the court proceedings in South Africa and that more charges will be added when he next appears in court in August.

He remains in custody.

About 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in Rwanda by ethnic Hutu extremists in 100 days in 1994.

More about the Rwandan genocide:

• 'My father, the rapist': Hidden victims of Rwanda's genocide
• Rwanda genocide: 100 days of slaughter
• How genocide financier evaded capture for 26 years

A 100-year-old football club in Tunisia has folded after migration to Europe cost AS Ghardimaou more than 30 of its best players.