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Abdelrahman ElGendyCopyright: Abdelrahman ElGendy

An Egyptian who fled to the US after being jailed as a teenager is now writing a memoir detailing the grave state of prisons in his home country.

Abdelrahman ElGendy was only 17 when he was sentenced to six years in prison, and still remembers the guilt he felt because his elderly father was being locked away for accompanying him during the protest back in 2003.

His father only went to keep him safe, he says, and had even warned his son beforehand that he felt it was a bad idea.

The pair sat in a parked car as Abdelrahman tried to record the events that were going on, until he was dragged by police officers, and severely beaten.

He and his father were rounded up with 68 other protesters and went through horrid ordeals from pre-trial detention to eventually being sentenced and facing abuse in Egyptian prisons.

Abdelrahman was determined not to miss out on an education while locked up and studied engineering.

After his release, his family decided to flee the country and settled in Pittsburgh in the US.

He tells the BBC's Africa Daily podcast he finally feels free.

• LIsten to the full episode here: Can new prisons improve the situation in Egypt’s jails?

Abdelrahman ElGendyCopyright: Abdelrahman ElGendy

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The World Bank has suspended talks over its future engagement with Tunisia following President Kais Saied's recent criticism of sub-Saharan migrants.

The outgoing head of the bank, David Malpass, said Mr Saied's remarks had triggered racially motivated harassment and even violence in Tunisia.

He described the situation as deeply concerning, but added that recent steps by the Tunisian government to support migrants were positive.

On Sunday, President Saied denounced racism, despite making comments last month that African immigrants were part of a plot to change Tunisia's demographic profile.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Sunday rejected accusations of racism and warned perpetrators of racial attacks of legal consequences.

It came more than a week after he accused African migrants of being part of a conspiracy to change Tunisia’s demographic make-up amid a crackdown on migrants, sparking criticism by human rights groups.

Dozens of sub-Saharan African people have been subjected to detentions, abuse and evictions from their houses following the president’s remarks, rights groups have said.

On Sunday, protests were held in the capital calling for the release of arrested and detained opposition figures deemed critical of Mr Saied. The protesters also expressed their outrage against racism

Mr Saied has ruled the country by decree after dissolving parliament, dismissing the government and suspending the constitution in 2021.

On Sunday he said that the sources of the alleged racism campaign “are known” without elaborating.

He said Tunisia was an African country and “Africans are our brothers” while noting that the country was one of the founding states of the Organisation of African Unity which later became the African Union.

He also announced a relaxation of visa rules for African citizens.

AmnestyCopyright: Amnesty

A court in Egypt has handed down jail sentences, ranging from life to five years' hard labour, to 30 people for involvement with the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Ayesha Khairat al-Shater and her husband were given 10 years each. Her father was the Muslim Brotherhood's first nominee for president in 2012 before he was replaced by Mohamed Morsi.

She was arrested in 2018 and charged with misuse of social media and promoting terrorist ideas.

Amnesty International and other rights groups had described her detention as arbitrary and campaigned for her release.

The State Security Criminal Court acquitted one woman.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Thousands of Tunisians have gathered in central Tunis in defiance of an official ban on their protest against President Kais Saied, calling for him to release detained critics and retract his controversial remarks on migrants.

He recently blamed illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa for violence and crime and said there was a plot to change the demographic composition of Tunisia.

Demonstrators shouted "down with the coup" - referring to the fact President Saied has been ruling by decree since September 2021, after dissolving parliament, suspending the constitution and dismissing the government.

"Stop racism and xenophobia" and "no to hate speech and discrimination" read some of the placards at Sunday's demonstration.

Meanwhile in Senegal, 13 activists and an MP have been released after being arrested for protesting outside the Tunisian embassy.

On Saturday they tried to hand over letters denouncing recent remarks by the Tunisian president that triggered a wave of violence and discrimination against black Africans.

In their letters the Senegalese protestors described his words as hateful and racist.

In recent days hundreds of nationals from West African countries have been repatriated after saying they no longer felt safe in Tunisia.

More on this topic:

• Black Africans in Tunisia speak out about their fears
• Tunisia tennis star Ons Jabeur urges 'dignity' amid row
• Tunisia arrests presidential critics in crackdown

The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has arrived in Cairo to seek Egypt's help to repair dilapidated public services such as water and electricity supplies.

Four years ago, contaminated drinking water left thousands needing hospital treatment, and frequent power cuts led to nationwide protests which toppled the government.

Mr al-Sudani, who assumed office last October, will also try to attract Egyptian companies to invest in Iraq after years of sanctions and terror attacks.