Image source, Getty Images

Israel has angrily denied claims that it threatened the safety of a South African minister, and in return has accused her of a "blood libel" and "serving as the legal arm" of Hamas.

Relations between the two countries hit a new low last month, when South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza - a charge it has rejected.

Since then, Naledi Pandor said she had spoken to South African Police Minister Bheki Cele about beefing up her security after she received threatening messages.

"The Israeli agents, the intelligence services, [this] is how they behave, and they seek to intimidate you, so we must not be intimidated. There is a cause that is under way,” she was quoted by local media as saying.

Israel's strong rebuke came on Friday, with the ministry of foreign affairs telling the BBC:

Around 1,200 people were killed during the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on 7 October, according to Israeli officials.

More than 27,800 Palestinians have been killed and at least 67,000 injured by the war launched by Israel in response, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Correction 13 February: This post wrongly reported that about 1,300 people had been killed following the 7 October attack by Hamas. This was based on counting those who later died from their injuries in addition to the figure of more than 1,200. The article has been amended to now refer to about 1,200 deaths, a figure which includes those deaths and which Israel says is not final.

That's all from the BBC Africa Live team for now. There'll be an automated service until our team is back on Thursday.

You can also listen to the BBC Focus on Africa podcast here.

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We leave you with a photo of the official Africa Cup of Nations mascot, Akwaba, at a reception hosted by Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan to celebrate the nation's victory in the tournament:

Image source, Getty Images

For the second time in less than a week, the Democratic Republic of Congo's defence minister has visited the east of the country, where Rwanda is accused of backing M23 rebels.

Jean-Pierre Bemba told residents in the main city, Goma, that government forces were working closely with UN peacekeepers to protect the population.

Violent attacks by the rebels have seen thousands flee to Goma.

The clashes have led to protests against the UN and Western countries, who demonstrators accuse of supporting Rwanda.

Rwanda denies backing the rebels who say they're protecting minority Tutsis in eastern DR Congo from discrimination.

Celestine Karoney
BBC Sport Africa

Image source, Getty Images

Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum will be buried on 24 February, a member of the burial committee has told the BBC.

The 24-year-old runner will be laid to rest in his hometown of Chepkorio in north-west Kenya.

Kiptum was killed along with his coach Gervais Hakizimana in a road accident on Sunday night.

Kenya’s sport ministry is expected to take charge of the burial in consultation with the family.

Sport cabinet secretary Ababu Namwamba said Kiptum was a national hero who "will be honoured in death as he was in life".

Kenya's parliament held a minute's silence in honour of Kiptum on Tuesday.

Police told the BBC that the investigation into the cause of the accident was ongoing.

Kiptum shot to fame after breaking the marathon world record in Chicago last year.

He has been eulogised as an athlete with exceptional talent who was destined for greatness.

In a marathon career that only lasted 10 months, Kiptum had also won elite races in Valencia and London.

A burial date for his coach, who was a Rwandan national, is yet to be set.

Read more: Kelvin Kiptum: The Kenyan marathon runner destined for greatness

Dorcas Wangira
Africa health correspondent

Malawi has confirmed an outbreak of viral conjunctivitis, or pink eye, in the Karonga district, with 109 cases reported since 1 February.

The disease was first identified among long-distance travellers from neighbouring Tanzania, officials at the Songwe border post, and later within the community, Karonga’s director of health services, David Sibale, said.

An outbreak of viral conjunctivitis was reported in Tanzania in mid-January.

By the end of the month, it had spread to 17 regions in both the mainland and the islands of Zanzibar, with more than 5,000 cases recorded.

Kenya, Comoros, Madagascar and Mayotte have also recorded cases.

Rwanda’s ministry of health issued an alert on Sunday, urging the public to take precautionary measures.

Viral conjunctivitis affects the eyes and can easily spread from one person to another.

Infected people can have a pink or red colour in the white part of their eye, swelling of the conjunctiva (eye lining), increased production of tears, itching, pain, and difficulty seeing.

With good hygiene and avoiding contact with infected people, it tends to heal on its own.

Moses Kollie Garzeawu
Journalist, Monrovia

Image source, Liberia's ministry of defence

Liberia's President Joseph Boakai has appointed a retired female brigadier general, Geraldine George, as the acting minister of defence after protests by the wives of soldiers forced the resignation of her predecessor.

This is the first time a woman is serving in the post, though it is unclear why Mrs George has been appointed only in an acting capacity.

She enlisted in the army in 2006 as it was being rebuilt following the end of a civil war and rose to become part of the elite forces. She has served as the deputy chief of staff for the last six years.

After Mr Boakai was sworn in as president on 22 January, he appointed her as the deputy for administration in the defence ministry.

Her promotion comes after Defence Minister Prince Charles Johnson III resigned following protests by the wives of soldiers on Monday.

His appointment was confirmed by Liberia's senate only last week, but the protests forced him to step down.

The women said that as the former chief of staff of the armed forces, he was responsible for low wages and poor living conditions in the military barracks.

