BBC News Africa

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

With just two days to go before the deadline for South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma to hand himself over to police, he has asked the country’s highest court to review its decision to sentence him to 15 months in jail.

On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court found him guilty of contempt after he ignored the court’s ruling that he should attend an inquiry looking into corruption while he was president.

In court papers filed on Friday, Mr Zuma has asked for the order to be "reconsidered and rescinded", the AFP news agency reports.

He had been advised that "it will not be futile to make one last attempt to invite the Constitutional Court to relook its decision and to merely reassess whether it has acted within the constitution or, erroneously, beyond the powers vested in the court by the constitution".

He has also appealed to the high court to get the Constitutional Court’s decision to be delayed while it considers his request for a review.

BBC correspondent Andrew Harding called Tuesday’s ruling a scathing and hugely significant judgement against the former president.

The Constitutional Court did not simply find him in contempt, but spelled out the many ways in which Mr Zuma had lied, sought to mislead the public, and ultimately tried to "destroy the rule of law".

Mr Zuma’s advisors have said that he will always abide by the law.

The International Astronomical Union has honoured a Senegalese astronomer Maram Kairé by naming an asteroid in the solar system after him.

Mr Kairé said he welcomed the news with humility, Radio France Internationale reports.

Mr Kairé, whose passion for astronomy began at a tender age, has received congratulatory messages from different countries.

His colleague Mary Teuw Niane said: "From now on the name of Maram Kaïré floats in the Sky, standard bearer of Senegal and Africa."

President Macky Sall tweeted a congratulatory message saying it was the pride of Senegal:

BBCCopyright: BBC

The government of Eswatini says nine people have died and over 100 others are in hospital following days of pro-democracy protests.

Activists want an end to King Mswati’s decades-long rule by decree replaced with democratically elected leaders.

In the aftermath of violent protests, Eswatini’s capital, Mbabane, is struggling to return to normal.

Days of rioting have taken their toll. Supplies are running low and frustration is high.

“It’s so painful. We don’t have food,” one woman told me.

“The protesters are only asking for one thing: to elect a new prime minister and the king is quiet. I guess he’s enjoying seeing his people starving like this.”

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The anger is on a scale rarely seen here. It came after the authorities banned the delivery of petitions.

It was an attempt to silence calls for a more democratically elected leaders.

The security forces deployed to deal with the violence that followed have been accused of brutality.

Activists say the numbers killed and injured are much higher than the official figures.

The crisis in this kingdom has been decades in the making. At the heart of it is King Mswati III and his unfettered reign.

Like his father before him, he has ruled by decree, banning political parties.

The calls for democratic reforms and a constitutional monarchy have been raised for half a century. There is little confidence in the government’s latest response.

EPACopyright: EPA

Africa's top women's tennis player, Ons Jabeur, has defeated former world number one Garbiñe Muguruza, to get into the last 16 at Wimbledon.

The 26-year-old Tunisian fought back after going one set down to beat the Spaniard 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

After her victory she said it was the best day of her tennis career.

“I’m not saying this so you guys come cheer for me in the next round but this is my favourite Centre Court in the world. I’m telling the truth, I swear. The energy is amazing. I’m so, so, so happy.”

She'll now meet seventh seed Iga Swiatek in the fourth round next week.

"It's Jabeur's finest hour. What a moment for Tunisian and North African tennis," BBC commentator Sam Smith said.

"What a player they have in Ons Jabeur. What a treat we've had this afternoon."

Read more:

• Ons Jabeur into fourth round by beating Garbine Muguruza

AFPCopyright: AFP

Later on Friday, the UN Security Council will be holding its first open discussion about the situation in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray.

Nearly eight months after the conflict began, more than five million people need food aid and 350,000 people are living in famine conditions, a UN-backed survey found.

The US has been instrumental in pushing for Friday's open session which is due to start at 15:00 New York time (19:00 GMT).

Its ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the BBC's Newshour programme that her country believed starvation was "being used as a weapon of war".

As a result of the Security Council meeting she hoped:

• all sides would commit to a permanent ceasefire
• unfettered humanitarian access would be allowed
• Eritrea troops would withdraw
• an investigation into human rights violations would begin

On whether Ethiopia's Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed would listen, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said: "We have to keep pressuring him.

"In some cases he has listened, in others he has not. For that reason we cannot let up."

Read more:

• Ethiopia’s Tigray war: The short, medium and long story

MocciCopyright: Mocci

Mocci is a relatively new Moroccan musician whose brand of melodic rap is doing very well indeed. His song Quoltalek, released a year ago, has now racked up 25 million views on YouTube alone.

There may be many reasons why artists from North Africa typically get numbers their sub-Saharan counterparts would die for, but I wanted to get Mocci’s take on it. Why does he think he gets so many hits?

