Newsday
BBC World Service

Nigerian doctors have gone on strike to demand the government immediately recruit medics for massively under-staffed public hospitals, a senior medic has told the BBC.

"Our first request is for the government to quickly replace the doctors and nurses that have left the system. A lot of our colleagues have left the country in search of greener pastures," Dr Emeka Innocent Orji, president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (Nard), told BBC Newsday’s Rob Young.

Their “total and indefinite strike” was also because an earlier pay deal had not been honoured by the government, he said.

Nard members were "breaking down and dying" because of strenuous working conditions - and patients were also being affected by the lack of manpower caused by the "brain drain".

Dr Orji said it was in the government’s power to quickly recruit doctors as there were Nigerian medics available, adding urgency was needed before they too decided to leave the country.

One place Nigerian medics are heading to is the UK, where their numbers rose from 4,765 in 2017 to 10,986 in 2023, according to the International College of Surgeons, Nigerian Section (ICS-NS).

Nigeria now has a ratio of one doctor to more than 4,000 patients. The World Health Organization recommends it be one doctor to 600 patients.

Listen to the full interview with Dr Orji:

Read more:

• Nigeria cost-of-living crisis sparks exodus of doctors
• ‘Exploited’ foreign doctors worry about risk to UK patients

The Afrobeats star came under fire for sharing a music video which offended some Muslims.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

There are reports from Niger that some soldiers have blockaded the presidential palace.

Access to several ministries in the same area of the capital, Niamey, was also been blocked.

No shots were fired and at this stage it is not clear if this was an attempt by the troops from the presidential guard to seize power.

Some sources say President Mohamed Bazoum has been in discussion with the soldiers.

Niger is home to two jihadist rebellions.

It is a key ally for several Western countries including France and the US - in the fight against Islamist militancy in West Africa.

• A quick guide to Niger

Anthony Irungu
BBC News, Nairobi

Image source, AFP

Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga is visiting hospitals to check up on people who were injured by the police during recent protests.

Later he will be holding a vigil for those killed in the anti-government demonstrations held to protest about rising cost of living.

According to human rights groups, at least 30 people have died in the capital, Nairobi, and other towns across the country.

They have criticised the police for their excessive use of force, but the interior ministry has defended officers' actions.

Mr Odinga suspended this week’s planned protest because of the deaths and will be lighting candles and laying flowers at a memorial site for them.

He first called a series of rallies in March.

The two sides had then agreed to hold talks, but the opposition said President William Ruto's team was not committed to resolving their complaints.

Then last month, Mr Ruto signed into law a controversial finance bill that doubled the tax on fuel and introduced a new housing levy among other measures that have been deemed punitive.

This prompted the latest protests.

Rights groups and diplomats have expressed deep concerns about the situation in Kenya, urging the government and opposition to resolve their differences peacefully.

The president has now expressed his willingness to meet the veteran opposition leader, tweeting: "“My friend @RailaOdinga, I am off to Tanzania... I'm back [on Wednesday] evening, and as you have always known, I'm available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience."

A new report says that for 10 years the British government under-estimated the Russian mercenary group.

Image source, Getty Images

Zambia players are in tears as they lose to Spain at the Women's World Cup.

The full-time score is Spain 5-0 Zambia. It means Spain are through to the next round and Zambia are out.

BBC Sport says Zambia are on the wrong side again of another five-star performance. First from Japan, now from Spain.

Zambia v Costa Rica next Monday is the battle to avoid bottom spot. Neither side have scored yet.

The BBC's Katie Smith at the stadium in Auckland says a couple of the Zambia players have sunk to the grass.

They really gave everything during the game but their World Cup exit is confirmed and the wait for a first goal goes on too, she says.

• Read more: Spain 5-0 Zambia: Big win sends Spain into last 16

Image source, Getty Images

Nigeria's Nobel Prize winning author Wole Soyinka has defended Afrobeats star Davido over a music video he shared on social media that was allegedly offensive to Muslims.

One scene is said to have portrayed men in white clothes dancing in front of a mosque.

This drew criticism from some prompting angry youths in the mainly Muslim north-eastern city of Maiduguri to attack Davido’s posters.

They pulled them down, tore them up and set fire to them, local media reported.

The video - a 45-second clip promoting a new song by Logos Olori who is signed to Davido’s record label - also caused anger on social media.

Some prominent Muslims called for an apology, prompting the Nigerian singer to delete the video from Instagram.

But Prof Soyinka hit out over the backlash, although admitting he had not seen the video because it had been withdrawn. In a letter to Nigeria’s Premium Times news, he said:, external

Image source, Getty Images

The professor added that that those who were offended and should exercise their right to boycott Davido’s products.

Image source, Getty Images

At the Women's World Cup Spain are playing Zambia. The score is currently Spain 2-0 Zambia.

Victory for Spain will see them qualify for knockout stages. Zambia lost 5-0 to Japan.

According to BBC Sport, stats wise Zambia has improved in this game. Against Japan they managed no shot, against Spain, they have managed three so far.

• Follow the Sports Live page for more

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, AFP

Malian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga has denounced US sanctions on the defence minister, air force chief of staff and his deputy as a “distraction” and pledged his “total support” to the junta officials.

“The sanctions against our valiant officers, Defence Minister Col Sadio Camara, Gen Alou Boi Diarra, Col Adama Bagayoko, have no objectives other than to distract the Malian people. Nothing will distract us from the work of rebuilding Mali,” Mr Maïga has tweeted, external.

