BBC News Africa

AFP

Mozambique has formally asked the European Union (EU) for support to battle Islamist militants in its gas-rich northern province of Cabo Delgado.

It has requested support in logistics and specialised training for its soldiers.

The southern African nation has been fighting the insurgents for three years with little success. At least 1,500 people have been killed and an estimated 250,000 have fled their homes.

The government has lost control of three coastal districts.

Foreign Affairs Minister Veronica Macamo has written to Brussels requesting the support after the EU expressed its willingness to assist.

In the letter, Ms Macamo also asked for assistance in development programmes as a way of reducing the vulnerability of the locals, mainly young people, to the allure of joining the insurgents.

More on this topic:

• Mozambique's jihadists and the 'curse' of gas and rubies

AFP

As South Africans celebrate Heritage Day on Thursday, filmakers are showcasing the famous Jerusalema dance in a new project.

Abongwe Booi and Calvin Hayward are among those working on the film and they told the BBC's Newsday programme that the piece celebrates the unity the song has brought.

Jerusalema is a song by South African artist Master KG that has found popularity around the world, leading to dance challenges in different countries.

President Cyril Ramaphosa asked South Africans to film and share their Jerusalema dance challenges to celebrate Heritage Day.

The day highlights the country’s cultural, religious and political diversity in South Africa.

Mr Booi told BBC Newsday the film was an opportunity to showcase culture while also discussing the differences that exist in the society:

South Africa is imperfect and our people aren't perfect, but today is the day that we celebrate the diversity and the unity we have within this beautiful nation. And so not to sweep anything under the carpet, but to start and openly have the conversation about the diversity that we have."

Mr Hayward said the idea to work on a film came after seeing how, in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic, the world was finding time to dance to a South African song.

He told the BBC:

Working on a film, we've got to work in unity with different departments all the time. I think it's the perfect analogy of what this country can become, we're all from different places and cultures but if we listen to each other we can build a beautiful society."

AFP

A court in France has rejected a request by the former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, to dismiss an investigation of allegations that he received bribes from Libya to finance his election campaign in 2007.

The ruling by the court of appeal in Paris means that Mr Sarkozy and several of his associates are now likely to have to stand trial over the claims that they benefited from millions of dollars from Libya's late leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

However, the accused can still appeal to the highest French criminal court.

Getty Images

At least 15 top Kenyan government officials and businesspeople are to be recommended for prosecution in connection with the alleged theft of tens of millions of dollars meant for purchase of Covid-19 medical supplies.

Investigators have uncovered how government tenders were handed out to politically connected individuals and businesses, in breach of procurement regulations.

In a report to a joint Senate Committee on Health and Covid-19 on Wednesday, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said “investigations had established criminal culpability on the part of public officials in the purchase and supply of Covid-19 emergency commodities at Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) that led to irregular expenditure of public funds".

The EACC has recommended prosecution of all officials at Kemsa and the ministry of health who it believes were behind the scandal.

A second phase of investigations will target companies that illegally benefited from the tenders.

Top officials of Kemsa have defended themselves from the allegations.The chief executive officer and two other Kemsa officials have been suspended as investigations continue.

President Uhuru Kenyatta promised to get to the bottom of what had happened. On 26 August, he ordered investigatory agencies to finalise the investigations within 21 days, but that deadline was missed.

The EACC has already forwarded its initial report and recommendations to the director of public prosecutions who is expected to announce the arrest and prosecution of suspects involved.

Kenya has so far recorded more than 37,000 cases of coronavirus with 659 fatalities. More than 24,000 people have recovered, and the country has over the last few weeks seen a drop in number of Covid-19 cases reported.

Nigerian star Yemi Alade has vowed "to lend her voice" to the vulnerable including women after she took on a new role in the UN, saying:

Women are among the 4 billion people who are trying to survive Covid-19 without any form of social protection."

She was named the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) goodwill ambassador on Wednesday.

In her video message Alade also said she would focus on those suffering from the social-economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

She added that she was ready to offer "innovative solutions" to the various issues.

Here is her video message in full:

AFP

Gambia's opposition leader has blamed the government for the rejection of a draft constitution that would have limited presidential terms.

Parliament rejected the draft constitution on Tuesday.

A clause that prevented President Adama Barrow from resetting the clock to make him eligible for two more terms appears to have been the biggest sticking point.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) leader, Ousainou Darboe, said the rejection of the draft was not a good sign for democracy.

The next general elections are scheduled for next year.

Mr Darboe vowed to reintroduce the draft constitution if the opposition wins the elections.

President Barrow came to power in 2016 - ending 22 years of dictatorship under Yahya Jammeh.

A sex education project in Zambia being sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been rejected by the country's minister for religious affairs.

Godfridah Sumaili is quoted by local media as saying the project promotes gender identities, sexual orientation and reproductive health rights alien to Zambia.

“Zambia is a Christian nation anchored on Christian values, so we have to protect our Christian heritage,” she said.

Evangelical Christians have also raised objections to the project but pressure groups have expressed support.

The UN agency says on its website that the project includes scientifically accurate information about human development, anatomy and reproductive health, as well as information about contraception, childbirth and sexually transmitted infections.

Ghana’s nurses and midwives will resume work on Thursday after calling off their indefinite strike.

The National Labour Commission secured a court order to enforce an earlier court injunction meant to end the strike and compel the healthcare workers to continue negotiations with the government.

The nurses and midwives are demanding better terms of service including rent and transport allowances.

The government has promised to conclude the negotiations within a month.

The strike left many patients stranded in medical facilities across the country with reports of deaths in some health facilities.