BBC News Africa

AFPCopyright: AFP

Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma has been questioned at police headquarters in the capital, Freetown, over a failed coup attempt.

Mr Koroma, who governed the country for just over 10 years, arrived at around 10:00 local time at the criminal investigations department under a heavy police and military escort.

It was not clear how long the interrogation lasted but the former president later posted a statement on social media that questioning would continue on Saturday.

"I maintain an open mind, place my trust in due process and the rule of law to prevail," he said.

Police summoned Mr Koroma on Thursday asking him to appear within 24 hours for questioning as part of their investigation into the failed coup attempt on 26 November.

Gunmen attacked a military barracks, a prison and other locations in Sierra Leone last month, freeing about 2,000 inmates and killing more than 20 people in what the authorities said was an attempt to overthrow the government.

So far 71 people have been arrested, including 45 serving military officers, seven serving police officers and 13 civilians.

The US has imposed sanctions on the chief of Uganda's prison service, who is accused of overseeing the abuse and torture of LGBT+ people as well as critics of the government.

A total of 20 people from several countries around the world have been sanctioned for human rights abuses.

Among them is Jefferson Koijee, the mayor of Liberia's capital Monrovia. The US accuses him of controlling paramilitary-style organisations associated with his CDC party.

Also placed on the sanctions list are three militia leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo: William Yakutumba of the Mai-Mai and the CNPSC, Willy Ngoma who is a spokesman of the M23 rebel group, and Michel Rukunda of the Twirwaneho armed group.

In the Central African Republic, the former president's son, Jean-Francis Bozizé, is accused of importing weapons for the CPC rebel group. His compatriot Mahamat Salleh is a CPC commander who is accused of raping girls and forcing them into sexual slavery.

In South Sudan, county commissioners Gordon Koang Biel and Gatluak Nyang Hoth are accused of allowing "government-aligned forces and allied militias" to systematically rape woman and children "as an incentive and reward".

They have been sanctioned alongside Joseph Mantiel Wajang, the governor in Unity State who the US says appointed both men into those positions of power despite the serious accusations against them.

They and all others named on Friday's list will not be able to enter the US or have financial dealings with US citizens or companies.

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Most goods coming from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Mali, Madagascar and Mauritania will no longer have tariffs slapped on them when entering the Chinese market.

China is the biggest consumer of cobalt from DR Congo, while a booming cafe culture among Chinese youth is driving sales of coffee.

China's new policy, which comes into effect on Christmas Day, follows criticism that it focuses on buying mainly raw materials from the continent.

It's being touted by China's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council as proof of "the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation" leading to "a high-quality China-Africa community with a shared future".

At present, more than 20 other African nations already have tariff-free deals with China, according to the South China Morning Post.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Burundi’s general and former prime minister has been sentenced to life in jail by the country’s Supreme Court.

Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni was found guilty of multiple counts of crimes including attempting to kill Burundi’s president - Évariste Ndayishimiye - and undermining the national economy.

Four properties and 14 vehicles belonging to the general will be confiscated.

Two of his six co-defendants were sentenced to 15 years in jail, another three to three years, and one was acquitted.

Bunyoni’s trial took place a month ago after his arrest in April.

Six months earlier he was prime minister in the government of his former rebel comrade President Ndayishimiye.

During the trial, it was not clear when Bunyoni committed the crimes he was accused of after holding top government jobs for over 15 years since 2005 until he was sacked.