The UN's top court's ruling stopped short of ordering Israel to immediately halt its operations in Gaza.

BBC Focus on Africa podcast

Image source, Reuters

Uganda's opposition leader Bobi Wine has told the BBC that the Oscar nomination for a documentary about him is "great news" for his country.

Bobi Wine: The People's President has been short-listed in the documentary feature film category.

"We hope [with] the exposure that this film gives, the world can stand with us," he told Audrey Brown, host of the BBC's Focus on Africa podcast.

The film follows the 2021 election campaign by the Ugandan singer-turned-politician as he ran against President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.

Despite being the focus of the film, Bobi Wine says he is not the "hero".

He said the film is about "the story of the people of Uganda fighting for freedom and democracy".

Mr Museveni won with almost 59% of the vote to Bobi Wine's 35%.

He accused the president of "rigging elections".

Bobi Wine told the BBC that he would continue to run for president and "continue to speak about what is going on in Uganda".

Listen to the Focus on Africa episode here.

Lots of people are now talking about Ugandan Julia Sebutinde after she was the only judge on the 17-strong International Court of Justice panel to vote against every single one of its conclusions about Israel's conduct in Gaza.

There are many critical comments on social media, with some wondering why she chose not to be more sympathetic to South Africa's case.

The ICJ judges stopped short of demanding a ceasefire but told Israel it had to immediately enable urgently needed aid to enter the territory.

Justice Sebutinde did not agree.

But Uganda's leading diplomat at the United Nations has said on X, external that she does not "represent the government of Uganda’s position on the situation in Palestine. She has previously voted against Uganda’s case on [the Democratic Republic of Congo].

"Uganda’s support for the plight of the Palestinian people has been expressed through Uganda‘s voting pattern at the United Nations."

Justice Sebutinde was first elected as a member of the ICJ in 2012 and re-elected in 2021. She has previously served as a judge in the Special Court for Sierra Leone from 2005 to 2011 and handled the case against Liberian President Charles Taylor.

Image source, Getty Images

Zimbabwean courts have withdrawn criminal charges against two top leading human rights lawyers.

Last September, Douglas Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi were arrested after objecting to the police questioning their clients who were in hospital.

Their clients were members of the opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change, who were allegedly abducted and tortured, according to Amnesty International.

The lawyer duo told the police their clients were not fit to answer questions, but the police accused them of obstructing justice and they were taken into custody.

The pair were denied bail.

Mr Douglas told AFP that state prosecutors had agreed that the allegations against him and his colleague did not add up to a criminal offence.

"They were overzealous to arrest lawyers who were simply doing their job," he said.

Mr Coltart said he and Mr Muchineripi had grounds to sue the authorities and will be deciding their next steps.

Since last August's highly contested elections, which saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa re-elected, there has been an increase in abductions in the country.

Tapfumaneyi Masaya, a CCC activist, was found dead in November.

More on Zimbabwe:

• Tapfumaneyi Masaya: Abducted Zimbabwe opposition activist found dead
• Zimbabwe's CCC crisis: Farce turning to tragedy for the opposition

The RTS,S vaccine has been hailed as a potential game-changer in the fight against malaria.

Israeli protesters stop a convoy of humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza for third consecutive day.

Two of the Nigerian actor's children are alleged to have stolen money raised by fans for medical bills.

Kenya had offered to lead a multinational force to tackle gang violence in the Caribbean country.

The United Nations' highest court has issued an interim ruling in the genocide case brought against Israel.

South Africa has welcomed the ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) relating to its case against Israel calling it a "decisive victory".

The UN's top court has just ordered Israel to take a string of emergency measures in Gaza, but stopped short of demanding a ceasefire.

Under the measures Israel has been told to do all in its power to stop genocide there, immediately enable more urgently needed aid to enter the territory and to prevent and punish the direct incitement of genocide in the conflict.

South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians

Israel vehemently denies the accusation and is thought likely to ignore orders by the judges, who have no way of enforcing their decision.

Reacting to the ICJ judgement, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will "continue to defend ourselves and our citizens while adhering to international law".

Mr Netanyahu added that Israel will "continue this war until absolute victory" and until "all hostages are returned".

It could take years before the ICJ gives a final judgement on the claim of genocide.

Follow our full live coverage here.

Image source, NParks Singapore

A South African man has been sentenced to two years in jail by a court in Singapore for attempting to smuggle rhino horns through the country, Singapore's national parks organisation has said, external.

This is the lengthiest sentence ever given for trafficking wildlife in the country.

Gumede Sthembiso Joel was arrested at Changi airport in 2022 after he was found with 20 rhino horns weighing 34.7 kg (76.5 lb) in his luggage. They had an estimated value of $1.2m (£940,000).

The 33-year-old - who pleaded guilty to violating Singapore's endangered species act - was transporting the contraband to Laos from South Africa.

There is a ban on the trade in rhino horns and the mammals are protected by an international agreement known as Cites.

A large proportion of the world's rhino population, which numbers around 15,000, are in South Africa and poaching is a big threat, the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) says.

In the first half of 2023, there were 231 rhino deaths attributed to poaching, according to the IRF.

The UN's top court is about to deliver an interim ruling in South Africa's genocide case against Israel.

You can follow the ruling on our special page covering proceedings live.

President Ruto's government loses its bid to overturn a block on the controversial 1.5% housing levy.

