Africa highlights: Kenya death sentence for killer brew, Rwanda warns of showdown with France

AFPCopyright: AFP

The trial of Ivory Coast's ex-First Lady, Simone Gbagbo who is facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, resumed this afternoon after a postponement of several weeks, the AFP news agency reports. 

Simone Gbagbo's lawyers had asked the postponement to allow her to rest. 

The proceedings at her trial had previously been suspended at least twice. 

She was expected to be handed over to the International Criminal Court to be tried alongside her husband Laurent Gbagbo, but the Ivorian authorities later curbed their collaboration with The Hague after frustrations over the way her trial was being handled. 

AFPCopyright: AFP

Ethiopia's information minister has been expanding on allegations made by the government that "foreign enemies" in Egypt and Eritrea have been trying to foment unrest in the country (see previous entry). 

Getachew Reda told the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza that foreign elements had been arming, training and financing opposition groups, including the Oromo Liberation Front, though not necessarily with the formal backing of their governments: 

Quote Message: We have ample evidence that trainings have happened, financing has happened in Egypt. The jury is still out on whether the Egyptian government is going to claim responsibility... but I wouldn't be surprised if they denied responsibility.

We have ample evidence that trainings have happened, financing has happened in Egypt. The jury is still out on whether the Egyptian government is going to claim responsibility... but I wouldn't be surprised if they denied responsibility.

The government has designated the OLF, which says it is fighting for the rights of the Oromo people, a terrorist organisation.  

AFPCopyright: AFP

Ghana's electoral commission has disqualified 13 small parties from contesting general elections due on 7 December, reports BBC Ghana correspondent Thomas Naadi. 

This means that only the three big parties - the ruling National Democratic Congress and the opposition New Patriotic Party and Convention People's Party - will contest the parliamentary and presidential elections, he adds.

Independent candidate Jacob Osei Yeboah has also been given the go-ahead by the commission to run against President John Mahama, who wants a second term. 

The 13 small parties had failed to pass "due diligence tests", the commission said. 

Officials in South Sudan say 21 civilians have been killed in an ambush on the road between the south-western town of Yei and the capital Juba. 

Twenty others were wounded when their vehicles were attacked. 

One truck was set on fire with the passengers inside. 

Local officials blamed the attack on forces loyal to the rebel leader Riek Machar. 

His group, the SLPM-IO, denies involvement. 

South Sudan has been torn apart by violence, mainly between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his rival Mr Machar.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has warned of a showdown with France following an announcement by French investigators that they would reopen a probe into the assassination of ex-leader Juvenal Habyarimana. 

The shooting down of Mr Habyarimana's French-crewed plane in 1994 helped trigger the genocide in which hundreds of thousands were killed, mainly ethnic Tutsis. 

The investigation has been revived in order to hear evidence from a dissident general, Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, who says Mr Kagame is responsible. 

Mr Kagame strongly denies involvement in the shooting down of the plane. 

In 2006, Rwanda cut ties with France for three years after a judge called for Mr Kagame to stand trial. 

AFPCopyright: AFP

Read: 100 days of slaughter

EPACopyright: EPA

Angela Merkel's three-day Africa tour answers concerns in Germany over immigration. 

The Chancellor wants to show support for efforts to reduce departures - through private sector investment in the sub-region to create jobs and military backing for the war against al-Qaeda's offshoots in the Sahel.

Germany already has 430 soldiers in Mali as part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country (Minusma). 

A further 40 German Minusma soldiers are based in Niger's capital Niamey, where Mrs Merkel arrived this morning. 

Merkel wants to convince the German public that more soldiers and equipment are required in the Sahel.

Minusma needs them: the Netherlands recently withdrew its attack helicopters from Gao.

Through her visits to Mali and Niger today, Mrs Merkel becomes the first European leader to highlight the deadly desert crossing African migrants undertake before reaching the Mediterranean.

Ethiopia, which she is due to visit on Tuesday, hosts 700,000 refugees - one of the highest rates in Africa, according to the UN refugee agency.

