BBC News Africa

Chris Ewokor/BBCCopyright: Chris Ewokor/BBC

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said more than 200 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are expected to be sent to 142 countries by the end of May.

They will be delivered under the Covax scheme which provides poorer countries with free inoculations.

A shipment of nearly four million coronavirus vaccines has arrived in Nigeria - the third West African country to receive Covax shots after Ghana and Ivory Coast where vaccination campaigns have now begun.

Dr Tedros said vaccine deliveries were also planned on Tuesday to Angola, Cambodia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Read: Mass Covax vaccination rollouts begin

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

The release of the Nigerian schoolgirls is a huge relief after what President Muhammadu Buhari described as their “agonising” ordeal - they were reportedly made to walk a long distance into the forest after their kidnapping on Friday.

This is the third mass kidnapping of schoolchildren since December. It is believed that schools have started to be targeted as such abductions attract a lot of attention - putting more pressure on the authorities to negotiate with the armed criminal group responsible.

The authorities rarely admit to paying ransoms - but some observers say it is unlikely that the gunmen would release their victims without some sort of exchange, either of money or the release of their members who are in jail.

Besides, kidnapping for ransom is a widespread criminal enterprise across the country - people are seized by gunmen on an almost a daily basis - with both the rich and the poor falling victims. Security personnel have been held too. People often speak of how they have managed to secure someone's release by raising funds from friends and relatives - or even selling their assets.

But ransom payments are controversial. It may save someone's life, yet some observers say paying ransom only fuels the problem. President Buhari agrees, saying today ''ransom payments will continue to prosper kidnapping''.

He has repeatedly said his government will not negotiate with the armed criminal gangs. But many believe the failure of his administration and those at the state level to provide security is to blame. There are growing calls for the authorities to provide security for thousands of schools across the country - many of which are unfenced and do not have adequate security guards.

• Read more: Hundreds of girls released by gunmen

Ghana has started a mass rollout of the 600,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses it received last week.

The vaccination drive is taking place in 43 districts, mostly in southern Ghana where a high number of Covid-19 cases have been recorded.

Priority is being given to frontline health workers, those with underlying health conditions and those aged over 60 years old.

Pregnant women and children will not be vaccinated, as authorities say they do not yet have enough data on possible side effects for these groups.

The country’s parliament, which was shut after 17 MPs tested positive for the virus, resumes on Tuesday and MPs are expected to get the jabs.

There is still a lot of scepticism even after President Nana Akufo-Addo received the vaccine on live television on Monday.

About 20 million people are expected to be inoculated across the country before the year ends.

The authorities have also approved the use of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.

Ghana received the vaccine through the Covax scheme, which hopes to deliver more than two billion doses to people in 190 countries in less than a year.

• Read more: Ivory Coast and Ghana begin mass Covid vaccination rollouts

The first batch of about four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has arrived in Nigeria.

The stocks were procured through Covax, a UN-backed programme that is trying to ensure Covid-19 vaccines are shared fairly among all countries.

Nigeria is expecting a total of 16 million doses of the vaccine that will be delivered in batches over months.

The new vice-president of Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar has been sworn in less than two weeks after his predecessor died.

Othman Masoud Othman Sharif replaces Seif Sharif Hamad who died on 17 February, aged 77.

No official reason has been given for his death but it came nearly three weeks after his party said he had contracted Covid-19.

Mr Masoud has previously served in senior positions in Zanzibar government, including as attorney-general.

His swearing-in ceremony at State House in Zanzibar was posted on YouTube:

PACopyright: PA

A painting by the British wartime leader Winston Churchill has sold at auction for $11.6m (£8.4m) - a record price for his work.

Churchill painted Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque in Morocco in 1943 and later gave to the US president Franklin Roosevelt.

It is thought to be the only painting he completed during the Second World War.

The two leaders were in Morocco for the Casablanca Conference, where they planned the defeat of Nazi Germany and the liberation of Western Europe.

