Africa highlights: Eyes removed in 'Nigeria ritual attack', fake healer sex warning

The hashtag #IWearBlackThisFriday is trending in Zimbabwe as another way to protest after the authorities banned demonstrations in the capital, Harare, for the next two weeks.

Opposition parties had intended to have a protest today.

Some people have been posting photos of themselves dressed in black:

Our satirical President Olushambles has got his African passport from the African Union.

But he says he would rather trade it in for a German passport, which gives you visa-free travel to hundreds of countries.

Listen to his latest rant:

Photos of South Sudan’s sacked Vice-President Riek Machar have been released showing him in apparent good health more than a month after he fled the capital, Juba, Reuters news agency reports.

One of their correspondents had tweeted one of them:

Mr Machar went to Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, for treatment and has not been seen in public since July's clashes between his supporters and those of President Salva Kiir which killed some 300 people.  

Meanwhile, a delegation from the UN Security Council has arrived in Juba to discuss a UN resolution to send 4,000 extra peacekeepers to the country.

The African troops would have a more robust mandate than the 12,000 UN soldiers already there.

Mr Kiir’s government has described the decision as neo-colonialist and says it will not co-operate with the UN.

The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, told journalists in Juba that extra force would be important to help the UN mission protect civilians in future - it struggled to protect some 35,000 people who sought refuge at the base in July.

The UN has launched an independent investigation into allegations that its peacekeepers also failed to respond when troops loyal to Mr Kiir attacked a residential compound popular with foreign aid workers.

Some of them recently shared their traumatic experiences with the BBC’s Newsnight programme. Actors read their testimony to protect their identities:

There have been protests about the economy in Zimbabwe and about hair in South Africa but satirist Ikenna Azuike starts his report on the week with an investigation into a sex talk show in Kenya. Watch his What's Up Africa round-up in 90 seconds:

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South Africa features among the four candidates to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, reports the game's regulator World Rugby.

That's despite government opposition, says the AFP news agency.

Rugby is among four sports banned by the South African government from hosting international tournaments for failing to create enough opportunities for black players.  

South Africa is up against Ireland, Italy and France and the winner will be named in November 2017.

Watch more: South African rugby's race struggle

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Some 43 years ago Tanzania's president announced he was going to move the government from the coastal city of Dar es Salaam to the capital, Dodoma.

But things haven't quite gone to plan.

Besides parliament, there are only a few official buildings in the city, which was chosen as the capital because it is geographically in the centre of the country, reports the BBC's Aboubakar Famau.  

But President John Magufuli has promised the whole government - meaning all ministries and their civil servants - will move by the end of his first term in 2020.

Our reporter took pictures of what the city looks like now.

Building sites are now a common sight:

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As are newly finished buildings...

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And where it all began - the statue of man who originally planned the Dodoma move, Julius Nyerere - is a popular spot for students to take souvenir pictures:

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South Africa's murder rate has increased by 4.9% over the last year, official statistics show.

A total of 18,673 people were killed in the 12 months to March - 51 people every day - up from 17,805 in the previous year.

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko was briefing parliament on the latest statistics. 

Afterwards, speaking to journalists, he put the sharp increase was largely down to domestic violence and alcohol abuse, the AFP news agency reports.

Quote Message: What it says about us South Africans is that we are violent, we have a prevalent culture of violence.

What it says about us South Africans is that we are violent, we have a prevalent culture of violence.

Quote Message: It's not about what the government can do, it's about what we can (all) do. It's a huge societal issue that we have to deal with."

It's not about what the government can do, it's about what we can (all) do. It's a huge societal issue that we have to deal with."

But a BBC reporter says his briefing did not contain all bad news:

The minister said sexual violence was also down by 3.2%, but could also be because of under reporting.  

Over a 10-year period, contact crime - when a person is harmed or injured - was down 14%,  Mr Nhleko said.

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An Al Jazeera reporter in Gabon's capital, Libreville, has started tweeting this afternoon after a two-day absence:

It has been confirmed that two opposition supporters died in overnight clashes with the security forces in Libreville, bringing the number of people killed in violence to five following the disputed presidential election.

There are also reports of trouble in northern Gabon between Muslim shopkeepers and supporters of the opposition leader Jean Ping, who was declared to have lost the election narrowly.

The traders are using knives and machetes to stop demonstrators from attacking their shops.

The opposition accuses President Ali Bongo of rigging his election victory.

Read the BBC News story for more.

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A 19-year-old man in the northern Nigerian state of Bauchi says his eyes were removed by people who wanted to use them for ritual purposes.

Human body parts for use in suspected witchcraft or for charms are mostly taken from children in Nigeria – it is not often that an adult falls victim.

