Algerian lawmakers on Thursday voted to impose the death penalty on convicted forest arsonists, after deadly wildfires killed at least 12 people during the summer.

Tycoon Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke were among six people killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

Wicknell Chivayo was one of the most recognisable faces of a class of conspicuously wealthy entrepreneurs with ties to Zimbabwe's ruling party. His death sparked mixed reactions in the country.

Omar al Bashir was being treated at an army hospital in the Sudanese capital Thursday, according to his lawyer. The 82-year-old has spent most of his life, since his ouster in 2019, between hospital and prison.

Addis Ababa accused Eritrea of supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which has launched attacks into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions. Ethiopia said it would expel 10 Eritrean diplomats and close its embassy in Asmara.

Earlier this week, former president Umaro Sissoco Embaló said he would come back to Guinea-Bissau. But on Thursday, the military high command said it refused his return, citing national security, public order and the need to preserve social stability.

The Portuguese coach had rejoined the Black Starts his September. His second departure comes after Ghana was beaten by Ivory Coast and by Gambia in qualifying matches for the Africa Cup of Nations last month.

Sidya Touré died in Paris last week. His family said the former Guinean prime minister will be buried in Ivory Coast.

Nigeria celebrated 66 years of independence on Thursday, marked by a speech from President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu, who is running for a second term in January, said the country has overcome some major challenges since he took office in 2023, but citizens are skeptical.

In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a mobile lab has been operating for two weeks, a welcome relief to staff at the nearby Ebola treatment centre who said that getting a test result used to take 72 hours.