AlamyCopyright: Alamy

A Kenyan liquor seller has been sentenced to death for the murder of five people whom she sold poisonous liquor in 2011.

Kenya's Star newspaper quotes Jennifer Wanjiru as asking the judge to show leniency:

Quote Message: I plead with the court to forgive me as I am a first offender, sickly and the soul breadwinner. The period for which l have been in custody was enough to pay for my evil-doing"

I plead with the court to forgive me as I am a first offender, sickly and the soul breadwinner. The period for which l have been in custody was enough to pay for my evil-doing"

The judge refused, saying the liquor, laced with ethanol and methanol, had caused the deaths of five unsuspecting customers and had led to the many others being hospitalised.

Two years ago, at least 70 people died in Kenya after drinking homemade contaminated alcohol.

Read: Kenya's 'killer brew' addicts

AFPCopyright: AFP

In 1994, he was a 17-year-old growing up in Rwanda in a relatively wealthy family and his dream was to make it big as a singer. 

But Corneille Nyungura's life turned upside down during the 1994 genocide which left at least 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead. 

When the killing squad came to his home, Corneille hid behind a sofa while his entire family was slaughtered.   

Now a Canadian citizen and one of the best Rwandan RnB exports, mainly to the Francophone world, Corneille has been singing for the past 20 years about his tragic loss and the trauma of living through the genocide.

His newly released autobiography expands on the theme. 

In his struggle to understand and accept what happened in 1994 in his home country, Corneille says that he developed an "irrational fear" about going back to his homeland. 

Speaking to French TV channel LCI, he said: 

Quote Message: Rwanda is the only part of my identity I am yet to reconcile with. Those who decimated my family that night are members of the army now in charge today in Rwanda.

Rwanda is the only part of my identity I am yet to reconcile with. Those who decimated my family that night are members of the army now in charge today in Rwanda.

Quote Message: Hutu militiamen did massacre hundreds of thousands of Tutsis. But there are cases, like mine, where the Tutsi army killed children in cold-blood. I struggle not to say that on arriving at the airport back home on any day, I wouldn't see the soldiers who killed my loved ones."

Hutu militiamen did massacre hundreds of thousands of Tutsis. But there are cases, like mine, where the Tutsi army killed children in cold-blood. I struggle not to say that on arriving at the airport back home on any day, I wouldn't see the soldiers who killed my loved ones."

It is the first time that Corneille has directly accused the army for the massacre of his family. There has been no official reaction in Rwanda to his account of what happened to his family. 

AFPCopyright: AFP

AFPCopyright: AFP

A leading Catholic archbishop in the Central African Republic (CAR) has welcomed being named by Pope Francis on Sunday as one of a group of 17 new cardinals. 

Dieudonne Nzapalainga, the archbishop of CAR's capital Bangui, said his consecration was an honour to the poor.

At the age of 49, he is the youngest among the new batch of cardinals to be announced. 

Archbishop Nzapalainga welcomed Pope Francis to the CAR last year when the pontiff visited to appeal for an end to religious conflict between the majority Christian and minority Muslim population. 

In a BBC Afrique interview, the archbishop said: 

Quote Message: [Pope Francis] came to a country of poor people and now he has called on a poor man to become cardinal. I am just going to continue with my mission that I have started with my brothers and sisters to bring back peace.

[Pope Francis] came to a country of poor people and now he has called on a poor man to become cardinal. I am just going to continue with my mission that I have started with my brothers and sisters to bring back peace.

Quote Message: You all know that we want peace and there are tensions. There has been mass destruction, deaths. Maybe, Central Africans will take this as God's love so we can get out of this cycle of hatred, revenge, destruction and death, and aspire to life."

You all know that we want peace and there are tensions. There has been mass destruction, deaths. Maybe, Central Africans will take this as God's love so we can get out of this cycle of hatred, revenge, destruction and death, and aspire to life."

Archbishop Nzapalainga and Bangui's most senior Muslim cleric, Oumar Kobine Layama, have spearheaded efforts to promote unity between followers of the two religious groups in the country. 

