BBC News Africa

The leader of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in Ethiopia, which has been at war with government forces for over a year, says shuttle diplomacy has led to some progress.

In a rare interview Debretsion Gebremichael told the BBC that indirect talks with the government had been taking place.

The war has led to the displacement of millions of people and the UN says nearly 40% of people in Tigray are suffering from an extreme lack of food.

Mr Debretsion suggested that the shuttle diplomacy was having an impact and said there had been signs of improvement after indirect talks with the Ethiopian government.

The TPLF chairman told the BBC he wanted a peaceful resolution but added that if necessary they would fight on to protect the rights of the Tigrayans.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has shown signs that he may be considering an alternative to military action.

He has freed prisoners and no longer seeing the TPLF as a threat to his power he has lifted a state of emergency.

But what complicates the road to peace are land claims by the Amhara and the desire of Eritrean president, Isaias Afwerki, to crush the TPLF.

It is not a simple two-way negotiation.

Read more:

• Ethiopia civil war: Doctors among those begging for food in Tigray

Ami FakuCopyright: Ami Faku

Ami Faku is an award-winning artist, and her ravishing, other-worldly vocals are sought after by South Africa’s top producers.

She has a starring role in several songs that are massive hits at the moment, including the club favourite Asibe Happy, produced by Amapiano titans Kabza da Small and DJ Maphorisa, and Phakade Lami by Nomfundo Moh and also featuring Sha Sha.

But Faku is not an artist who has breezed in with ease and confidence, and she still puts herself through the mangle with every song she does.

“Phakade Lami was crazy. I did that verse three times. I was sceptical because the chorus was just perfect and I didn’t want to ruin the song.

“But I went, I recorded it one time - it was terrible, second time - terrible. I spoke to Nomfundo’s manager and told him 'don’t put me on the song'.

“Then one time, 3am, 4am, which is my best time to get ideas, I got the right perfect melody."

Faku realised she had a magical voice when she saw the reaction she got from the congregation at the church where her father was a pastor.

She did not enjoy singing there, though, because she felt she had no choice. But she says she is grateful now because that soulful, “church” feel is a big part of the musician she is today.

“My family aren’t really strict people they have always been supportive. I was the one who has always been negative regarding my talent. They’ve always said, ‘No man, you can do this, do it, do it’, but I was like, ‘No it’s not going to work out.’”

Luckily for her many fans, the desire to make music - coupled with all the positive feedback - did allow Faku to conquer her fear enough to enter The Voice South Africa.

She stunned the judges with her cover of Ordinary People, and though she did not win, was signed to the label associated with the TV show.

“It was great, I gained my confidence through these talent shows. I got to observe and see what’s required.

“I’m not someone who is good with people so it was quite scary to watch all these confident people who looked like they were already winners.

“I got to learn from their mistakes. I noticed that people were not really themselves, they were easily adapting to what seemed cool at the time. So I just continued to be myself, because for me being myself has always gotten me far.”

It has indeed. One of Faku’s songs Uwrongo - which she did with Prince Kaybee, Shimza and Black Motion - made it on to former US President Barack Obama’s playlist of favourite songs from 2020.

“It was crazy man, I really did not expect that at all, but I was happy because my dream has always been for people to connect with my music regardless of the language. Ever since I’ve just been challenging myself to do better.”

You can hear DJ Edu’s conversation with Ami Faku on This is Africa this Saturday on BBC World Service radio and partner stations across Africa

BBCCopyright: BBC

Parents of children who fail to go to school next week in Tanzania’s capital, Dodoma, will be arrested.

That is an order from Anthony Mtaka, the regional commissioner for Dodoma and its surrounding area.

He made the emotional announcement during a visit to a local school on Friday, two weeks after the start of the academic year.

At that school only 67 of the 165 form one pupils had shown up.

It is believed that some parents allow their children to do petty jobs or allow them to become domestic workers.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The governor said he would not stand for it.

“I can’t build classes, put desks in classrooms, and you fail to take your child to school. I will make a thorough search from 04:00 from door to door, arresting those parents,” Mr Mtaka warned.

Tunisia’s interior ministry says police have thwarted a planned terror attack targeting tourists.

The authorities say a Syrian woman who had intended to carry it out using an explosive belt has been jailed.

