Africa Live: Magufuli hits out at schoolgirl mums, Ghana's ex-president 'acted unconstitutionally'
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- Cholera outbreak at Kenya hotel
- Tanzania's president hits out at the idea of young mums going back to school
- Ghana court rules ex-president acted unconstitutionally over Guantanamo detainees
- Nigeria's population 'will exceed that of the US by 2050'
- Angola's vice-president 'faces corruption trial' in Portugal
- South African court says speaker can decide if MPs can vote in secret on no-confidence vote
- Republic of Congo withdraws peacekeeping troops from CAR
- Gambia's information minster says he understands frustrations with pace of change
- Thursday 22 June 2017
Live Reporting
By Dickens Olewe and Damian Zane
All times stated are UK
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Funds for Kenya's sanitary pads project must be used prudently
Anne Soy
BBC Africa, Nairobi
The move to legislate the provision of sanitary towels to school-going adolescent girls has been well received by many Kenyans.
Since 2011, the Kenyan government has been setting aside funds to buy and distribute the commodity to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The new legal provision, however, requires government to provide the towels to every school-going girl who has reached puberty - it becomes an obligation rather than an option - so it will require a bigger budget.
There generally exists non-partisan political goodwill to fulfil this goal.
But the authorities will need to ensure the prudent use of that money to make sure every girl who needs the sanitary towels gets them.
School management teams will be charged with the responsibility of purchasing and distributing the towels.
Tanzania president says young mothers cannot go back to school
Sammy Awami
BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam
Tanzanian President John Magufuli has said that under his presidency schoolgirls who become mothers will not be allowed to go back school after giving birth.
The president was speaking at a public rally in Chalinze town, about 100km west of the main city Dar es Salaam.
"After calculating some few mathematics she’d be asking the teacher in the classroom ‘let me go out and breastfeed my crying baby,'" reasoned President Magufuli.
As for the man responsible for the pregnancy, the president said he should be imprisoned for 30 years and put the energy he used to impregnate the girl into farming while in jail.
"These NGOs should go out and open schools for parents. But they should not force the government [to take back the pupils].
"I'm giving out free education for students who have really decided to go and study, and now you want me to educate the parents?” President Magufuli said.
The president added to a round of applause:
In Tanzania, are at least 8,000 girls who drop out of school every year due to pregnancy, according to a Human Rights Watch report.
Sweeping the streets after bombing in Mogadishu
At least four people were killed in a car bomb targeting a police station in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu today.
A VOA journalist has shared a video of workers sweeping the streets eager to get things moving again:
'I thought I was going to die': Jailed and ransomed in Libya
It was called "Morning Tea" - a brutal flogging with a hosepipe.
Every morning for four months, Seun Femi's captors beat him at a makeshift prison in Libya.
"They would flog my head, my hands, my bum," says the 34-year-old. "The guard would beat me until he got tired."
Two of Seun's fingers were broken during one of the brutal sessions. But the Nigerian says it could have been far worse. One man was beaten to death in front of him.
"I thought I was going to die in that prison," he says.
Seun was one of the tens of thousands of West Africans who cross the Sahara Desert into Libya every year, from where they hope to be trafficked by boat to Europe.
Read more about Seun's story here.
The Gambia's economy six months into the new regime
When Gambian President Adama Barrow took office earlier this year there were hopes that his government would turn things around, both politically and economically.
Nearly six months on, the BBC's Shaimaa Khalil has been to the Serekunda market to find out what businesses there make of the country's new leader and his policies.
Ghana's ex-president 'acted unconstitutionally' over Guantanamo detainees
Ghana's Supreme Court has said that former President John Mahama acted unconstitutionally when he allowed two detainees of the US military prison Guantanamo Bay to be transferred to Ghana to live, local media are reporting.
The two men, Khalid al-Dhuby and Mahmoud Omar Bin Atef, who had been held for a decade without charge, moved to Ghana at the beginning of last year.
The court ruled that the president should have consulted parliament before agreeing to the transfer, the reports say.
It gave parliament three months to approve the transfer deal. If that deadline is not met then the two former detainees could have to leave the country.
Mr Mahama stepped down from the presidency after he lost the December 2016 election.
Fifty contract cholera at health conference in Kenya
Emmanuel Igunza
BBC Africa
At least 50 people have contracted cholera at a hotel hosting a health conference in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, officials say warning that the number of cases could rise. They add that all those infected are now in isolation in a city hospital.
The source of the disease is still not yet clear but it is normally transmitted through infected food or water.
Last month, five people died of cholera in Nairobi forcing authorities to set up surveillance centres across the capital.
Magufuli orders official water bill defaulters to be cut off
Sammy Awami
BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam
Tanzanian President John Magufuli has ordered the public water company to cut water supplies to all government institutions which have not been paying their bills, state-owned publication Habari Leo reports.
Speaking at the launch of a mega water project yesterday in the coastal area, Mr Magufuli warned ministers, district and regional commissioners in charge of institutions whose water supply would be terminated, that it would be a sign that they had failed in their responsibilities.
He also called on the water company to follow up on bill defaulters, especially big companies.