The women set up roadblocks near the capital, Monrovia, and elsewhere in the country, forcing Mr Boakai to cancel National Army Day celebrations on Monday.

Mr Boakai took office after narrowly defeating the incumbent, George Weah, in a run-off election last November as neither of them secured an outright majority in the first round of voting.

At least 45 civilians were killed in door-to-door raids by Ethiopian troops last month, a rights body says.

Ethiopia's human rights watchdog says government forces carried out a massacre of civilians last month in Amhara state.

The Human Rights Commission said it had identified at least 45 civilian deaths, although the number was most likely higher as it couldn't investigate fully.

The commission said victims had been targeted for allegedly supporting an ethnic Amhara militia.

Eyewitnesses said they'd seen people shot dead on the streets as soldiers fought rebels in the town of Merawi.

The government has not yet commented.

Human rights groups have expressed concerns about a state of emergency in Amhara which has given the security forces increased powers.

Mansur Abubakar
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, Sani Maikatanga

The Islamic police in Nigeria’s northern state of Kano say they have arrested a popular female TikToker for posting “indecent and un-Islamic” content on the social media app.

Two weeks ago the police unit, known as Hisbah, launched a manhunt for six TikTokers who they say constantly violate Islamic guidelines in their use of social media.

Hisbah spokesperson Lawal Fagge told the BBC that Murja Ibrahim Kunya was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, along with her boyfriend.

“Our officers picked her up by 1:00am (00:00 GMT) at her residence alongside her boyfriend, who is also with us.”

“Her neighbours have earlier complained to us about her conduct as well. At the moment we are investigating before taking the next step,” he said.

Ms Kunya is accused of using vulgar and uncouth language in her videos, which are watched by millions of people.

She has not commented on the allegation, but has been seen in an unverified video circulating on social media since her arrest.

She is heard saying that she did not steal anything, and she thanks God for that.

When announcing the manhunt, Hisbah head Aminu Daurawa said the TikTok users had failed to comply with previous orders to tone down their content.

Kano has a majority Muslim population and an Islamic legal system operates alongside secular law in the state.

Jose Tembe
BBC News, Maputo

Mozambican police have detained an 18-year old man in the central city of Chimoio for walking around with a live snake wrapped around his neck.

Brito António Tiofa caused huge astonishment and curiosity. Large crowds gathered to see him with the snake, while some even followed him, causing traffic jams.

He was detained for “disturbance of public order”, police said.

Mr Tiofa said he was a snake breeder who owned more than 60 snakes.

“There are people who raise chickens, ducks, dogs, cattle and pigs, but not me, I raise snakes like any animal in my house,” he said.

Senegal's communication ministry has announced new internet restrictions to prevent the spread of "hateful messages".

The decision comes as political tensions rise following President Macky Sall's controversial decision to delay this month's presidential election until December.

The authorities have also banned a march due to take place today in the capital, Dakar, to protest against the postponement of the election.

Senegal has been plunged into turmoil since Mr Sall announced on 3 February that elections would be delayed because of a dispute over the eligibility of candidates.

The opposition accused the two-term president of a "constitutional coup", and trying to cling to power.

He has denied the allegation, saying he will not run for a third term.

The election was due to take place on 25 February, but has been pushed back until December.

• Read: Senegal on the brink after elections postponed

BBC Sport Africa takes a look at the winners and losers from Afcon 2023, including VAR technology and Mohamed Salah's misery.

Image source, AFP

Kenyan state prosecutor has filed a notice to appeal against a judgement that acquitted a famous TV presenter in a high-profile murder case.

Jacque Maribe and her then-fiancé Joseph Irungu, also known as "Jowie", had been accused of kiliing businesswoman Monica Kimani at her home in Nairobi in 2018.

Ms Kimani was found tied up in a bathtub by her relatives after they failed to contact her.

The Kenyan High Court acquitted Ms Maribe last Friday, while finding Irungu guilty of the murder.

High Court judge Justice Grace Nzioka said the prosecution had failed to bring the appropriate charges against Ms Maribe and that no evidence placed the presenter at Ms Kimani's home on the night she was murdered.

The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed a notice to appeal against the acquittal, saying it was "dissatisfied" with the decision of the High Court.

The trial of the killer of Ms Kimani, who had links to South Sudan, has gripped Kenya, even though no motive for her killing has been established.

Image source, Reuters

Senegalese lobby groups have called for peaceful protests across the country on Tuesday against the postponement of this month’s presidential election.

The Aar Sunu Election (Let’s protect our election, in Wolof language), a newly-formed political platform of about 40 groups, said the protests will start at 1500 GMT.

The protest organisers, who include opposition parties, have urged people to come out in large numbers despite a police ban.

While banning the planned march, Cherif Mouhamadou Blondin Ndiaye, the prefect of Dakar, said that the protests risked disturbing public order and hindering the free movement of people and goods.