She is said to have received training from militants.

Tunisia suffered two mass shootings in 2015. In the first, 22 people were killed when gunmen opened fire at the Bardo National Museum in the capital, Tunis.

Three months later, 38 people died, 30 of them British, in a shooting at the tourist resort of Port El Kantaoui near Sousse.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

A two-metre (6ft) pet yellow anaconda called Medusa is on the loose in a South Africa town just north of the coastal city of Durban.

The snake’s owner urged residents of Phoenix not to be afraid.

“She’s a gentle giant, she just looks scary,” Preesen Nair told South Africa’s East Coast Radio.

He said Hollywood had given non-venomous anacondas, usually found in the Amazon of South America, a bad name: “She is harmless and is not going to eat you like in the movies.”

Mr Nair said Medusa had escaped on Wednesday evening between 18:00 and 21:00 as her tank was being cleaned out.

Her enclosure has a dam set up with water for a cooler environment - and it takes a couple of days to clear out.

The snake had been put in a lockable tub while the maintenance was being carried out, but she had broken the lock.

Mr Nair, who has 15 snakes in total, said Medusa was unlikely to have gone far and might be chilling under a tree - somewhere quiet.

“It’s a matter of finding her before the wrong person finds her and kills her,” he said.

He urged anyone who came across her to get in touch.

The West African regional body Ecowas says it may consider imposing sanctions against Burkina Faso but will first send two missions to the country to hold talks with coup leaders.

Chiefs of defence staff will travel to capital, Ouagadougou on Saturday, followed by a ministerial-level mission a few days later.

At a virtual summit lasting around three hours, the Ecowas leaders also called for Burkina's Faso's deposed President Roch Kaboré and other detained leaders to be released.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Eritrea’s national cycling team will not take part in the Tour du Rwanda, due to start next month, as it cannot meet the Covid-19 vaccine requirements.

The organisers of the Tour du Rwanda told the BBC that only cyclists who were vaccinated could participate.

Eritrea is the only country on the African continent that has not yet started vaccinating its citizens against coronavirus.

Throughout the pandemic, Rwanda has had strict rules, including various lockdowns.

This week, the government said that people must be fully vaccinated to access public spaces and events.

The announcement made by Tour du Rwanda in a tweet is a blow to the Eritrean team, which is one of Africa's most successful.

The Tour du Rwanda has been growing in popularity. It was recognised by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in 2009 and the following year Eritrea’s Olympian Daniel Teklehaimanot took the yellow jersey.

After the race was upgraded to a higher classification in 2019, it attracted more world-renowned cyclists with Eritreans Merhawi Kudus and Natnael Tesfatsion taking yellow jerseys in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, who currently chairs the West African bloc Ecowas, says a peaceful resolution must be found to the situation in Burkina Faso, where soldiers seized power earlier this week.

Ecowas has already condemned the coup - the third in the region since last year - and West African leaders have held a virtual meeting to discuss it.

Mr Akufo-Addo said:

Quote Message: The resurgence of coup d'etats in our region is in direct violation of our democratic tenets.

The resurgence of coup d'etats in our region is in direct violation of our democratic tenets.

Quote Message: It represents a threat to peace, security and stability in West-Africa. This situation hinders a much-needed economic and social development of the region.

It represents a threat to peace, security and stability in West-Africa. This situation hinders a much-needed economic and social development of the region.

Quote Message: I've convened this meeting with a hope, to address the urgent situation in Burkina Faso and find solutions to restore constitutional order to Burkina Faso and stabilise the region at large.

I've convened this meeting with a hope, to address the urgent situation in Burkina Faso and find solutions to restore constitutional order to Burkina Faso and stabilise the region at large.

Quote Message: We should not renege in our collectives duties and obligations to ensure a peaceful democratic, just, stable and prosperous community.

We should not renege in our collectives duties and obligations to ensure a peaceful democratic, just, stable and prosperous community.

Quote Message: I urge you to examine critically this rising phenomena in our region so we take the necessary decisions that meet the aspirations and expectations of our peoples. The rest of the world is looking up to us to be firm in this matter."

I urge you to examine critically this rising phenomena in our region so we take the necessary decisions that meet the aspirations and expectations of our peoples. The rest of the world is looking up to us to be firm in this matter."