Read more: Angelina Jolie sells Winston Churchill painting for record £7m

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The South Sudanese military has announced the death of three generals who died after becoming ill with Covid-19.

It identified the three as David Manyot Barach, Elijah Alier Ayom and Mabior Maket.

Burials would be organised by a committee in collaboration with the families of the deceased, the military said.

Chief of Defence Forces Gen Johnson Juma Okot has urged all soldiers to adhere to Covid-19 safety measures, according to the military spokesman Brig Gen Santo Domic Chol.

Over the last two weeks, two prominent scholars at the University of Juba have also died after contracting coronavirus - bringing the number of deaths from the pandemic to 95.

In total, 8,144 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the world's newest nation.

The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) say South Sudan is witnessing a surge in cases because of poor adherence to safety measures like social distancing and the wearing of face masks.

EPACopyright: EPA

Amnesty International has published a report accusing Mozambique’s army, private military contractors and militants operating in the northern Cabo Delgado province of committing war crimes.

“All three have committed war crimes, causing the deaths of hundreds of civilians," said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s regional director for east and southern Africa.

"The international community has failed to address this crisis as it has escalated into full-blown armed conflict over the last three years."

The watchdog urged all parties to immediately stop targeting civilians and called on the Mozambican government to investigate the abuses.

Last year, several videos emerged showing alleged soldiers carrying out abuses against suspected militants and residents during counterinsurgency operations in Cabo Delgado.

Mozambique has been battling an insurgency since October 2017 in which more than 2,300 people have been killed and over 600,000 others have been forced from their homes.

Hollywood star Viola Davis' gown for the Golden Globes awards showcased the work of Cameroon-born designer Claude Kameni.

Davis wore the attire during a virtual appearance at the awards from her home. It was made with fabric from Cameroon.

The US actress was nominated in the category of Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for her role in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

She is on a mission to popularise the prints of Africa, according to British Vogue magazine.

“Viola wanted a designer who spoke to her specifically as a black woman,” stylist Elizabeth Stewart, who has worked with the actress, is quoted as saying.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Leading Nigerien opposition figure Hama Amadou, who is being held by the authorities, faces multiple charges including being involved in an organisation seeking to overthrow a democratic regime.

The authorities have also brought charges of "regionalist propaganda" and "speech inclined to set people against one another" against the opposition leader.

At least two people died last week during protests following the presidential election in which ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum was declared winner with 55.75%.

Opposition candidate Mahamane Ousmane contested the results, alleging fraud.

Mr Amadou - who had once been considered the main opposition contender to run against Mr Bazoum but was banned from running - supported Mr Ousmane in the race.

Last week, Mr Ousmane's supporters clashed with riot police in street confrontation following the announcement.

The protesters set houses on fire, including that of Radio France Internationale (RFI) correspondent Moussa Kaka.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Morocco has announced that it has suspended contacts with the German embassy in the country over its stance on Western Sahara.

The country's foreign affairs ministry cited "deep disagreements concerning crucial issues”, without elaborating.

A senior Moroccan diplomat cited Germany's reaction to the US decision in December to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara as a reason for the suspension of relations, Reuters news agency reported.

The diplomat also cited Germany's decision not to invite Morocco to an international meeting about Libya last year.

There was no immediate response from the German embassy.

Germany called a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the issue after former US President Donald Trump said Washington recognised Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, was annexed by Morocco in 1975. Since then it has been the subject of a dispute between the Moroccans and the Saharawi people, led by the Polisario Front.

The governor of Nigeria's Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle, has met a group of schoolgirls who were kidnapped last Friday at a boarding school.

The 279 girls were taken to the governor’s office in the state capital, Gusau, for debriefing.

Governor Matawalle told the BBC that the girls were released after negotiations with the gunmen.

He said no ransom was paid for their release. The authorities in Nigeria rarely admit paying ransom to kidnappers.