Last week, three people were killed and hundreds arrested in protests against the delay of the election, condemned by the opposition as a "constitutional coup".

President Macky Sall controversially pushed back the 25 February vote at short notice, citing a row over the eligibility of candidates.

More on Senegal:

• 'We feel betrayed by President Macky Sall'
• Why West Africa's united front is in tatters
• Senegal on the brink after elections postponed
• Senegal's Ousmane Sonko - youth hero or rabble-rouser?

Image source, Access Corporation

Access Bank, one of Nigeria's largest banks, has appointed a temporary replacement for CEO Herbert Wigwe, who died alongside five others in a helicopter crash last Friday.

Bolaji Agbede, Access Bank's most senior founding executive director, will assume the CEO position in acting capacity, the bank's parent company, Access Holdings Plc, announced in a statement.

Ms Agbede joined Access Bank in 2003 and has nearly 30 years of experience in banking and business consultancy, the company said.

Wigwe's chartered helicopter was on its way from Palm Springs to Boulder City in Nevada in the US when it went down, about 96km (60 miles) from Las Vegas.

According to Nigerian media, the 57-year-old banker was on his way to Las Vegas to attend Sunday's Super Bowl.

Wigwe founded Access Bank in 1989. It became the largest bank in Nigeria in 2018 after it acquired its main competitor, Diamond Bank.

A Chinese inmate, who is serving a one-year jail term for theft in Ghana, has escaped while receiving medical care at a hospital in the capital, Accra.

Wang Xiao, the inmate, was held at the Nsawam Prison in the south of the country.

He is said to have reported being sick last Wednesday and taken to a nearby hospital.

But he escaped from the hands of the prison officers who had escorted him to the health facility.

The Ghana Prisons Service has reportedly issued a wanted re-arrest notice of the inmate, who is standing trial in another case.

Image source, EPA

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the deployment of 2,900 soldiers to aid in the fight against armed rebel groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The troops will be posted as part of the southern African mission in DR Congo (SAMIDRC), which was approved by the regional bloc in May last year.

Malawi and Tanzania will also contribute troops to the mission.

The mission is replacing the East African regional force, which left DR Congo last December after the government deemed it ineffective.

The deployment will cost South Africa 2bn Rand ($105m; £83m) and is set to last until December this year, a statement from the presidency said.

The announcement comes amid a resurgence of fighting that has seen tens of thousands displaced, added to the nearly seven million who have been forced from their homes in DR Congo because of multiple conflicts.

Read more on the situation in DR Congo

• DR Congo violence: Panic in Goma as M23 rebels advance

Kenyan wildlife authorities are searching for a famous lion within the Maasai Mara National Reserve amid reports that it was killed by pastoralists.

The iconic lion, popularly known as Olobor and a member of the black rock pride, has been missing since mid-January, according to conservationists.

In a statement on Monday, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said there was no evidence so far that the lion was killed.

The agency, however, said it had since deployed park rangers to look for Olobor.

“We reassure the public that we will provide an accurate account of Olobor when the facts are established and proven,” the statement added.

It is suspected that the seven-year-old lion could be a victim of human-wildlife conflict.

Image source, Getty Images

The captain of Nigeria's Super Eagles football team has led calls to end online bullying against midfielder Alex Iwobi.

Some football fans have been trolling Iwobi on social media, blaming the 27-year-old player for their country's 1-2 loss to Ivory Coast in Sunday's Afcon final.

Iwobi played in the match for 79 minutes, before he was substituted by Alhassan Yusuf.

The online attacks prompted Iwobi to delete his Instagram pictures on Monday.

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa and some other Nigerians have come to Iwobi's defence, condemning the targeted online attacks against the player and saying it is unfair to single him out for the team's loss.

"Dear fans, I want to please urge you to halt the cyber-bullying directed towards Alex Iwobi," Musa shared on X, formerly Twitter.

"Losing a game is undoubtedly tough, but targeting a single player for the team's shortcomings is unfair and unjust. We win as a team, and we lose as a team. Alex gave his all on the field, just like every member of our squad," he added.

Iwobi is yet to comment on the attacks against him.

Liberia's Defence Minister Prince Charles Johnson III has resigned following protests by wives of the country's soldiers, who blame him for low wages and poor living conditions in the military barracks.

The women set up roadblocks near the capital, Monrovia and elsewhere in the country, forcing President Joseph Boakai to cancel National Army Day celebrations on Monday.

They demanded the defence minister's resignation, blaming him for a reduction in the salaries of Liberian soldiers returning from peace missions in Mali. The officers’ spouses also decried a lack of social security, electricity shortages and corruption within the armed forces.

The protests started on Sunday near the Edward Binyah Kesselly barracks, in Monrovia.

Mr Johnson, in a statement, says he is stepping down due to the "current political and civil disturbances" occasioned by the protests.

He, however, denied allegations of misusing military funds, adding that his wish was to ensure discipline was instilled in the army.

President Boakai, who was inaugurated in January, through his office said the women's grievances would be investigated and addressed.