Yussuf Abdullahi
BBC Monitoring

Image source, AFP

At least 10 civilians have been killed after Sudan's army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group exchanged artillery fire in the south of the capital Khartoum.

Activist Muhammad Kindasha told Sudan Tribune news website that some of the victims died when an artillery shell hit “a house where a social event was being held” on Thursday.

He added that there were “fierce confrontations” between the army and the RSF in residential areas, describing the situation as “catastrophic”.

Shells also reportedly hit a local market.

Many civilians have been killed in indiscriminate shelling in Khartoum since the war between the army and the RSF began in April 2023.

Clashes between the two sides have intensified over the past week in the capital and the adjacent cities of Omdurman and Bahri, with the army claiming advances.

The conflict has killed at least 12,000 people and displaced more than seven million others, according to the United Nations.

A military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced 15 people to prison after finding them guilty of financing terrorism through illegal gold trade.

The tribunal on Thursday jailed 10 suspects for terms ranging between five and eight years and handed five others 10-year terms.

The court also acquitted nine defendants.

The defendants stood accused of facilitating the transfer of money obtained from the illicit sale of gold and precious stones to militant groups.

A spokesperson for the defendants' legal team denied the charges and told AFP news agency that they would appeal against the verdict.

A high court in Rwanda has acquitted a former teacher who had been accused of committing crimes against humanity during the 1994 genocide.

Wenceslas Twagirayezu was alleged to have played a role in the killings of thousands of Tutsis in the present-day Rubavu District.

The High Court Chamber of International and Transnational Crimes freed Mr Twagirayezu after several witness testimonies placed him in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo during the time he is alleged to have orchestrated the killings.

The 56-year-old had been extradited from Denmark in 2018 at the request of Rwandan authorities.

The prosecution, which was pushing for a life sentence, has said it was not satisfied with the ruling and would appeal against it.

Image source, Zambian presidency/Facebook

Churches in Zambia have been ordered to limit worship time to two hours as part of measures to curb the spread of cholera.

No sale of perishable and ready-to-eat foods in all churches, Ndiwa Mutelo, a senior official in charge of religious affairs, said.

Worshippers have also been urged to avoid handshakes and hugs in order to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.

Mr Mutelo in a statement also ordered worship centres to provide safe drinking water, hand washing points as well as alcohol-based hand sanitizers to their members.

More than 7,800 cholera cases have been reported nationwide since last October.

In the last 24 hours, there were more than 400 new cases and 18 deaths, the health ministry said.

More on cholera outbreak in Zambia:

• President Hakainde Hichilema urges people to move to villages

Image source, Uganda Revenue Authority

Ugandan authorities are holding Kenya's former Assistant Minister for Internal Security Stephen Tarus on allegations of smuggling gold into the country using forged documents.

Mr Tarus was arrested last week and arraigned before a Ugandan anti-corruption court on Wednesday for falsification of export documents, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) said.

The illegal trade documentation led to substantial financial losses to the Ugandan government, the URA added.

He was charged with forgery of export documents for 13kg of gold worth $30,000 (£24,000).

The gold was destined for Dubai in a suspected smuggling ring, according to the URA.

Mr Tarus was remanded at Luzira prison until 18 January, pending further investigations into the incident.

He is yet to comment on the charges.

The 57-year-old served as an assistant minister under late President Mwai Kibaki and as Kenya's high commissioner to Australia between 2009 and 2012.

He also served as an MP between 2003 and 2007.

Our African proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

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

Burundi has accused Rwanda of being a 'bad neighbour' for funding rebel attacks on civilians.

South African lawyers present their case on the first day of a hearing at the UN's top court.

The claims were made as South Africa presented its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The BBC will show 10 Africa Cup of Nations 2023 games live plus highlights from every match.

Armed Islamists have taken captive the aircraft's passengers and crew after it crash-landed.

The Gambia squad travelling to the Africa Cup of Nations "could have died" on an aborted flight, claims coach Tom Saintfiet.

The 47-year-old artist is recovering well after suffering severe blows reportedly during turbulence.

Listen to the cellist who blends the deep throat singing of the Xhosa people with playing the instrument.

President Hakainde Hichilema says some slums in urban areas are a breeding ground for the disease.

The two soldiers were filmed repeatedly whipping and kicking a civilian as he pleaded for mercy.

Mozambicans learn to build stronger houses as climate change brings bigger and deadlier storms.

Eight passengers and its crew are being held in territory controlled by al-Shabab, local sources say.

SAP is one of the world's largest software firms and was investigated over activity in seven countries.