Got a TV Licence?

You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law.

Find out more
I don’t have a TV Licence.

Live Reporting

Clare Spencer and Damian Zane

All times stated are UK

Get involved

  1. Scroll down for Monday's stories

    We'll be back tomorrow

    That's all from the BBC Africa Live page tomorrow. Keep up-to-date with what's happening across the continent by listening to the Africa Today podcast or checking the BBC News website.   

    A reminder of our wise words:

    Quote Message: If you want to keep cattle you must sleep like them." from A Kinyarwanda proverb sent by Angelique Gatsinzi, Nottingham, UK
    A Kinyarwanda proverb sent by Angelique Gatsinzi, Nottingham, UK

    Click here and scroll to the bottom to send us your African proverbs

    And we leave you with this muddy view from Lagos, in Nigeria:

    View more on instagram
  2. Zambia election decision 'miscarriage of justice'

    Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has described a decision by the constitutional court to dismiss a petition against the recent presidential election result as a "clear miscarriage of justice".

    Edgar Lungu narrowly won the 11 August poll and Mr Hichilema's party sought to challenge the result in court.

    But a panel of five judges threw the case out this morning by a majority of three to two.

    The judges argued that the opposition had gone beyond the 14-day deadline to present the case.

    Mr Hichilema told BBC Focus on Africa that this was the decision of "three mischievous judges".

    He added:

    Quote Message: We have not been heard. We have been denied the right to be heard."

    He said that his party would try to refer the decision to the High Court.

    Hakainde Hichilema voting
    Image caption: Hakainde Hichilema took 47.6% to President Edgar Lungu's 50.4% of the vote
  3. Twenty three died in Ethiopia prison fire

    Emmanuel Igunza

    BBC Africa, Nairobi

    Ethiopia's government has confirmed that 23 people died when fire broke out in a prison where prominent anti-government protesters are reportedly being held. 

    A statement from the government affairs communications team says 21 inmates died due to stampede and suffocation while two others were killed as they tried to escape Qilinto prison, on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa on Saturday.  

    But some local media have disputed the account citing unnamed witnesses who claim to have seen prisoners being shot by prison wardens.

    We reported earlier that the Ethiopian government had acknowledged the fire but previously did not specify the number of deaths.

  4. Inside Ethiopia's Qilinto prison

    Journalist Tesfalem Waldyes, who was held in the prison for a year until July 2015, writes about life there:

    Ethiopia's Qilinto prison - where a fire broke out at the weekend - is a remand facility, where people can be held for three years or more as they await trial.

    It hosts around 3,000 inmates at a time who are held in cells measuring 24m by 12m. The number of prisoners kept in a cell varies from 90 to 130.

    All types of prisoners are held there but it is where political prisoners including bloggers, journalists and activists are usually sent.

    Customarily, political prisoners mix with other criminals but they are usually locked up in a designated "Kitat Bet" (punishment house) or "dark house" if they complain about mistreatment.  

    Inmates can be exposed to communicable diseases due to overcrowding and get poor medical attention.

    Due to the bad quality of food provided by the prison administration, prisoners mainly depend on food brought in by their families.

    Smoke rising from the prison block
    Image caption: A fire broke out at the prison on Saturday
  5. 12-year-old trophy hunter defends killing South African animals

    A 12-year-old American trophy hunter has appeared on British TV saying she "puts food on the table" by killing big game:

    View more on twitter

    Aryanna Gourdin came to the world's attention after the British newspaper The Mirror printed pictures of her posing next to a dead giraffe and a large gun in South Africa. 

    The newspaper adds that the girl claimed the giraffe she killed in South Africa was an old bull and a “danger” to the rest of the herd and killing it will free up resources for other animals, ensuring “the species survives”.  

    The newspaper says her boasts about killing have led to "a storm of criticism from around the world".

  6. Uganda's hero of 1978 reflects on the team's Afcon qualification

    The news that Uganda qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 38 years has led some to remember the team from 1978.

    Only four are still alive, the BBC's Patience Atuhaire in Kampala reports, including Tom Lwanga, who played in defence.

    He came into our bureau in the city with his accreditation card from the competition, which was held in Ghana.

    Lwanga's accreditation card from Ghana

    Uganda reached the final that year, but lost 2-0 to the hosts.

    He was happy with the qualification and reflecting on the achievement of the current crop of national players he said that the players had 38 years of pressure on their shoulders, so they did a good job considering the circumstances.

    And in case you're wondering what he looks like now:

    Tom Lwanga today
  7. Court and pharmacies closed during Gabonese general strike

    We reported earlier that the defeated Gabonese presidential candidate had called a general strike in the country.

    Our reporter in the capital, Libreville, has been going around the city to see what is open and what is closed.