Hussain Emmanuel, who is being treated in hospital in Bauchi city, says the attack happened two weeks ago in his village in the remote Tafawa Balewa area.

He said he was lured by two acquaintances in Marti village to a nearby river to go swimming.

Mr Emmanuel, a self-employed motorbike mechanic, said he was hanging out with the two men because one of them had promised him a job in southern Nigeria.

But when they got to the river they attacked him, attempted to strangle him with a chain and knocked him unconscious.

When he woke up, he couldn’t see and began screaming until he was rescued by some passers-by who found both his eyes were missing. 

Police say they are investigating the case, and have not commented on the motive of the two suspects who have yet to be apprehended.

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When Senegalese footballer Sadio Mane's joined Premier League side Liverpool for £34m ($45m) over the summer, he became Africa's most expensive football player.

But his compatriots aren't so impressed with the national team's performance - as in recent tournaments they haven't made it out of the group stages.

Mane told the BBC's Babacar Diarra that he understood their frustration:

Quote Message: It’s not easy for them because they know our quality, they know what we can do for them."

It’s not easy for them because they know our quality, they know what we can do for them."

But he was cool about his history-making signing:

Quote Message: It’s part of football. Personally I didn’t have a pressure, I've always believe in my quality and I know what I can do for my team.

It’s part of football. Personally I didn’t have a pressure, I've always believe in my quality and I know what I can do for my team.

The Senegal forward is on international duty with the Lions of Teranga for their last Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against Namibia on Saturday.  

Watch the full interview on Focus on Africa TV at 17:30 GMT

The African Union has called for restraint in Ethiopia where anti-government protests have continued for several months.

In a rare statement on the situation, the AU called for dialogue between all parties involved.

It said deaths had been reported and business disrupted.

A Dutch-owned flower company in Ethiopia said protesters burned down its entire farm earlier this week, causing more than $11m (£8m) worth of damage.

Human rights groups say at least 500 people have been killed and thousands arrested since the protests began.

Read more: What is behind Ethiopia's protests?

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We reported earlier that a Kenyan MP has asked parliament to pass a law to recognise a third gender.

The BBC's Idris Situma in Nairobi has been talking to the person who highlighted intersex people to the MP Isaac Mwaura.

James Karanja, who identifies as a male, said that when he was born he had "ambiguous genitalia" and his parents wrongly identified his as a girl:

Quote Message: "My official name is Mary Waithera - the name that I was given by my mother after my gender was confused at birth. They thought I was a girl but I'm a boy.

"My official name is Mary Waithera - the name that I was given by my mother after my gender was confused at birth. They thought I was a girl but I'm a boy.

Quote Message: I’m from a poor background so they never had a chance to take me to hospital to check my gender."

I’m from a poor background so they never had a chance to take me to hospital to check my gender."

Mr Karanja is currently undergoing a surgical realignment procedure, a costly medical expense beyond the reach of many.

You can catch the full interview on BBC Focus on Africa radio at 15:00 GMT.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has returned to Nigeria for a second visit in a week.

He was on his way back from Kenya.

Sahara Reporters caught Mr Zuckerberg and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari posing for a selfie:

Tola Agunbiade from technology news website Tech Cabal wonders what motivated the second trip:

Quote Message: Did he suddenly remember he hadn’t seen the Nigerian government? Did he suddenly learn about AVDD and change his mind mid-air? Is he back to cosy up to the government to further his cause (Free Basics, Express Wifi)?

Did he suddenly remember he hadn’t seen the Nigerian government? Did he suddenly learn about AVDD and change his mind mid-air? Is he back to cosy up to the government to further his cause (Free Basics, Express Wifi)?

AVDD is Aso Villa Demo Day  - three start-up companies have made it to the final to pitch their technology ideas to the president today. 

Mr Zukcerberg was pictured at the event:

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The South African cabinet has asked President Jacob Zuma to launch a judicial inquiry into why the country's top banks cut ties with companies owned by the wealthy Gupta family, a statement from the mines ministry says.

The Indian-born family has faced criticism for being too close to Mr Zuma – and last year both denied that the Guptas had influenced the appointment of key ministers.

In the wake of the allegations four major banks dropped Gupta-linked companies, whose businesses include media and mining interests. 

In April, the Guptas’ Oakbay Investments said the closure of its bank accounts had made it virtually impossible to continue business, which could affect 7,500 jobs. 

The government set up an inter-ministry committee - led by the mines minister - to investigate the banks' move and found they had failed to protect the rights of the Guptas, South Africa’s ENCA news site reports. 