Read: Archbishop and imam in peace drive 

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome has suggested changes could be introduced to the country's voting system, according to a local journalist following his speech at the opening of parliament in the capital, Addis Ababa. 

His comments came as the government declared a state of emergency to quell the worst protests to hit the government since it took power in 1991. 

The journalist tweeted: 

The government announced a six-month state of emergency on Sunday (see previous entry), following a violent crackdown on anti-government protests.

At least 55 people were killed during a protest at an religious festival last weekend of the Oromo ethnic group, the largest in Ethiopia. 

Ethiopia's ruling EPRDF coalition and its allies won every single parliamentary seat in disputed elections last May. 

This included the one seat held by an opposition politician following the 2010 poll.

The Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups make up about 60% of the population. They complain power is held by a small elite.  

BBCCopyright: BBC

PACopyright: PA

The stars of new Disney film Queen of Katwe say it presents a more "refreshing" view of Africa than most other movies.

Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o plays the mother of Phiona Mutesi (newcomer Madina Malwanga), a girl living in an impoverished district of the Ugandan capital Kampala who discovers a chess club run by a missionary (Oyelowo). 

Nyong'o told the BBC it was vital that the film showed an honest portrayal of the continent: 

Quote Message: The fact that we have this uplifting story with the Africans front and centre of their own narrative - Africans saving themselves from their own situation - is really powerful for Africans and everyone else who will get to watch this film."

The fact that we have this uplifting story with the Africans front and centre of their own narrative - Africans saving themselves from their own situation - is really powerful for Africans and everyone else who will get to watch this film."

Read the full BBC story 

West African fashion is gaining more influence on the continent and around the world - and nowhere is it more obvious than in the elaborate head wraps so distinct to Nigeria, known as “geles”.

So how do you tie these magnificent sculptures? Gele expert Ngozi Atta welcomed BBC Africa into her salon in Lagos to find out.

Video journalist: Rosie Collyer

AFPCopyright: AFP

Mining company Randgold Resources is engaged in a battle over tax with Mali, which has forced the closure of its offices in the capital, Bamako.

The West African miner has said it is disappointed with the way that the Malian government has escalated their long-running tax dispute, to the extent of shutting its offices.

Investors will be pleased to hear that so far the dispute is not affecting the operations of its three gold mines in the country.

Randgold has reminded the government of a disclosure it made to the financial markets in August that it has been "professionally advised that a large proportion of the tax claims received from the state of Mali in respect of its operations in that country are without merit or foundation".

Randgold has dropped a hint that it could take the matter to independent arbitration.

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes recently awarded $29.2m (£23.5m) plus costs to Randgold's Loulo mining operation for taxes that the tribunal ruled were wrongfully collected by the Malian government.

Randgold's Chief Executive, Mark Bristow, insisted the company has continued to discuss the issue with the authorities at the highest level.

He said: 

Quote Message: We trust that the parties will return to the negotiating table in the spirit of constructive partnership in order to find a mutually acceptable solution."

We trust that the parties will return to the negotiating table in the spirit of constructive partnership in order to find a mutually acceptable solution."

Mali owns 20% of Randgold's Loulo and Gounkoto gold mines so any disruption to production would not help the country’s economy.

Randgold has set a target of producing 670,000 ounces of the precious metal from the two operations and the value that could be to the Malian government is highlighted by the fact that the price of gold is still well above $1,000 an ounce.

This morning in London gold was fixed at $1262.10 an ounce.

AFPCopyright: AFP

A senior official of the main opposition party in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been arrested as he was preparing to fly out of the country, AFP news agency reports. 

Bruno Tshibala, the deputy secretary general of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party, was taken into custody by immigration officers who confiscated his passport, AFP adds. 

The arrest was made over Mr Tshibala's alleged role in anti-government protests last month, in which at least 17 people were killed, a government spokesman told Reuters news agency. 

He was on his way to Belgium on official business of his party, his colleagues told AFP, adding that they were concerned about his detention. 

DR Congo has been hit by a wave of protests over moves to delay presidential elections, due next month. 

The electoral commission has said the elections could be pushed back to 2018, raising the possibility that Mr Kabila will remain in power until then.   