Quote Message: I think it’s being different. Trust me you don’t want to sound like any other artist. And on my videos I’m always smiling, I’m not acting, I’m just smiling because I like the vibe, I like the song, I like the beat.

I think it’s being different. Trust me you don’t want to sound like any other artist. And on my videos I’m always smiling, I’m not acting, I’m just smiling because I like the vibe, I like the song, I like the beat.

Quote Message: I think the vocal, the way my voice sounds, and good words, and it’s catchy… catchy songs get you numbers, catchy with a meaning.”

I think the vocal, the way my voice sounds, and good words, and it’s catchy… catchy songs get you numbers, catchy with a meaning.”

Quoltalek is very catchy.

It’s a love story: a beautiful young woman comes to Morocco on holiday and charms a local boy with her broken Arabic.

Speaking to Mocci, I was taken aback at first because he speaks fluent English with a full-on south London accent. It turns out that lots of Londoners visit his home town Larache because it’s a coastal resort with beautiful beaches and a chilled out atmosphere.

But back to the numbers – does Mocci do loads of clever promotion?

Quote Message: I’m gonna be totally honest with you - I never ever... promote my music or put some sponsor on it. I just put teasers on Instagram, that’s it. If you like my song, play it, you get me, I’m just doing what I love.”

I’m gonna be totally honest with you - I never ever... promote my music or put some sponsor on it. I just put teasers on Instagram, that’s it. If you like my song, play it, you get me, I’m just doing what I love.”

Mocci is a fan of Afrobeats and has worked with a Nigerian producer. So is it time to do a collaboration with a Nigerian artist?

“That would be amazing, let’s say Davido or someone like that, it’s gonna sound sick!”

Presumably even an artist as successful as Davido wouldn’t say no to 25 million more fans… Watch this space.

You can hear more from Mocci on This is Africa this Saturday, on BBC World Service radio and partner stations across Africa, and you can listen online here.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Kenya has denied any involvement in the arrest and extradition of Biafra separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Gisuka Machage, told journalists in Abuja the allegation that his country was involved was "fictional, imaginary and concocted".

He challenged those accusing Kenya to provide evidence.

He was responding to speculation that Mr Kanu was arrested in the East African country.

One of Mr Kanu's brothers was quoted by media as making the accusation.

The high commissioner says Kenya has no intention of interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

The Nigerian government had said Mr Kanu was arrested on Sunday but declined to disclose where and how he was picked up.

He was initially held in 2015 on treason charges but then fled the country in 2017 while on bail.

He has been living in the UK and has British nationality. The British authorities have also denied any links to his arrest.

Mr Kanu is a popular figure for some in south-east Nigeria, and has been a thorn in the side of Nigerian authorities since 2009.

@UmaruSandaCopyright: @UmaruSanda

Soldiers in Ghana on Thursday went on the rampage, beating up civilians after a mobile phone allegedly went missing in the north-western town of Wa.

A video of the incident has been widely shared on social media generating a lot of outrage.

The soldiers are seen in the viral video beating up residents on the streets of the town without any provocation.

Some of the victims were made to lie in an open gutter and slapped repeatedly.

Eyewitnesses have said that the soldiers claimed they were searching for a stolen mobile phone.

In a statement, the military High Command distanced itself from what it described as the unprofessional conduct of the soldiers and indicated that internal disciplinary measures had been initiated.

The incident comes days after security personnel clashed with civilians in Ejura, southern Ghana, resulting in the deaths of two people.

GCISCopyright: GCIS

Dignitaries at the state funeral for Zambia's founding father Kenneth Kaunda have been sharing their tributes.

The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he owed his position to Zambia's first president:

Quote Message: I am here Excellencies today to honour with you this giant among men - a baobab - the last of the founding fathers who delivered independence to more than just his own land.

I am here Excellencies today to honour with you this giant among men - a baobab - the last of the founding fathers who delivered independence to more than just his own land.

Quote Message: Had it not been for the selfless efforts of his generation, I would not be before you today as the African Union would not exist.

Had it not been for the selfless efforts of his generation, I would not be before you today as the African Union would not exist.

Quote Message: We are forever indebted to Kenneth Kaunda and the people of Zambia for the sacrifices and we mourn with you."

We are forever indebted to Kenneth Kaunda and the people of Zambia for the sacrifices and we mourn with you."

BBCCopyright: BBC

Nigeria's security authorities are pursuing separatist activist Sunday Adeyemo, alias Sunday Igboho, who fled a raid on his residence in the south-western state of Oyo.

The Department of State Services (DSS) in a statement confirmed the early Thursday raid by security forces on the residence of the activist, who advocates for an independent state for the Yoruba ethnic group.