A family spokesman said the inquiry would not change plans announced last Saturday to exit its South African businesses this year, the Reuters news agency reports. 

UPDATE: President Jacob Zuma’s office issued a statement on the evening of Friday 2 September denying that the cabinet had requested a judicial review. It said the call came from the mines minister alone.

Read more: Who are the Guptas?

Sierra Leone will qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) for the first time in 20 years if they beat Ivory Coast on Saturday.

But a point for Ivory Coast from the final Group I match would secure their place in Gabon next year.

The Leone Stars, who sit 19 places below Ivory Coast in the African rankings, have been in Ghana to prepare for the game in order to avoid pressure from their fans at home.

"My squad includes many young footballers who have never competed at the Nations Cup and tackling Ivory Coast is a massive challenge for them," Sierra Leone coach Sellas Tettah said.

The teams drew 0-0 in their first Group I encounter last year in a match moved from Sierra Leone to Nigeria because of the Ebola virus.

Ivory Coast will be eager to avoid a shock defeat that would end their defence of the title they won in Equatorial Guinea.

The BBC Sport story has a full table of the this weekend's Afcon qualifying fixtures.

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A Kenyan MP has asked the country's parliament to pass a law to recognise a third gender to end discrimination against those who identify as intersex.

Isaac Mwaura is also asking for funding for gender alignment surgery and a public awareness campaign to end stigma against intersex people.

"They see me as a curse," one person born female who later developed male physical characteristics told the BBC.

Intersex are people whose sex is neither completely male nor female.

Read the BBC News story.

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A few readers have been commenting on Facebook on the money lenders that use your social media profile to decide if they will give you a loan.

Jackson Ter from Lokoja in Nigeria doesn't seem worried about the principle behind this, but worries lenders may be deceived:

Quote Message: A social media profile can be deceitful, I don't think it should be the criteria."

A social media profile can be deceitful, I don't think it should be the criteria."

While McEden Wangang says he thinks it is a great idea:

Quote Message: If you're irresponsible it will hardly be hidden for long especially if you use the social media."

If you're irresponsible it will hardly be hidden for long especially if you use the social media."

Tell us on Facebook or Twitter how you feel about handing over this information in exchange for a loan.

Is it an invasion of privacy or a smart way of working out credit worthiness?

You can also tell us what you think on Whatsapp: +44 7341070844

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The Zika cases found in Guineau-Bissau in July do not stem from the strain linked to a surge in birth defects in Latin America - the so-called Asian strain, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

Quote Message: In Guinea-Bissau, the gene sequencing results of the four confirmed Zika cases sent in July have preliminarily confirmed that the cases are of the African lineage, ie, not the predominant global outbreak Asian lineage." from WHO

In Guinea-Bissau, the gene sequencing results of the four confirmed Zika cases sent in July have preliminarily confirmed that the cases are of the African lineage, ie, not the predominant global outbreak Asian lineage."

However, the WHO said an investigation was ongoing into five reported cases in Guinea-Bissau of microcephaly, when children are born with unusually small heads – which may be linked to Zika.

Earlier we reported, that researchers had warned that more than two billion people were in danger of Zika infection in Africa and Asia.

That study said that only country in Africa to have confirmed locally acquired infections with the Asian strain - behind the predominant global outbreak - was Cape Verde.

The virus was first discovered in 1947 in Uganda's Zika forest and has been widespread on the continent since then. 

Read more: Tracing Zika to its origins in Uganda

South Africa’s deputy president took advantage of the fact that his boss – President Jacob Zuma – was out of the country when he stood in for him in parliament on Thursday, presenting government-issue, noiseless fruit-flavoured condoms to MPs:

The condoms, Cyril Ramaphosa explained, were developed after complaints that government condoms were smelly and noisy.

It caused quite a hubbub in parliament.

Daily Maverick columnist Ranjeni Munusamy wrote that the "unorthodox move" was "quite unconventional" for the "normally prim and proper" Mr Ramaphosa:

Quote Message: His animated performance drew blushes and grins from the ANC benches and howls from the opposition, including 'You must give them to Zuma!' from the Economic Freedom Fighters [EFF]."

His animated performance drew blushes and grins from the ANC benches and howls from the opposition, including 'You must give them to Zuma!' from the Economic Freedom Fighters [EFF]."

The Daily Maverick columnist was not impressed by Mr Ramaphosa's performance, saying he played it "too safe" and did not reveal qualities of a true leader.  

The EFF comment refers to a case 10 years ago when Mr Zuma admitted during his trial on a rape charge that he had had sex without a condom with a woman with HIV. He was cleared but the admission caused shock in a country where some seven million people are HIV positive.

Read more: How do you make a man wear a condom?