The authorities say it happened on the same day that churchgoers were killed during morning mass.

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa has announced that 499 rhinos were illegally killed last year, marking a significant increase from the 448 rhinos poached in the previous year.

Most of the rhinos - 406 of them - were killed on state properties and 93 in private parks, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said in a statement on Tuesday., external

One park in particular is taking the brunt, said Minister Barnara Creecy:

She said teams were continuing "to work tirelessly in an attempt to slow this relentless pressure".

South Africa hosts the highest number of the endangered animals in the world and is among the countries hardest hit by poaching.

Poachers hunt animals like rhinos to sell their horns - as there is great demand for the horn in countries in Asia.

Mansur Abubakar
BBC News

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) trade union umbrella on Tuesday morning began its two-day protest against "hunger and insecurity" across the country.

The protest first kicked off in Nigeria’s commercial nerve of Lagos around 09:00 local time (08:00GMT) before other locations followed moments later.

In a letter shared to the public before the protest started, the NLC said they want an end to hunger and insecurity in Nigeria.

“Open all food storage silos and ensure equitable distribution across the country,” one of the demands read.

They also called on the government to abandon World Bank and International Monetary Fund policies which they believe are adding to hardship in Nigeria.

Before the protest, Nigeria's Finance Minister Wale Edun told the BBC's Newsday programme that President Bola Tinubu is "listening very carefully and acting in order to meet the needs of Nigerians".

On Monday, the minister announced the resumption of direct cash transfers to help over 12 million vulnerable households with the spike in living costs.

During his interview with BBC Newsday, Mr Edun asked Nigerians for patience as the government implements economic reforms.

"He [President Tinubu] is putting the country on the path to economic restoration and he is asking for patience and asks for forbearance at this particular time and is doing everything he can to assuage these pains and shorten the period for which they last," Mr Edun told Newsday.

Listen to BBC Newsday's interview with Nigeria's finance minister:

• Finance Minister vows to help Nigerians during crisis

Image source, Getty Images

Authorities in Zimbabwe are continuing the search for an Australian tourist who was reported missing last Friday.

The authorities had earlier said that the 67-year-old man, whose identity has not been disclosed, went missing on Friday in the rainforest inside the Victoria Falls National Park.

Authorities say a search to find him was launched the same day, with park rangers, police officers and ground trackers deployed to find him, aided by drones and sniffer dogs.

The tourist had been staying at a lodge near the park, and had told the lodge’s management he was going to visit the park before he went missing.

In new details released on Monday, the authorities said the tourist had disappeared on 17 February and did not appear to have entered the forest.

"We have replayed the CCTV footage, physical records at the entrance of the falls have no record of him entering and our search team has been checking the rainforest. There is no sign of him," Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo told the AP news agency.

"We are looking at other leads because it seems he never entered the rainforest."

Image source, President Yoweri Museveni/X

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has discussed with Kenya's William Ruto about Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga's candidacy for the top African Union (AU) post.

Mr Odinga is seeking support from different African countries to help him succeed current AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat when his term ends in February next year.

Mr Museveni hosted both Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga at his Kisozi country home on Monday.

"I am very grateful to President Museveni for strongly endorsing my candidacy and to President Ruto for fully backing it," Mr Odinga shared on X, external, formerly Twitter.

The meeting of the three leaders appears to have surprised many in both countries. It follows recent rivalry between Kenya and Uganda and between Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga.

Last year, Mr Odinga led a series of nationwide protests against President Ruto's government over the cost of living, sparking political tensions between the leaders.

In November, a bitter row over fuel supplies erupted between Kenya and landlocked Uganda, with Mr Museveni saying his country was being "cheated" by "parasites" and middlemen in Kenya.

Following the meeting on Monday, President Ruto shared on X, external that he and President Museveni have "agreed on a way forward" and that "the issues affecting the flow of petroleum products between Kenya and Uganda are being resolved".

Read more:

• How Kenya stands to lose from Uganda oil row

Mansur Abubakar
BBC News

Image source, Nigeria Customs Service

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed Friday’s stampede at its rice selling point in Yaba, Lagos, which led to fatalities and injuries.

The agency was selling subsidised rice to ordinary Nigerians amid skyrocketing food prices across the country.

Rice that had been seized as a result of an import ban was being sold at 10,000 naira ($6; £5) for a 25kg bag and a large crowd turned up. Such a bag normally costs about 40,000 naira.

But things got out of hand after the organisers told the crowd to return the following day as they had run out of stock.

"Unforeseen challenges arose when we ran out of stock and announced the continuation of the exercise the following day, leading to a regrettable outcome," NCS said in a statement

It said the desperate crowd charged through the barricades in search of rice bags in the emptied containers, and "in the stampede that ensued, some fatalities and injuries were regrettably recorded".

