A new constitution scrapping term limits is backed by 95% of voters, the electoral authority says.

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Nigeria were unlucky to get knocked out of the Women's World Cup on penalties by a below-par England in Brisbane.

The Super Falcons failed to capitalise on their dominant performance and the fact that for the entire period of extra-time they had a one-player advantage after England's Lauren James was sent off.

The devastated players watched on as England sealed a 4-2 victory in the penalty shoot-out.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Jennifer Echegini (L) and Zainab Balogun couldn't hide their disappointment.

Image source, Getty Images

After England's winning penalty went in, Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was consoled by two England players.

BBC Swahili

For Pelagia Buberwa, the memory of the bombing of the US embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, still haunts her.

Eleven people died and 45 were wounded in the al-Qaeda attack that happened 25 years ago today. In a near-simultaneous bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi, the capital of neighbouring Kenya, more than 200 people died.

Ms Buberwa was working at the embassy in Dar es Salaam at the time.

"The deaths of my co-workers are something I will never forget," she told BBC Swahili.

"I was with them that morning; I spoke with them, then went out for assignment with my boss; when I returned to the office, they were gone.

"There were several victims, many of whom were bleeding, and there was widespread fear.

"It took a long time for me to get over the recollections. When I recall, pictures come to me, such as the truck driver at the gate being hit by metal, and when I came to the gate, I saw that his leg was broken.

"There was a security guard manning the gate. When we departed for our mission with my boss, I bid goodbye to her, but when we returned after the explosion, I found her dead on the ground.

"There was another security guard who eventually recovered and was laying on top of the girl, weeping uncontrollably."

Image source, AFP

Ashley Lime
BBC News, Nairobi

Image source, JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images

Security forces in Angola have unlawfully killed at least 15 people and carried out other grave abuses against activists and protestors since January 2023, an international rights group says.

New York-based Human Rights Watch, external (HRW) says the police and state security services also carried out arbitrary arrests and detained hundreds of people.

Social and political activists, outspoken artists and protesters who organised or participated in peaceful anti-government activities throughout the country were among those targeted by law enforcers, HRW says.

“The Angolan police appear to be targeting those who speak out against government policies,” said HRW’s senior Africa researcher Zenaida Machado.

“Angolan authorities should urgently act to end abusive police policies and practices and ensure that there is justice for victims and their family members.”

The agency interviewed 32 people by phone between January and June 2023, and they included victims of abuses and their kin, witnesses and security forces in the capital, Luanda, and in Cabinda and Bié.

In a response to the AFP news agency, the governing MPLA refuted HRW's report saying that investigations were under way.

"However, we find it strange that those calling for the necessary investigations already have conclusions and are passing judgement," MPLA spokesman Rui Falcao is quoted as saying.

Yusuf Akinpelu
BBC News, Lagos

Image source, AFP

An overwhelming majority approved the changes to the constitution in the Central African Republic with over 95% of the vote, the committee in charge of overseeing the referendum said in its provisional results.

Opposition parties and some civil society groups boycotted the vote, saying the amended law was designed to keep President Faustin-Archange Touadéra in power for life.

They said the referendum lacked transparency and there was limited time given to debate its provisions.

Nearly two million people registered to vote, and turnout was estimated by those watching the poll as low.

The proposed law abolishes the presidential two-term limit and extends the term in office from five to seven years.

It also bans politicians with dual citizenship from running for president.

Under the proposed changes, there will be an office of the vice-president, to be appointed by the president. The senate will be scrapped, transforming parliament to a single chamber.

The number of supreme court judges have been increased from nine to 11, and the president and the national assembly can now select three judges each. Previously they could only select one each.

The president and members of his United Hearts Party have claimed they are following the will of the people. The opposition has called it a “constitutional coup”.

President Touadéra has struggled to quash rebel groups that have controlled large swathes of the country since he came into power in 2016, a spill from another rebellion in 2013 which ousted former President François Bozizé.

He turned to Russia for help in tackling the rebels in 2018. Ahead of last Sunday's vote, dozens of fighters from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group were seen arriving in the country.

After a brave performance against England and holding them 0-0, the Super Falcons have just lost 4-2 on penalties at the Women's World Cup.

Read more here.