Under the constitution, he is barred from running for a third term.  

Read more: Why have protests erupted in DR Congo?

AFPCopyright: AFP

The authorities in Nigeria have ordered the arrest of the spokesman of the country's main pro-Iranian Shia group. 

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) was banned last week by the governor of the northern Kaduna state, where most of its followers are based. 

The spokesman, Ibrahim Moussa, told the BBC he would not hand himself in. 

Last year, about 350 members of the group were killed during clashes with the army. 

Its leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky, remains in detention. The IMN says about 30 of its members have been arrested in the past few days.

Read: Investigating clashes between Nigeria's Shia and army 

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

The European Union (EU) has called for "inclusive dialogue" to end unrest in Ethiopia. 

The EU, in its first response to the Ethiopia's government's declaration of a state of emergency, said: 

Quote Message: Today's parliamentary session offers the opportunity to open the way for an inclusive dialogue in response to the grievances of the population. This should lead to a comprehensive reform package.

Today's parliamentary session offers the opportunity to open the way for an inclusive dialogue in response to the grievances of the population. This should lead to a comprehensive reform package.

Quote Message: Violence, whichever side it comes from, has no place in this endeavour. Now it is time for all forces, inside and outside Ethiopia, to restore calm and join in ensuring that Ethiopia can pursue the path of democracy and development."

Violence, whichever side it comes from, has no place in this endeavour. Now it is time for all forces, inside and outside Ethiopia, to restore calm and join in ensuring that Ethiopia can pursue the path of democracy and development."

The opposition has no MPs in Ethiopia's parliament after the ruling coalition and its allies won all the seats in elections last year.

The opposition said the poll was rigged, but the government said it was free and fair.    

The EU is a major donor and ally of the Ethiopian government which has been in power since 1991.   

Opposition groups accuse the security forces of killing hundreds of people during protests against alleged economic marginalisation and political repression in the country. 

The government accuses "terrorists" of being behind the conflict.   

Burkina Faso's deposed President Blaise Compaore - overthrown in October 2014 by a popular uprising - has appeared in public for the first time since being forced into exile in neighbouring Ivory Coast.

Mr Compaore visited Ivory Coast's former President Henri Konan Bedie in Abidjan, but he did not say anything to the media. 

The BBC's Valerie Bony sent this picture of Mr Compaore (R) holding hands with Mr Bedie:

BBCCopyright: BBC

Mr Compaore is wanted back home for the killing of protesters who rose against his regime in 2014. 

He denies any wrongdoing.

Analysts say Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara owes Mr Compaore a debt of gratitude for mediating in the now-ended conflict in his country, and is therefore unlikely to extradite the ousted president to Burkina Faso. 

Read: The rise and fall of Compaore

The BBC's Nomsa Maseko has sent footage of chaotic scenes at South Africa's University of Witwatersrand, commonly known as Wits, in Johannesburg, where police have fired tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse student protesters (see previous entry): 

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Ethiopia has accused "foreign enemies" in Egypt and Eritrea of fomenting unrest in the country, AFP news agency reports. 

 The government declared a state of emergency on Sunday to quell protests in its Oromia and Amhara regions, where people accuse the government of trampling on their rights.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital, Addis Ababa, Information Minister Getachew Reda said that "elements in the Egyptian political establishment" were fomenting rebellion in order to promote "historical rights" over access to the River Nile, AFP reports. 

He also said that "armed gangs" were receiving backing from Eritrea, though not necessarily from "state actors", AFP quotes him as saying. 

Defending the declaration of a state of emergency, the minister added:  

Quote Message: The kind of threats we are facing, the kind of attacks that are now targeting civilians, targeting civilian infrastructures, targeting investment cannot be handled through ordinary law enforcement procedures."

The kind of threats we are facing, the kind of attacks that are now targeting civilians, targeting civilian infrastructures, targeting investment cannot be handled through ordinary law enforcement procedures."

Ethiopia has been ruled by the the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991.

It won all the seats in the May 2015 parliamentary elections which were denounced as a sham by the main opposition parties. 

See earlier post for more details