Families have been mourning those who died.

Mayeni Jones
BBC West Africa Correspondent

Nigerian labour unions are embarking on a two-day protest on Tuesday against the spiralling cost of living.

Inflation in Africa's largest economy is at almost 30% whilst the local currency, the naira, is rapidly depreciating.

Electricity shortages are compounding the hardship.

The African Development Bank has warned that conditions are ripe for social unrest.

The government says it will reduce public spending and has promised measures to help households and small businesses.

It's not clear how many workers will take part in the strikes as many accuse the unions of corruption.

Read more on Nigeria's cost-of-living crisis:

• NLC protests: Why Nigeria's economy is in such a mess
• Nigeria cost of living: People turn to 'throw-away' rice for food

Grant Ferrett
BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

Senegal's President, Macky Sall has proposed an amnesty for those convicted in connection with political protests in the past three years.

He said this would make it possible "to pacify the political arena and further strengthen our national cohesion".

He was speaking at talks which have been largely boycotted by the opposition and civic groups.

The beleaguered president has been widely criticised for postponing elections which were due to take place on Sunday, without setting a new date.

The Constitutional Court has ruled that the vote should be held as soon as possible.

The suggested amnesty bill - which Mr Sall says will be put to parliament on Wednesday - has already been condemned by his opponents.

They say the aim is to ensure that members of the security forces, and President Sall himself, cannot be prosecuted for the deaths of protesters.

Image source, AFP

Benin has offered to contribute 2,000 troops to a UN-approved Kenyan-led multinational security force that will be deployed to fight gang violence in Haiti.

The announcement was made on Monday during a press briefing held in Guyana by the United States Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield said she had discussed with Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry and other partners about "the urgency of deploying" the force.

"This mission is key to helping the Haitian national police restore peace and security, enabling free and fair elections, and alleviating the humanitarian crisis," Ms Thomas-Greenfield said.

The deployment was to happen this month, but it was delayed after it was blocked by a Kenyan court in January, which said the government lacked authority to send police officers outside Kenya.

But shortly after the ruling, Kenya's President William Ruto insisted that Kenya would still send the police officers after completing paperwork to satisfy the court's demands.

Gang violence has dramatically worsened in Haiti.

According to a UN report published last month, Haitian gangs killed 8,400 people last year, an increase of 122% from 2022.

Read more:

• Haiti crisis: Can Kenyan police officers defeat the gangs?

Our African proverb of the day:

Image source, AFP

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

That's all for now from the BBC Africa Live team.

You can find the latest updates on the BBC News website, or listen to our Focus on Africa podcast.

A reminder of Monday's wise words:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

We leave you with a picture of a Kenyan choir entertaining delegates at the United Nations Environment Programme meeting in Nairobi.

Image source, AFP

Just as our live page is about to close for the day, we are getting reports that two people have been shot dead during a nationwide strike in Guinea.

Earlier we reported that Conakry, the West African nation's capital city, had come to a standstill amid widespread walk-outs.

Minutes ago, news agency AFP reported that two fatalities had been confirmed by a hospital and relatives of the deceased.

Nkechi Ogbonna
West Africa business journalist, BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

Universal Music Group (UMG), one of the world's biggest music corporations, is set to aquire a majority stake in a leading African label.

UMG said on Monday that its partnership with Nigeria's Mavin Global will "accelerate Mavin’s strategic advancement and create more opportunities to break more talent globally".

Mavin is credited with launching popular Afrobeats artists, like Ayra Starr and Rema, to global success.

Label owner DonJazzy, real name Michael Collins Ajereh, was quoted in a UMG statement as saying: “I’m proud of the artists, careers and brand we’ve built that have made Mavin the force it is today. In this historic partnership with UMG, we will continue that mission in Africa and across the globe.”

A completed deal would see UMG owning more than 50% of Mavin's shares and having a final say on company policy.

However, UMG insisted in its statement that Mavin will "maintain autonomy over its strategy and future talent development".

Sir Lucian Grainge, head of UMG said: "Mavin’s brilliant artists have been catalysts in the transformation of Afrobeats into a global phenomenon and we’re thrilled to welcome them into the Universal Music Group family.”

The deal, which is subject to the regulatory authority’s approval, is expected to be completed later in the year.

Read more:

• Rema, the Afrobeats star who does not intend to calm down
• Burna Boy is 'a work in progress', his mother says
• Angélique Kidjo says the Grammys 'need diversity'
• The true story behind Libianca's 'more alcohol' song

Guinea's capital city has come to a standstill as workers take part in a nationwide strike.

