Image source, AFP

The coup leaders in Niger have cited the continued insecurity in the country as one of the reasons why they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum last week. But a rift between some in the military and the president had been building up, according to an expert speaking on the BBC's Africa Daily podcast.

Olayinka Ajala, from Leeds Beckett University, said that there was an ethnic dimension to the power struggle as well as a growing anger at the presence of foreign troops in the country.

President Bazoum is from the country's ethnic Arab minority and was seen by some as having foreign origins, Dr Ajala told the BBC.

"This did not sit well within the military circle, which is predominantly composed of the larger ethnic groups," the expert has written., external

Dr Ajala also said that the transfer of French troops to Niger after they were expelled from Mali last year and the siting of US and French drone bases in the country became increasingly difficult for some in the Nigerien military.

David Kampmann from BBC Monitoring also said that there had been reports that the man at the helm of the coup, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, was about to be replaced by Mr Bazoum as head of the presidential guard as part of reforms to the security apparatus.

He then pre-empted this move by ousting the president. But these are unconfirmed rumours, Mr Kampmann points out.

Listen to the Africa Daily episode here.

Shingai Nyoka
BBC News, Harare

Zimbabwe police have now arrested 10 people in the political violence that killed an opposition supporter at a campaign rally south of the capital, Harare, on Thursday.

A police spokesman says the group is assisting with investigations.

Shingai Nyoka
BBC News, Harare

Image source, Reuters

The police in Zimbabwe have arrested two people following the death of an opposition supporter during political skirmishes at a campaign rally south of the capital, Harare, on Thursday.

A video posted on social media appeared to show Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members and vehicles fleeing the scene followed by a group of people throwing stones.

Local human rights monitors say the country is witnessing rising levels of violence and rights violations as the country prepares to hold general elections later this month.

The police say investigations are conitinuing into the violence that led to the death of Tinashe Chitsunge.

While official details remain sketchy, CCC eye witnesses say they were heading to a pre-booked venue for a rally in Glen Norah.

They say that it was supporters of the governing Zanu-PF party who had camped at the rally grounds who then chased them away, ripped up their campaign posters and stoned them.

They say Mr Chitsunge was hit and fell to the ground.

He then may have been run over by a CCC-affiliated vehicle that was fleeing the violence.

Image source, @GovernorAUF

The announcement by the governor of north-east Nigeria's Adamawa state that he was appointing a 47-strong media team has been met with anger and ridicule.

Ahmadu Fintiri's tweet, external listing all the names has been viewed a million times, according to the social media site.

There are:

• Two special advisers
• Ten senior special assistants
• And 35 "special assistants social media and content creation"

"I'm confident that this diverse and talented team will play a crucial role in enhancing our communication efforts and strengthening our public engagement," the governor wrote.

Reacting underneath, people have been asking why he needs such a huge group.

Some responded on X, previously known as Twitter, with laughter emojis and memes.

One person joked that even Nollywood stars didn't have such large media teams.

Staying with the theme, another said that "maybe this man wants to open a media production company to rival Universal Studios".

In an angry comment, one tweeter asked how the governor planned "to reduce the cost of governance with so much advisers on media only".

The state of people's personal budgets is on the minds of many in Adamawa state and beyond as prices continue to rise.

Last weekend, looters raided warehouses in the state capital, Yola, in a move that was seen by some as a response to the increasing difficulties that people are facing.

Image source, Getty Images

Fifa is investigating an official complaint that Zambia head coach Bruce Mwape sexually assaulted a player at the Women's World Cup.

Mwape is accused of rubbing his hands over the chest of one of his players during a training session in New Zealand on 29 July.

"A complaint has been received," a Fifa spokesperson said.

But the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) said "it has not received any such complaint" and it was a "surprise".

The alleged incident is said to have taken place during a training session two days before their final group match against Costa Rica, which Zambia won 3-1 for their first victory at a World Cup.