The US Treasury imposed sanction on the three for “facilitating” the expansion of Russia’s Wagner Group in Mali.

Wagner troops have been accused of committing atrocities alongside the Malian army in their fight against jihadists, with the US saying civilian casualties had more than tripled since they deployment in late 2021.

The prime minister of is the only senior official in the military government to have commented on the sanctions.

The measured Malian response so far contrasts with the rhetoric and accusations of plots to destabilise the ruling junta delivered by government spokesman Col Abdoulaye Maïga in previous diplomatic rows, notably with France and the UN.

You may be interested in:

• Boost for Wagner as Mali shuns UN troops, but at what cost?

Image source, Reuters

Kenya’s President William Ruto says he is ready to meet opposition leader Raila Odinga amid the recent cost-of-living protests.

Dozens of people have died in the demonstrations.

Mr Odinga has been leading them to push the government to lower taxes and ease other price hikes.

“My friend @RailaOdinga, I am off to Tanzania for a human capital meeting to harmonise the expansion of employment opportunities in our continent. I'm back [on Wednesday] evening, and as you have always known, I'm available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience,” the president tweeted on Tuesday., external

It came after Mr Odinga held a media briefing claiming that Mr Ruto had snubbed an offer by the Tanzanian president to mediate between the government and the opposition.

Mr Odinga has condemned the police for their brutal actions against protesters and has called for vigils on Wednesday in honour of the people killed in protests.

Chris Ewokor
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, Getty Images

Doctors in Nigeria's public hospitals have started a “total and indefinite strike” over what they described as the failure of government to address their grievances.

The striking medics make up the largest percentage of doctors in Nigeria’s hospitals.

Their walk-outs usually severely disrupt healthcare services in government hospitals.

Among their demands, they are asking for the immediate payment of all salaries and a new hazard allowance.

The Nigeria Medical Association says at least 50 doctors leave Nigeria every week to work abroad.

Poor working conditions, coupled with bad pay and the rising cost of living are the main factors.

• Read more: Nigeria cost-of-living crisis sparks exodus of doctors

Our proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

The once-powerful bank chief is charged with illegally owning a shotgun, which he denies.

There are 176 prisoners on Ghana's death row, but the last execution was 30 years ago.

Sean Williams thought cricket in Zimbabwe was "dying", but he is now hoping for "fairytale" ending with 2027 World Cup co-hosts.

Nicola Mandil
BBC News, Juba

Image source, Getty Images

More than 40,000 children who have fled fighting in Sudan to South Sudan since April are now unable to attend school, the UN says.

According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha), more than 183,000 people have so far crossed the border since the conflict between Sudan's rival military factions began.

These numbers are expected to rise as the war continues and attempts to broker a ceasefire flounder.

Those arriving in Unity State, on the border with Sudan, had injuries and reported incidents of looting and harassment by armed groups during their journey, Ocha said.

Most of them are South Sudanese who had moved to Sudan over the last decade to escape turmoil back home. Now they are fleeing again.

"The situation is dire, and the youngest victims, the children, bear the brunt," the UN said.

More on Sudan's crisis:

• 'How I saved my red guitar from Khartoum war zone'
• From Ruto to Sisi, leaders vie to drive peace process

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

You can also get the latest on the BBC News website and listen to the new Focus on Africa podcast for stories behind the news

A reminder of our wise words for the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this photo from a warm-up match between New Zealand and Malaei at the Netball World Cup in South Africa:

Image source, AFP

Nkechi Ogbonna
BBC News, Lagos

Nigeria's DSS secret police have re-arrested the country's suspended bank chief, after tussling with prison officials outside a court in Lagos over who should take him into custody.

The court had ruled that Godwin Emefiele should remain in prison custody at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos until his bail, set at 20 million naira ($26,000, £20,000), was settled.

Nigeria's Premium Times newspaper posted a video on Twitter of the chaotic scenes outside court as officers from the two agencies became physical:

The suspended central bank governor has been charged with illegally owning a shotgun and ammunition, which he denies.

The trial is scheduled for 14 November.

Mike Thomson
BBC World Service News

Image source, AFP

Two years since President Kaïs Saïed of Tunisia adopted sweeping powers, hundreds of his opponents have held demonstrations in the capital, Tunis.

In 2021 Mr Saïed sacked the government and suspended parliament - before later enfeebling the judiciary and arresting many of his critics.

Chanting "down with the coup" the protesters demanded the release of around 20 opposition politicians as well as journalists, activists and lawyers, most of whom have been charged with conspiring against the state.

Rights groups have described the arrests as a witch hunt.

An uprising in the North African country helped trigger the so-called Arab Spring in 2011 - and it was the region's sole democracy to emerge from the uprisings.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

A Kenyan court has released a social media influencer and blogger affiliated with opposition leader Raila Odinga's Azimio coalition and two others who had been charged with cyber-related offences.

Pauline Njoroge, a digital communications strategist with more than 390,000 Twitter followers, was accused of publishing inflammatory remarks targeting President William Ruto. according to an affidavit by the prosecution.

Ms Njoroge had condemned police brutality in the western Nyanza region, an opposition stronghold, which turned violent in the latest round of protests that took place between 19 and 21 July.

She and her co-accused were arrested in the coastal town of Watamu over the weekend for "hate speech against the state".

They were also allegedly found in possession of substances believed to be narcotic drugs during the arrest.

They had all denied the charges.

They were released on a free bond and the case is due for mention on Wednesday.