The Guinean Trade Union Movement, an umbrella group of major unions in the West African country, urged public and private sector workers not to turn up to their jobs, starting from Monday.

The group of unions said it was demanding lower food prices, the lifting of internet restrictions and the release of a prominent media activist.

Schools, shops and roads were empty in the usually bustling city of Conakry, news agency AFP reports.

The strike comes a week after Guinea's military junta dissolved the transitional government - which had been in office since July 2022 - without providing a reason.

The Guinean Trade Union Movement said the strike would be indefinite.

Kalkidan Yibeltal & Grant Ferrett
BBC News, Addis Ababa & London

Image source, AFP

Heavy fighting has flared up again in several parts of the Ethiopian region of Amhara, where government troops are battling local militia.

Artillery has been used in the latest clashes between soldiers and the Fano militia.

The Ethiopian authorities have banned any movement on a road linking two cities - Debre Birhan and Dese - potentially signalling a major offensive. The army says it cleared another route, south of the town of Merawi.

Residents who spoke to the BBC have described Monday's clashes as “intense.”

Earlier this month, Ethiopia's human rights watchdog, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, said troops had carried out dozens of extra-judicial killings in the town. The government denied that civilians had been targeted.

It recently extended a state of emergency in the Amhara region.

The unrest began last year when the government in Addis Ababa tried to disarm the militia in Amhara after the end of the war in the neighbouring Tigray region.

Read more:

• Why Ethiopia's Amhara militiamen are battling the army

Jose Tembe
BBC News, Maputo

Image source, AFP

For months, families affected by a deadly rubbish dump collapse in Mozambique have not received the financial support promised to them by the government.

The dump, which was known to be home to some of the capital city's poorest residents, collapsed six years ago.

At least 17 people were killed and many more who built makeshift camps amid the rubbish were made homeless.

In response to the disaster, the government pledged 30,000 Mozambiquan meticais (£370; $470) per quarter to each affected family.

Land and Environment Minister Ivete Maibaze has now responded to complaints from an association for the victims, which says that for the past five months 120 families have stopped receiving the payments.

Ms Maibaze says the government is trying to obtain the financing to continue the support.

“We will continue to pay the housing rental subsidy to families who have not yet received their homes, until they are resettled," she said.

"However, we have maintained communication with this group whenever we have encountered difficulties in paying.”

António Massingue, the president of the victims' association, said the information available is that families will receive their payments as soon as this year's budget is approved, at the end of March.

Read more:

• Mozambique rubbish dump collapse kills at least 17 people

Abdirahman Ali Dhimbil
BBC News

Image source, Office of the Spokesman of the President of Somaliland

The president of Somaliland has accused Somalia's government of being complicit in the death of an aviation expert from the self-declared republic.

Abdinasir Dahable, an employee of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, was found dead on 18 February.

Forensic examinations confirmed signs of torture on the body, which was discovered in his home in Somalia's capital city, Mogadishu.

Speaking at Mr Dahable's funeral, after his body was transported to his birthplace, the city of Gabiley, President Muse Bihi Abdi expressed an urgent need for transparency and justice.

He accused Somalia's government of "assassinating" Mr Dahable and asked for clarity on the circumstances surrounding the death of the expert.

Somalia's government has not responded to BBC News Somali's request for comment, but it previously said an investigation into Mr Dahable's murder was ongoing and that six suspects had been detained.

President Bihi's accusation heightens already existing tensions over the ongoing dispute between Somaliland and Somalia over the control of airspace.

The two are also feuding over a deal that landlocked Ethiopia made with Somaliland over sea access, which Somalia termed "an aggression".

Somalia considers Somaliland part of its territory and has vowed to defend its sovereignty.

Somaliland, a former British protectorate, seceded from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognised as an independent state.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, AFP

A US-led military exercise code-named "Justified Accord" begins in Kenya on Monday, with more than 20 nations taking part in what has been billed as the largest event of its kind in East Africa.

The 11-day exercise, which will end next Thursday, is aimed at increasing participating countries’ readiness for peacekeeping missions, crisis response and humanitarian assistance, according to state-owned Somali broadcaster SNTV and Kenyan media.

Dozens of US-trained Somali commandos will take part in the exercise, which private news website Kenyans.co.ke said will bring together 1,000 personnel and units from 23 nations.

The US military said Justified Accord is its "largest exercise in East Africa".

"Justified Accord showcases the desire of US and partner nations to increase readiness and interoperability for regional security and crisis response," the military said.

The US has led similar exercises in East Africa in recent years as the region grapples with a deadly al-Shabab insurgency and other security challenges.

The passengers developed gastroenteritis after visiting South Africa - not cholera, authorities say.

Provides an overview of Guinea-Bissau, including key dates and facts for this west African state.