The Nigerian authorities said that Mr Igboho escaped during an exchange of gunfire – in which two men from Mr Igboho’s side were killed and 12 others arrested.

“The gun duel which lasted for an hour offered Igboho the chance to escape.[He] is now on the run," the DSS said.

It warned him: "He may hide as long as he wants. He might have attacked security operatives as his strength carried him. But this will be the end of his shenanigans”.

The DSS said seven AK-47 assault rifles, three pump action guns and 5,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the raid.

Voodoo charm jackets and cutlasses, walkie-talkies, laptops, documents and cash in dollars among other items were also seized in the raid.

The authorities have asked Mr Igboho to surrender himself to relevant authorities to face justice.

You may be interested in:

• Sunday Igboho - car salesman going after cattle herders

Concern over the well being of the people in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray continues.

Earlier this week, the rebel Tigray Defence Force entered the region's capital, Mekelle.

The near-eight months of fighting have left more the five million people in need of food aid and some 350,000 living in famine conditions according to a UN-backed estimate.

The withdrawal of Ethiopian federal forces and their unilateral humanitarian ceasefire has not yet altered the situation for those in need.

The head of the UN's refugee agency says that the "humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate".

The government has denied allegations that it’s blocking aid from reaching the needy.

“The insinuation that we are trying to suffocate the Tigrayan people by denying humanitarian access and using hunger as a weapon of war is beyond the pale,” Foreign Minister Demeke Mekenen said on Friday briefing diplomats.

His deputy Redwan Hussien told journalists that his government is willing to help the UN fly in aid from the capital, Addis Ababa, to the two airports in Tigray, but added that it will not take responsibility for what will happen once the UN is in the region.

The Reuters news agency is quoting the emergency co-ordinator for the UN's World Food Programme as saying that aid deliveries could soon resume and 40,000 of those in need may be reached over the weekend.

"The fact is that people have died, people are dying and more people will die if we are not allowed the ability to prevent it from happening and provide assistance," Tommy Thompson told a meeting in Geneva on a satellite phone from Mekelle.

ZNBCCopyright: ZNBC

The casket with the body of Zambia's first President Kenneth Kaunda has been driven in to the venue in the capital, Lusaka, for the state funeral service.

The country's founding father died last month at the age of 97.

Leaders from across the continent have come to pay their last respects.

ZNBCCopyright: ZNBC

There was also a 21-gun salute and from this picture you can see in the background people waving white handkerchiefs in tribute to the former leader who was rarely seen without one.

You can follow the service here:

The South African president's office has tweeted pictures of Cyril Ramaphosa signing the condolence book in Lusaka:

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

This week, one of the biggest news stories in Nigeria has been - no doubt - the arrest of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu.

“Many here have reacted to the arrest with some sort of surprise, because there was no information as to whether he would be arrested imminently,” says the BBC’s Ishaq Khalid in Abuja

After spending years on the run, Nnamdi Kanu was finally captured last Sunday in circumstances that remain unclear.

The movement he leads, the Indigenous People of Biafra, has been labelled as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian authorities.

He’s now behind bars - and will remain so until his trial resumes on 26 July.

“We don’t know exactly what [his supporters] are going to do,” says Mr Khalid. “Are they going to mobilise again and continue the agitation, or are they going to wait for the trial?”

But amid of all the media frenzy and speculation, I bet you might still be asking: who is he exactly?

Why does he want an independent country for all Igbo people? And, more importantly, what does his capture mean for the future of Nigeria?

I’ve been trying to come up with answers to all those questions: just have a listen to Friday’s episode of the Africa Daily podcast.

Subscribe to the show on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

South Africans online are eulogising popular actor Mutodi Neshehe who died on Thursday.

His family announced his death but did not disclose the cause.

Mutodi was celebrated by fellow actors, TV personalities and others.

Some recounted the last conversations they had with him:

The actor appeared in some of South Africa's biggest TV series.

Celebrities also sent their condolences to his brother Lufuno Neshehe who is a deejay known as INPHASe Dj.

The African Union Commission has condemned the deadly violence, looting and destruction of property in Eswatini following pro-democracy protests.

The commission chairman, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said in a statement that he was closely following events and was “deeply concerned at the ongoing political and security situation”.

“The Chairperson calls for immediate steps to protect lives of citizens and their property, and urges the Eswatini leadership and all stakeholders to refrain from further acts of violence that could exacerbate the situation,” the statement added.

He called for a constructive dialogue among parties involved to resolve the issues while pledging the AU's support to the government and the people in Eswatini.

Demonstrations started over the weekend with people calling for King Mswati to step down and allow for a transition to democracy

Eswatini - formerly called Swaziland - is Africa's last absolute monarchy.