Fifa's spokesperson added: "Fifa takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident."

Zambia have returned home, having been eliminated after finishing third in Group C.

Read more on this story here.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

A West African delegation which was supposed to be mediating in Niger following last week's coup has left after just a few hours without any sign of progress.

The negotiators appointed by the regional body Ecowas didn't meet the coup leader or the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum.

Ecowas has imposed sanctions on Niger and has threatened to use force if Mr Bazoum is not reinstated.

He has urged the rest of the world to help restore constitutional order.

Mr Bazoum warned that the entire Sahel region could fall under Russian influence.

Late on Thursday the coup leaders in Niger criticised all military agreements with France. French troops are in the country to fight Islamist extremists.

Ethiopia’s cabinet has agreed to declare a state of emergency in the restive Amhara region following days of clashes between local militias and the army.

The move comes a day after Amhara region’s head, Yilkal Kefale, called on the federal government to intervene, declaring security in the region had become “difficult to control within regular law enforcement mechanisms”.

Local militias, known as the Fano, have reportedly gained control of several towns and villages as well as some bigger cities.

Flights have been suspended to at least two cities in the region and the mobile data services have been cut off.

A statement published by the prime minister’s office said the constitutional order was under threat in the region, explaining the need for a state of emergency decree.

The decision still has to be approved by parliament to take effect.

Our proverb of the day:

Image source, Getty Images

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A selection of the best photos from the African continent and beyond.

Scientists have found a strain of bacteria which they believe could prevent spread of the disease.

As Italy's Gianluigi Buffon ends his remarkable career at the age of 45, BBC Sport Africa looks at how a Cameroon legend shaped his life.

Protesters condemn retaliatory sanctions and the threat of military force by West African leaders.

That's all for now from the BBC Africa Live team - we'll be back on Friday morning.

Until then you can find the latest updates at BBCAfrica.com and listen to the Focus on Africa podcast for stories behind the news.

A reminder of our wise words of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this picture of Moroccan players Sarah Kassi (L) and Nouhaila Benzina celebrating after they beat Colombia 1-0 and qualified for the knock-out stages of the World Cup - one of three African teams to progress in the competition:

Image source, EPA

Kalkidan Yibeltal
BBC News, Addis Ababa

The head of northern Ethiopia's turbulent Amhara region has called for intervention by the federal government as violence intensifies and spreads.

In a letter published by state-affiliated media on Thursday, Yilkal Kefale said the security situation in Amhara was “difficult to control within the regular law enforcement mechanisms”.

The statement differs in tone from his remarks a day ago when he had called for dialogue.

Activists linked with the Fano militia group - which is fighting against the army in several areas - have criticised Mr Yilkal’s remarks as attempts to provide justification for the involvement of the military in the region which are already fighting the militia.

The call for intervention could also signal a further deployment of troops in the coming days.

The mobile internet has been cut off in large parts of the region making it difficult to verify claims but residents have reported intense fighting in multiple areas.

Shingai Nyoka
BBC News, Harare

Image source, Reuters

An opposition supporter in Zimbabwe has been killed while travelling to an election rally, according to the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

The death comes during an increasingly contentious and violent campaign period.

CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said Tinashe Chitsunge was among a group of supporters who were assaulted and stoned as they headed to a rally in Glen Norah, a suburb of the capital, Harare.

Pictures posted on social media appeared to show a man in jeans lying on the ground in a pool of blood with the party's yellow T-shirts covering his head.

Cellphone videos posted on social media appeared to show the attack, as a large group hurled a barrage of stones at a lorry ferrying CCC supporters, ripping campaign posters off the vehicle.

Zimbabwe's ministry of information expressed its condolences to the deceased and said police were investigating the incident.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

Eritrean anti-government protestors have stormed a pro-government festival in the Swedish capital, Stockholm.

There are reports that several hundred people broke through a police barrier and destroyed festival marquees.

