Anyone who attempts to buy, sell or own an obscene sex doll will be arrested, the police in Zambia have threatened. According to police spokesperson, Esther Katongo, the laws of the country considered such items as ‘obscene material’ adding that their importation, sale or possessions are illegal.

The Gambia is rejoining the Commonwealth, almost five years after it withdrew under the rule of ousted President Yahya Jammeh who branded it a "neo-colonial institution".

The BBC reports that the occasion will be marked at the Commonwealth's headquarters in London later today.

President Adama Barrow applied for The Gambia's readmission to the body soon after he took office last January.

The mayor of Mali's north-eastern town of Tarkint, who was kidnapped by suspected militants last month has been found dead, the MaliJet news site reports.

Baba Ould Cheikh was abducted from his residence in Tarkint by armed men between 21 and 23 January.

MaliJet said that Ould Cheikh had been found "lifeless with his throat slit".

The Commonwealth has confirmed the successful readmission of Gambia into the global bloc. The West African country becomes the 53rd nation but fourth to rejoin. The Gambia referred to as “smiling coast of West Africa” joins the likes of South Africa, Fiji and Pakistan who all left at a point and gained readmission.

ECOWAS has sanctioned 19 legislators and the son of the president of Guinea, José Mario Vaz, son for the continuous failure to end a political stalemate.

The impoverished nation of West Africa has been immersed in a power struggle since August 2015, when Vaz dismissed the then prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira.

A faction of 15 legislators in the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) has split up in support of President Vaz while the majority backed Mr. Pereira.

The Kenyan government on Tuesday deported opposition supporter and lawyer, Miguna Miguna to Canada, where he has dual nationality.

Miguna had appeared in court earlier that day and charged with "being present and consenting to the administration of an oath to commit a capital offence, namely treason".

The charge relates to his role in the mock swearing-in of opposition leader Raila Odinga on 30 January.