    Charles Stephane Mouvoungou writes for BBC Afrique that there was a mixed response to the call to stay at home.

    The water and energy company offices were open, as was the hospital.

    But the court was closed, as were a lot of pharmacies.

    And one person looking for medicine for their child told him that the pharmacies that were open had run out of medicine.

    Post-election violence in Gabon has claimed two more lives, sources said September 2, after President Ali Bongo was proclaimed winner of last week"s vote while main challenger Jean Ping claimed victory for himself. One of the two new victims was a policeman, the first member of the Gabonese security forces listed as killed in the violence sparked by the announcement on August 31 of Bongo's victory in last weekend's election.
    Image caption: The opposition headquarters have been left bullet ridden after a raid last week
  8. Third polio case found in Nigeria

    In Nigeria, a third case in a recent outbreak of polio has emerged, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

    The virus has affected a child who has been paralysed.

    The WHO has linked this case to two initial cases which were discovered in August. These were the first on the continent for two years.

    The Nigerian authorities are carrying out a mass polio vaccination campaign to try and deal with the outbreak.

    Polio is a viral disease that usually affects children and can only be prevented through immunisation.

    It is spread by poor sanitation and contaminated water.

    Child being immunised from poiio
  9. Kenya workers upset over khat export suspension

    The BBC's Abdinoor Aden in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, has been speaking to people at khat exporting companies after the Somali government suspended flights carrying the narcotic leaf from Kenya to Somalia.

    Workers told him that they were warned yesterday not to report to work this evening.

    Hundreds of Kenyans could be affected by the decision, which has been criticised for coming without any warning.

    Kenya's government has in the past pledged to support the growers of khat following it being banned in much of Europe.

    Bunch of khat
    Image caption: Khat is popular in Somalia, but it's grown outside the country - in Ethiopia and Kenya
  10. Ivory Coast president gives Olympic medalists houses

    Ivory Coast's two Olympic medallists have been congratulated by President Alassane Ouattara today and awarded them with some prizes.

    Cheick Cisse - who won gold in Taekwondo - was given $85,000 and Ruth Gbagbi - who won a Taekwondo bronze - was given $51,000.

    They both also received a house.

    In a ceremony earlier today Cisse let the president try on his medal:

    Ivory Coast's 2016 Olympic games gold medalist in taekwondo Cheick Sallah Cisse Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara September 5, 2016 during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan
    Ivory Coast's 2016 Olympic games gold medalist in taekwondo Cheick Sallah Cisse Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara September 5, 2016 during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan
    Ivory Coast's 2016 Olympic games gold medalist in taekwondo Cheick Sallah Cisse Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara September 5, 2016 during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan

    While the president's wife Dominique wore Gbagbi's medal:

    Ivory Coast"s 2016 Olympic games gold medalist in taekwondo Cheick Sallah Cissed (L) and Ivory Coast's 2016 Olympic games bronze medalist in taekwondo Ruth Marie Chistelle Gbagbi (C) pose with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara (R) and his wife Dominique Ouattara (2ndL) on September 5, 2016 during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan.
  11. Details needed on South Sudan protection force

    We reported, quoting the AP news agency, that South Sudan's government was considering certain restrictions to a protection force that had been agreed to - including its size and weaponry.

    Its agreement came during a visit by ambassadors from the UN Security Council at the weekend. South Sudan had initially been reluctant.

    The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza has tried to clarify the government's position.

    According to government minister Martin Elia Lomoro, South Sudan is not suggesting restrictions.

    He told the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza that the protection force was agreed in principle and now the exact size and mandate needs to be worked out.

  12. Kenya's Batman has his day on screen

    Jim Chuchu, the director of Tuko Macho, a popular Kenyan web series, compared the capital Nairobi to the fictional Gotham City.

    "I really wondered what a Kenyan superhero would look like, especially a purposeful one like Batman," he told the BBC's Alastair Leithead.

    Around that idea he has created a fictional gang carrying out vigilante justice.  

    In one episode, an alleged carjacker is strapped to a chair as the video stream goes live and a distorted voice is heard describing his crimes.

    Footage is then shown of an attack before the words "Guilty or Not Guilty? You Decide…" flash up on screen alongside a website address.

    The verdict is overwhelmingly guilty and the man is killed by lethal injection while the camera is running.

    The show became an instant hit, perhaps because of real life frustrations with the justice system, the director suggests.

    Read more from BBC News Online.