BBC World Service

Image source, Reuters

Mali says it will send a joint delegation with Burkina Faso to Niger to express their solidarity.

The announcement comes a day after the generals - who seized power in Niger - defied an ultimatum to reinstate the elected president or face the possibility of armed intervention from other West African states.

The military junta said it had closed Niger's airspace and was preparing to defend its territory.

Despite the ultimatum, members of regional grouping Ecowas are divided on whether to take military action.

Nigeria and Ivory Coast are among those insisting that President Mohamed Bazoum must be reinstated.

But the military governments in Mali and Burkina Faso have said they would side with the coup leaders if they were attacked.

Nkechi Ogbonna
BBC News, Lagos

Image source, Getty Images

Italy’s foreign ministry has called on West Africa’s regional bloc, Ecowas, to extend the deadline issued to the leaders of the coup in Niger to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

“The only way is the diplomatic one. I hope that the ultimatum of Ecowas which expired last night will be extended today,” Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday.

Late on Sunday, Niger's junta shut the country’s airspace after defying the deadline. International flights were diverted or had to return to their country of origin as a result.

The army said it believes preparations to invade Niger had begun in two African countries but gave no evidence.

Ecowas has not made a statement since the deadline expired.

Kalkidan Yibeltal
BBC News, Addis Ababa

Fighting has continued to intensify and spread in Ethiopia’s restive Amhara region between local militias and the military.

Residents in the region’s two biggest cities, the capital Bahir Dar and historic Gondar, have reported intense clashes.

Activists and media outlets affiliated with the militias claim that they have gained control of parts of Bahir Dar, but say there is heavy military presence around the city’s airport and the state-run TV station.

Flights to airports in the region, including the one at Lalibela, home to the famous rock-hewn churches, remain suspended.

The militias also say they control additional towns including large parts of Debre Birhan, an industrial hub 130km (80 miles) north of the federal capital, Addis Ababa.

The BBC has not been able to independently confirm the claims but residents reported heavy fighting.

On Sunday, the head of a command post established to oversee a state of emergency decree passed on Friday, intelligence chief Temesgen Tiruneh, admitted the militias had taken control of some areas and called on the public to support the military.

Meanwhile in Addis Ababa arrests have been reported over the weekend.

Activists accuse the government of targeting ethnic Amharas and put the number of arrests in the thousands.

Many families of detainees were seen gathered around a high school compound where they said their loved ones were being held.

In a statement, Communications Minister Legesse Tulu confirmed arrests were made in connection with the violence but failed to provide figures.

Among those held is an opposition MP, Christian Tadele.

Last week in a Facebook post, Mr Christian had accused Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration of invading the Amhara region.

Image source, AFP

Five Ugandan marine officers on a mission to recover bodies from last week's accident in Lake Victoria were rescued on Sunday after their rescue boat capsized, police have said.

At least 20 people died in the accident last Tuesday involving an overloaded boat believed to have been carrying 34 people. Nine people were rescued with others reported as missing.

On Saturday, police had said they had only recovered five bodies, all women.

They said they were "facing challenges due to the rough conditions of the lake and heavy rainfall".

The police say the Sunday incident "underscores the unpredictable nature of the lake and the challenging conditions that our dedicated marine officers face while executing their life-saving duties".

It says the investigation into the accident is ongoing and further details will be provided when available.

In the meantime, the search for bodies of the people who drowned is still on, it says.

Boat accidents are not uncommon in Uganda.

The round-of-16 game between Nigeria's Super Falcons and England's Lionesses at the Women's World Cup has just kicked off.

Click here to follow the action.

Catherine Byaruhanga
BBC Africa correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Niger’s military leaders have closed the country’s airspace after defying a deadline by the regional bloc Ecowas to hand back power to a civilian government or face possible armed intervention.

The army said it believes preparations to invade Niger had begun in two African countries but gave no evidence.

Ecowas has not made a statement since the deadline expired.

Niger’s generals appear to be taking the threat of invasion by West African states seriously.

In a televised statement a spokesman said any violation of the airspace would be met with an "energetic and immediate response".

Ecowas has said it hopes to resolve the crisis peacefully but warned that plans for a military intervention had been worked out.