Police in Sweden say no-one was injured.

Eritrea is a deeply divided country in terms of those who support President Isaias Afwerki and those who see him as a cruel dictator.

Last month in Germany, hundreds of police used batons and pepper spray against protesters targeting another Eritrean pro-government festival in the central town of Giessen.

Twenty-six police officers were injured and nearly 100 people arrested.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, Reuters

Amnesty International has called on the opposing sides in Sudan's conflict to stop committing war crimes.

It says civilians are dying in large numbers as a result of deliberate and indiscriminate attacks.

The rights group interviewed dozens of people, external, most of whom had fled from the Darfur region to camps in Chad.

It says scores of women and girls, some as young as 12, have been subjected to sexual violence, including rape.

Amnesty found that the perpetrators in most cases were fighters from the Rapid Support Forces and allied Arab militias.

UN agencies and NGOs are warning that the number of people in Sudan facing an acute shortage of food is expected to reach more than 20 million, which is over 40% of the population.

Read more about what is happening in Darfur:

• Sudan conflict: Women tell BBC horror stories of rape

Teklemariam Bekit
BBC News Tigrinya

Image source, Getty Images

The top decision-making body of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has condemned and ex-communicated Tigrayan clergy who were involved in the appointment of six bishops.

This is the latest episode in a growing rift within the church, over its response to the two-year-long civil war in Tigray which ended in November.

Last week, the Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church ordained six bishops at a ceremony held at St Mary's Church in Aksum.

In response, the Ethiopia Holy Synod revoked the Tigray clergy's priestly authority. It said the bishops should be referred to by their secular names and be denied any spiritual services from the church in their lifetime and after their death.

In a resolution passed after a plenary session on Wednesday, the synod said the appointment of bishops was "illegal and a violation of religious principles and laws".

It further said the decision had far-reaching consequences as it "divides the unity of the Ethiopian Orthodox church], causes conflicts among believers, and disrupts peace".

In response, the Tigray bishops have rejected the Ethiopian Synod's decision, labelling it "futile condemnation and unacceptable".

The synod has offered to welcome back the Tigray priests if they "repent and apologise for the violation of the canon".

Tigrayan bishops had in March announced their intention to break off from the Ethiopian church and establish their own over what they perceived as the synod's failure to condemn fighting and provide adequate support to faithful during the two-year conflict.

A few weeks ago, the church leadership issued an apology to the people of Tigray regarding the civil war, but it does not appear to have been enough to mend the rift.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

Senegal has said it would be prepared to send troops into Niger if regional bloc Ecowas decided to do so.

At the weekend, Ecowas heads of state threatened the use of force if elected-President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated by next Sunday. He was overthrown in a military coup last week.

Ecowas has also imposed economic sanctions.

Niger is the fourth country in the region to have experienced a coup since 2020.

Senegal's Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall told reporters that there had been "one coup too many" in the region, the AFP news agency quotes her as saying.

"Senegalese soldiers, for all these reasons, will go there," she added.

Meanwhile, thousands of people have demonstrated in Niamey, Niger's capital, to show their support for the junta.

A coalition of civil society organisations opposed to the French military presence in the country called the protest.

Correspondents say there are also many people in Niger who are opposed to the coup.

Shingai Nyoka
BBC News, Harare

Image source, EPA

Zimbabwe's Supreme Court has cleared 12 candidates from the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change to contest in this month's general election, quashing a High Court ruling that they had registered after the cut-off time.

Four candidates from smaller opposition parties were also reinstated on the ballot, following the unanimous decision from the judges - but the reasoning behind the ruling has not yet been published.

The pre-election period has seen numerous court cases after the chaotic registration day on 21 June.

Candidates were registering late into the night, past the prescribed 16:00 deadline.

Dozens of candidates failed to register over payment and other logistical challenges.

The general election is due on 23 August.

Read more: Zimbabwe elections - what you need to know