The governor has tweeted photos of his meeting with the freed captives.

Schools in Nigeria have increasingly come under attacks by armed groups, with more than 600 students abducted since December in three separate incidents as insecurity appears to be worsening across the country.

All the victims have been freed after negotiations with the abductors.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Nigeria is set to receive 3.92 million doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines on Tuesday.

It’s the third West-African country to receive vaccines from the Covax facility - a UN-backed initiative to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines globally.

The vaccines made by Serum Institute of India are expected to arrive in the capital, Abuja, on Tuesday morning.

The country is expecting a total of 16 million doses of the vaccine that will be delivered in batches over months.

Nigeria’s Primary Health Care Development Agency said that frontline health workers will be among the first to receive the jab.

A registration portal has been opened for people to register for vaccination.

The government plans to vaccinate at least 70% of the population aged 18 years and above in four phases within two years.

Nigeria has so far recorded over 150,000 cases of Covid-19 infections and nearly 2,000 deaths.

You may also be interested in:

• Covid infection in Lagos 'may top Africa's official total'

AFPCopyright: AFP

Chad's main opposition candidate Saleh Kebzabo has announced his exit from the presidential election set for 11 April.

Mr Kebzabo has accused the incumbent, Idriss Déby, of using force to intimidate rivals.

President Déby came to power in a military coup in 1990 and is serving his fifth term in office. He is a strong ally of the West in regional counter-terrorism operations.

The announcement by Mr Kebzabo follows the killing of at least two people as security forces tried to arrest another opposition leader, Yaya Dillo, at his home in the capital, N'Djamena.

"The climate of insecurity... will definitely overshadow the electoral campaign of candidates confronting [Déby's] Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS)," he said.

Mr Kebzabo also announced the decision on Twitter:

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Schoolgirls kidnapped from a boarding school in the north-western Nigerian state of Zamfara have been released.

The state's commissioner for security and internal affairs, Abubakar Muhammad Dauran, told the BBC that a total of 279 students were freed and are currently in the state capital, Gusau.

He said the earlier figure of 317 has now been discovered to be inaccurate as no girl has been left behind in captivity.

It is not clear whether a ransom was paid.

The schoolgirls were seized by gunmen in Jangebe on Friday morning. President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the kidnapping as "inhumane and totally unacceptable".

Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle is expected to address the girls on Tuesday morning.

More on this topic:

• Is Boko Haram carrying out school kidnappings?
• The motorcycle bandits terrorising northern Nigeria

BBCCopyright: BBC

Our proverb of the day:

Quote Message: Instead of hunting together, the lion and the tiger should go after their prey separately." from A Yoruba proverb sent by Oseni Taiwo Afisi and Komolafe Adeoluwa Johnson, both from Nigeria

Instead of hunting together, the lion and the tiger should go after their prey separately."

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

That's all from the BBC Africa Live team until Tuesday morning - until then there will be an automated news feed on this page.

You can also keep up-to-date with what's happening across the continent by listening to the Africa Today podcast or checking the BBC News website.

A reminder of our wise words of the day:

Quote Message: Your silence does not provide for you." from A Luo proverb sent by Patrick Ochieng in Nairobi, Kenya.

Your silence does not provide for you."

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this picture from Instagram:

AFPCopyright: AFP

The authorities in Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar have urged tourists to dress decently and respect the "sensibilities" of the local culture or they will be fined.

Tourism Minister Lela Muhamed Mussa told BBC Swahili that some visitors walked "almost naked" on the streets.

She said that tour guides will also be fined at least $700 (£500) if their clients were not appropriately dressed.

Ms Mussa said that restaurants and hotels should also advise visitors to adhere to "their code of conduct".

"It's their role to educate the visitors so if they break the rules we will also fine them," she said.

She added: "Our goal is not to fine the tourists but to ensure that people dress respectfully."

Zanzibar is a popular holiday spot for western tourists.