    Screengrab showing a scene from the webseries
    Image caption: Tuko Macho can be viewed on Facebook
  13. South Sudan suggests heavy restrictions on foreign troops

    July 25, 2016 file photo, some of the more than 30,000 civilians sheltering in a United Nations base in South Sudan"s capital Juba walk by an armored vehicle and a watchtower manned by Chinese UN peacekeepers.
    Image caption: UN troops are already in South Sudan

    We reported earlier that, after a lot of resistance, the South Sudanese government announced it would allow a 4,000-strong regional protection force into the country.

    But cabinet minister Martin Elia Lomuro told reporters the government must agree on the number of troops, the countries they come from and the arms they carry, reports AP news agency. 

    AP adds that Information Minister Michael Makuei pointed out the limitations of the agreement:

    Quote Message: 4,000 is the ceiling, but we are not duty-bound. We can even agree on 10"
  14. Somali khat flights suspended

    Khat

    The Somali government says it has suspended all flights transporting khat from Kenya to Somalia. 

    Somali Minister of Civil Aviation Ali Ahmed Jangali told the BBC they have decided to temporarily suspend all khat imports to Somalia from tomorrow.

    The leafy plant acts as a stimulant when chewed, making people talkative but can also make people confused.  

  15. ANC v ANC

    Milton Nkosi

    BBC Africa, Johannesburg

    A supporter of the African National Congress, wearing a defaced t-shirt with president Jacob Zuma during their protest outside the ruling party ANC headquarters in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa,

    Standing here watching South Africa's liberation movement tearing itself apart feels historic. 

    In the past all the divisions within the ANC were played out behind closed doors. 

    That period is long gone. 

    The squabbles are now out in the open. 

    Today we are witnessing two factions of the ANC at each other's throats. 

    The most senior members of the party are meeting inside the ANC headquarters, where opponents of President Jacob Zuma had called a protest against him.

    In the event, Zuma loyalists outnumbered their opponents.

    Deputy defence minister and president of the Mkhonto Military Veterans wing Kebby Maphatsoe told a small crowd: "President Jacob Zuma will finish his term in 2019." 

    One man expressed his support for the president by performing forward rolls along the road:

    Video content

    Video caption: South Africa protest

    We reported earlier that the protest had been getting ugly in Johannesburg after a group of ANC members protesting against the leadership of President Zuma were faced by his supporters.

  16. Gabonese opposition calls for general strike

    Gabonese soldiers run to take position as supporters of opposition leader Jean Ping protest in front of security forces blocking a demonstration trying to reach the electoral commission in Libreville on August 31, 2016.
    Image caption: Protestors flooded onto the streets after the election announcement

    Gabon's defeated presidential candidate Jean Ping has called for a general strike today.

    Jean Ping asked Gabonese people in a Facebook post to stay at home and stipulated people should not be violent. 

    He said in the post that the events in the last few days, since the announcement of the election result, have been "carnage" as dozens of compatriots have been killed by the "bloodthirsty regime". 

    He insists that he won the election polling 58% of the votes, contrary to the official results which said incumbent Ali Bongo won.

  17. Zambia's president praises God after re-election confirmed

    President Edgar Lungu has responded to the news that the constitutional court has thrown out the opposition's challenge to his re-election with a biblical quote on his Facebook page:

    Quote Message: What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

    He then makes a call for national unity:

    Quote Message: Let us unite as a people and praise Him for favouring His nation, Zambia. This is a week in which His Name will be Glorified."
    Edgar Lungu's Facebook post

    Zambia is constitutionally described as a Christian nation.

  18. Zambia's president to be inaugurated next week

    Now that the case challenging the re-election of Zambia's President Edgar Lungu has been dismissed (see earlier post) the date for his inauguration has been announced.

    An independent election monitoring body has posted the government announcement saying that it will be held next Tuesday at the National Heroes Stadium:

    View more on twitter
  19. Egyptian 'groping' statue altered

    Before it has even been formally unveiled, a provincial governor has ordered changes to this statue in the Egyptian town Sohag:

    Egyptian statue

    Residents complained that it was inappropriate as it appeared to depict an unwanted advance from a soldier. 

    It was meant to represent the spirit of the martyr protecting Egypt, the sculptor Wagih Yani told the Associated Press news agency.

    He is now removing the soldier from the statue.

    Read more on the BBC News website

  20. ANC protests in South Africa 'getting ugly'

    We reported earlier that in South Africa, a group of members of the ruling ANC party are protesting against the leadership of President Jacob Zuma.

    Our reporter Nomsa Maseko, who is at the scene, says the protests are getting ugly:

    View more on twitter

    She tweets that MK vets, which refers to  former soldiers in the armed wing of the ANC called uMkhonto we Sizwe, are blocking protestors from the secretary general of the ANC, Gwede Mantashe.

    But the veterans have been getting violent:

    View more on twitter

    #OccupyLuthuliHouse refers to the party's headquarters in Johannesburg, the country's main city.