Regional heads of state would have to approve any such action.

But neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, also led by military rulers, have said they would defend Niger.

The UK and France have said they would support Ecowas’ response to the coup but have not said whether that includes military action.

Niger is one of the world’s biggest producers of uranium and has been a key ally for African and Western countries battling jihadist groups linked to the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in the region.

Read more on the aftermath of the coup:

• Ecowas deadline sparks anxiety in northern Nigeria
• Simple guide to what's happening

The Newsroom
BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

France has suspended all development aid and budget support to Burkina Faso.

The announcement comes after the military government in Burkina Faso said it would regard any armed intervention against the coup leaders in neighbouring Niger as a declaration of war.

The military government in Mali has taken the same position.

It comes as a deadline by the West African bloc Ecowas for the military coup leaders in Niger to restore constitutional order and reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum lapsed on Sunday evening.

Ecowas is yet to make a statement on the next line of action which includes military intervention.

The grouping earlier stated that this would be a “last option” if all other political and diplomatic options fail.

The Newsroom
BBC World Service

Image source, EPA

The Tunisian authorities say at least 14 migrants have died in different shipwrecks in the Mediterranean over the last two days.

More than 50 are missing after the latest accident, in which a boat sank off the coast.

All those on board were from sub-Saharan Africa.

Tunisia is a major gateway for irregular migrants from other parts of Africa attempting perilous voyages to Europe.

The Tunisian interior minister says the coast guard has recovered more than 900 bodies of drowned migrants so far this year.

Nicolas Negoce
BBC News

Image source, Reuters

Senegal’s jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who has been on hunger strike in prison to protest against his criminal charges, has been admitted to hospital, his party and local sources say.The leader of the now-dissolved Pastef party was detained last week and charged with calling for insurrection, conspiracy against the state among other crimes.

He began his hunger strike soon after.

On Sunday evening, his party sent a press statement saying that he had been admitted for emergency care.

It said it was holding the authorities responsible for his condition.

“Prior to his imprisonment, he was in good health and had no known illnesses,” it said.

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Niger has been the focus of international and diplomatic attention over the past week after its democratically elected president was removed from power by the military. In recent days, we have seen hundreds of foreign nationals leave the West African country. For most people in Niger though it is about trying to get on with life – amid the uncertainty – in a country that consistently ranks as having the lowest standards of living anywhere in the world. Host James Reynolds hears from two friends in Niger, Sadissou and Sidien, who share their different perspectives on events.

The battle to keep the peace between people and elephants in northern Botswana. The earth’s largest land mammal, the elephant, is an endangered species. Poaching, habitat loss and disease have decimated elephant populations. But not in Botswana, which has the world’s biggest population of elephants. In the north of the country, in the area around the remarkable Okavango Delta (the world’s largest inland delta), elephant numbers are growing and they outnumber people. This can pose serious problems for the human population, particularly local subsistence farmers. A crop raid by elephants can destroy a family’s annual food supply overnight. Elephants also pose a risk to life in their daily commute between their feeding grounds and their water sources. John Murphy travels to the top of the Okavango Delta, to see what efforts are being made to keep both people and elephants safe, and to persuade locals that these giant animals are an asset not a liability. He also explores threats from further afield to this green jewel in the desert, the Okavango Delta, which animals and people alike depend on.

Presenter: John Murphy Producer: Charlotte Ashton Studio Mix: Rod Farquhar Editor: Penny Murphy

The Nigerian tech entrepreneur on how he built two billion dollar businesses.

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji co-founded talent marketplace Andela and payments company Flutterwave, both of which have been valued at more than a billion dollars.

He tells Rob Young he wants to use his wealth to help Africa achieve its economic potential.

Presenter / producer: Rob Young Image: Iyinoluwa Aboyeji; Credit: Getty Images

Nigeria's most well-known economist Tony Elumelu tells us why Africa needs to rethink it's relationship with business.

He explains "Africapitalism", the idea that the private sector can transform Africa's economy and society for the better.

He also discusses a number problems slowing economic growth in Africa, including young, well-educated people leaving for better opportunities elsewhere and a lack of investment in the tech sector.

Presenter / producer: Peter MacJob (Image: Tony Elumelu: Credit: Getty Images)