“If you can't charge those big companies, how is it possible that you come after these poor ordinary citizens?”
Kenya 'colour run' to boost unity ahead of elections
Kenyans came together to celebrate diversity and promote peace in the first colour run event in the country, held in the capital, Nairobi.
The event is inspired by Hindu festival of Holi, known the festival of colour.
Zuma likely to survive vote of no confidence
Milton Nkosi
BBC Africa, Johannesburg
The constitutional court decision that parliament's speaker can ask for a secret ballot in a no-confidence motion certainly puts more pressure on President Jacob Zuma. But it does not seal his fate.
The ball is back in speaker Baleka Mbete's court.
Ms Mbete has been President Zuma's protector-in-chief in parliament.
A secret ballot is now very likely. The judges effectively told her to hold one and we know from her court submission that she was "not against" it.
But it is still highly unlikely that ANC MPs will vote President Zuma out of power by supporting a vote of no-confidence, particularly one that was brought by the opposition.
They will use their majority to keep him in office.
The Congolese man called BBC
The BBC's Charlotte Attwood is currently in Goma, in the east of the Democratic of Congo, and she's come across a man who she suggests could be the most avid BBC listener in the city. So much so that it is part of his name.
She pictured him holding up a work identity card showing that his name is Babinga Kasikabo BBC. And he says "BBC" is also included on his birth certificate.
Babinga listens to the BBC in Swahili and French, and follows our Facebook pages.
Rapping to save the lives of Gambian migrants
Despite there being a new president in The Gambia many Gambians are still risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea in the hope of starting a new life in Europe.
Worried by the number of deaths along that perilous journey, Gambian rapper Bro K wrote a song about it: "Say No To The Back Way".
He's been talking to the BBC's Newsday programme:
Calm restored in DRC city after attack
Charlotte Attwood
BBC Africa
Residents of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) north-eastern city of Beni report that heavily armed men attacked a military base at 0230 GMT (4.30am local time) and then proceeded to a school and the mayors office.
The group then took over the main radio station in the city for an hour before the army recaptured it.
Military sources in Beni say the men were Mai Mai militia and following heavy confrontation with the army, calm has now been fully restored to the city.
Local journalists say there are now four bodies lying in front of the mayor's office. They are believed to be the bodies of the attackers.
Mai Mai is the term used for many self-defence militias operating in and around Beni.
The attack comes after militants raided the central prison in Beni last week, killing 11 people and freeing more than 900 prisoners. Only 75 are reported to have been recaptured.
Djibouti launches new port for the salt trade
Farah Lamane
BBC Africa, Nairobi
Djibouti has launched a $64m (£51m) sea port to exclusively export tonnes of salt from Lake Assal.
The Chinese funded project is the seventh sea port to be launched in this tiny Horn of African country.
It is expected to handle up to six million tonnes of salt annually and will also facilitate the export of minerals from within Djibouti and Ethiopia.
Will Angola's VP actually go to his trial in Portugal?
We've been reporting that Angola's Vice-President Manuel Vicente is facing a corruption trial in Portugal (see earlier entry).
It's over allegations that he paid a bribe to stop a corruption investigation against him.
Mr Vicente denies the charges but there are questions over whether he will appear in court.
Portugal's Publico website says that Mr Vicente's lawyer argued that the decision to go ahead with a trial does not apply to him as he was not formally notified of the decision.
The Observador website says that if the vice-president does not turn up then the court can issue an international arrest warrant, but Angola may not give him up.
It adds that he cannot be tried in absentia.
South Africa to cull hundreds of deer
Authorities in South Africa will cull 400 fallow deer on Robben Island for the next nine months to ensure balance in the ecosystem, South African media are reporting.
The island, which hosts the prison where Nelson Mandela spent nearly two decades is now a popular tourist attraction with a variety of plant and animal species. .
The culling will be done at night by a professional hunter and the venison will be distributed to staff on the island‚ as well as to prison services in Cape Town.
Bongiwe Nzeku, Robben Island Museum marketing manager, told the Times publication why the culling was necessary:
Heavy fighting in east of DR Congo
BBC World Service
There has been fighting around the town of Beni in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, including heavy weapons fire.
Residents said an unknown group had launched an attack in the morning.
Some reports suggest a new rebel coalition has been created in the region.
A local army spokesman confirmed to the BBC that fighting had taken place, saying his forces had repelled the attack.
There are frequent outbursts of violence in Beni, and in the North Kivu region as a whole, with several militia groups operating in the area.
Kenya Election Watch podcast is out!
Kenyan women face harassment and violence on the campaign trail but despite these challenges many slugged it out in the party primaries and could now get elected in August's vote.
Writer and podcaster Brenda Wambui discusses the prospects for women candidates in this week's Kenya Election Watch podcast.
The show also looks at the recent opinion poll by Ipsos and assesses the state of the race. And we fact-check an ongoing row between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga about who came up with the policy of free secondary education.
Listen here:
SA court decision 'victory for opposition'
Leader of the South Africa's UDM party Bantu Holomisa described the constitutional court's decision that parliament's speaker can decide to hold a secret ballot on a no-confidence motion as a "victory for democracy".