Image source, Reuters

The West African bloc has angered Niger after it postponed its negotiation mission to the country because of "technical problems" with the plane that was supposed to take most of the delegation from the Nigerian capital, Abuja to Niamey.

The prime minister appointed by Niger's military regime criticised Ecowas - an alliance of West African countries - for "bad faith" after only Togo attended.

A statement from Ecowas explained that their absence was not meant as a snub to the military-led country, but rather because of "technical problems with the aircraft the commission had chartered for the flight from Abuja to Niamey".

The West African bloc said it would reschedule the mission as soon as possible.

Ecowas has imposed tough sanctions on Niger since a coup toppled President Mohamed Bazoum last July.

It has demanded the release of President Bazoum several times since he was put under house arrest.

The bloc has also threatened military intervention and suspended all trade ties to the landlocked country.

Niger's junta hoped the meeting would help ease diplomatic relations with the Ecowas countries.

More on Niger's coup:

• Niger junta rejects deal to free ousted president
• Why Niger is saying goodbye to France but not the US

Kalkidan Yibeltal
BBC News

Image source, AFP

Ethiopia’s long-serving Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen is stepping down from his prominent position within the governing Prosperity Party (PP).

The announcement was made during the ongoing convention of the PP's central committee.

Mr Demeke, who also serves as the country's foreign minister, will also depart from his ministerial positions, local media are reporting.

The politician hails from the country’s Amhara region that has been blighted by armed conflicts for the past six months.

He has been deputy prime minister since 2012 and as such has been a point of continuity as the country went through political upheavals. He became foreign minister in 2020.

Temesgen Tiruneh - the head of the intelligence service - has been elevated to deputy chair of the PP and according to reports could be appointed to Mr Demeke’s ministerial positions.

Further changes are expected as the party’s convention progresses.

Israel's national airline El Al will stop offering flights to South Africa from the end of March, the airline said on Friday, citing reduced customer demand.

El Al currently has up to two non-stop flights to Johannesburg a week.

"Due to the current security situation, there has been a significant decrease in demand among Israeli travellers to various destinations, including Johannesburg in South Africa," El Al said in a statement, external.

"In light of this, starting at the end of March 2024, we will suspend the activity on the Johannesburg-Tel Aviv line."

"Israelis don't want to fly to South Africa," a spokeswoman for the airline said.

"They are cancelling flights and planes are pretty empty... We understand it's the situation because it was different before," the spokeswoman added.

The announcement comes shortly before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to deliver a preliminary judgement on whether to order Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza.

The hearing at the ICJ is part of a case brought by South Africa, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians.

Israel vehemently denies the accusation.

South Africa has been an outspoken supporter of the Palestinians in the ongoing conflict, resulting in tensions with Israel.

"Israelis don't want to fly to South Africa," a spokeswoman for the airline said. El Al currently has up to two non-stop flights to Johannesburg a week.

"They are cancelling flights and planes are pretty empty... We understand it's the situation because it was different before," the spokeswoman added.

"The fact that the Israelis don't want to go to South Africa but do want to go to other places helps us decide that we're pausing that route," she said. The company also cited the current security situation.

Zanzibar's Minister of Tourism and Heritage Simai Mohamed Said has resigned citing "unfavourable and disruptive working conditions" in the Tanzanian archipelago.

In a statement, Mr Said said he submitted his resignation letter to the islands' President Hussein Mwinyi on Thursday.

"I have made this difficult decision, which is not easy in our culture," he added.

"I will continue to be loyal to the government and my party, the Revolutionary Party."

Charles Hillary, the presidential spokesperson in the Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands, has confirmed the minister's resignation, according to the local media.

His resignation came a few days after he reportedly complained about a shortage of alcohol in Zanzibar, saying it was affecting the tourism sector.

About 90% of Zanzibar`s economy depends on tourism.

Kenya's Court of Appeal has declined to suspend an order that had blocked the government from implementing a controversial housing levy.

The government had requested the court to allow it to continue deducting the monthly levy from salaried Kenyans, pending the hearing of appeals challenging the levy's introduction.

President William Ruto last June signed the Finance Act, legislation that has proved unpopular with many after introducing a 1.5% housing levy payable each month by both employers and employees.

But in November, the High Court ruled that the levy was unconstitutional as it had been introduced without a proper legal framework and was only imposed on salaried Kenyans.

It, therefore, barred the government from implementing the levy.

The government says the levy will facilitate the development of affordable housing programmes for low income earners.

Many Kenyans are relieved by the judgement, although the Court of Appeal is yet to make its final decision.

The ruling comes a week after the appeals court gave the go-ahead for a controversial healthcare insurance levy, which will require people to contribute 2.75% of their monthly salaries to a social healthcare programme.

The UN's top court stops short of issuing emergency measures ordering a halt to military operations in Gaza.

Nichola Mandil
BBC News, Juba

Image source, IOM South Sudan

South Sudan has received over half a million people who are fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, the UN's humanitarian agency says.

In its latest situational report on the Sudan crisis, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) says almost 5176,000 people have been recorded to have crossed the border to South Sudan since fighting broke out in Sudan on 15 April 2023.

About 81% of the arrivals were South Sudan nationals and 18% were Sudanese refugees, it added.

Ocha also said there was “a substantial increase” in the number of Sudanese refugees and asylum-seeker entrants into South Sudan this month.

The agency also says that the rising number of refugees arriving through South Sudan's border town of Renk is posing security challenges to local authorities and humanitarian partners.