The UDM took the case to the court after the speaker, Baleka Mbete, said that it was not within her power to do that.
The ruling was an implied criticism of the speaker, the BBC's Justine Lang says.
'Powerful' court ruling in South Africa
Karen Allen
BBC southern Africa correspondent, Johannesburg
South Africa's constitutional court has ruled that the speaker of parliament does have the discretion to request a secret ballot in a vote of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma.
In a powerful ruling in which he touched upon issues of bribery, conflict of interest and fear, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said under the principle of separation of powers it was up to the speaker of parliament to decide how the vote is conducted.
Mr Zuma has faced mounting allegations of corruption and impropriety and faced criticism from within his own party.
Yet it was feared that members of the governing ANC would be reluctant to vote openly against him for fear of reprisals.
A new date for a motion of no confidence now has to be set.
BreakingSA judge says speaker can decide on secret ballot on Zuma no confidence
South Africa's constitutional court has ruled that parliament's speaker can decide on whether MPs should vote in secret on a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma:
Nigeria 'to be world's third most populous nation by 2050'
Nigeria is projected to be the world's third most populous country by the year 2050, according to a report released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
The report said Nigeria would overtake the US in terms of population just as the world's population would reach 9.8 billion people from 7.6 billion today.
Angola's VP 'faces corruption trial in Portugal'
A Portuguese court has ruled that Angola's Vice-President Manuel Vicente should face trial over bribery allegations, the AFP news agency reports quoting Portuguese media.
He is accused of trying to bribe magistrates to shut down a corruption investigation against him.
The alleged bribes were made to Portugal's former public prosecutor Orlando Figueira, who also faces charges as part of "Operation Fizz".
Mr Vicente has denied the allegations.
Mr Vicente served as head of Angola's state oil company Sonangol from 1999 until 2012, a hugely influential position now occupied by the president's daughter Isabel Dos Santos.
Until news of the corruption scandal emerged last year, he had been strongly tipped as a potential successor to President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has ruled Angola since 1979.
The original corruption investigation, halted in 2012, focused on the origin of money Mr Vicente used to buy a luxury apartment in Lisbon, local media reported.
Making peace with ex-President Jammeh's supporters
As The Gambia marks six months since President Adama Barrow took office, the government says it is making efforts to reconcile with supporters of former President Yahya Jammeh, who ruled the country for 22 years.
The BBC's Shaimaa Khalil travelled to Mr Jammeh's birthplace to gauge the mood there.
Mr Jammeh is now living in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
South Africa court ruling
South Africa constitutional court is now ruling on whether MPs can vote in secret on a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma.
We will be keeping you up to date with what's been decided but you can also watch a live feed of the court proceedings here:
Art at South Africa's Constitutional Court
The BBC's Justine Lang is at South Africa's Constitutional Court ahead of the ruling on whether MPs can vote in secret on a no-confidence motion against President Zuma.
Before the ruling began she snapped some of the art works on display in the lobby:
Congo withdraws troops from CAR amid abuse allegations
BBC World Service
The United Nations says the Republic of Congo has decided to withdraw its peacekeeping troops from the Central African Republic, after new allegations of sexual abuse emerged.
A UN review said there were systemic command and control problems in the Congolese deployment.
Congo has more than 600 troops in its neighbouring country, as part of a 12,000 strong UN mission, known as Minusca.
The UN force has been plagued by accusations of sexual abuse, perpetrated by troops from various countries.
A contingent of 140 police from Congo will however remain.
Ruling on Zuma secret ballot vote expected
Nomsa Maseko
BBC Africa, Johannesburg
South Africa’s constitutional court is expected to rule on whether a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma should be taken by secret ballot.
This comes after pressure on Mr Zuma has been mounting following a controversial cabinet reshuffle in March, which saw nine government ministers including widely-respected Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy fired.
Mr Zuma, who has been implicated in a number of corruption scandals, has survived previous no confidence votes in the past.
But his opponents believe that if a secret ballot is allowed, MPs of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has a majority of lawmakers, would vote for his removal.
The speaker of parliament, Baleka Mbete, who is also a top ANC official has argued that rules of the House do not allow for a secret ballot but the opposition has rejected this.
In April, political parties were given the go-ahead by the constitutional court to make submissions in the secret ballot case.
President Zuma has lost a number of prominent court cases against him recently, this includes being ordered to pay back a portion of state funds used to refurbish his private home in Nkandla.
Gambians' impatience 'understandable'
BBC World Service
Gambia's Information Minister Demba Ali Jawo has told the BBC that he understands the impatience of those who are frustrated by the rate of change since President Adama Barrow was elected nearly seven months ago.
The minister said it was impossible to improve everything straight away after more than 20 years of authoritarian rule by former President Yahya Jammeh:
He called upon Gambians who were thinking of leaving for Europe to stay and, in his words, change the face of the country.
The minister said that reconciliation was the watchword of President Barrow's government.
He said one day the exiled former leader would be free to return but he was not welcome back yet.
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