KINSHASA (Reuters) - Belgium's foreign minister and democracy activists in Democratic Republic of Congo called on Congolese authorities to investigate allegations that high-ranking officials stole millions of dollars in public funds.

LAGOS (Reuters) - A Nigerian militant group threatened on Monday to step up attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta if the president pursues a military campaign, casting a shadow over peace talks between the government and groups due to start on Tuesday.

NAIROBI, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Families gather at Nairobi's Garden Square restaurant each evening seeking donations from friends and relatives to meet spiralling medical, school and funeral costs.

BANGUI (Reuters) - French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday that France would be ready to intervene in Central African Republic if necessary, despite ending its peacekeeping mission in its former colony.

MADRID (Reuters) - About 220 African migrants forced their way through a barbed wire fence into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Monday, clashing with Spanish police who tried to prevent them from crossing the border with Morocco.

ABIDJAN, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Good rainfall across most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa growing regions will help trees remain healthy through the upcoming dry season and ensure good bean quality into February, farmers said on Monday.

BAMAKO (Reuters) - The head of the Islamist militant group Ansar Dine has agreed to cease attacks in Mali that have killed dozens of civilians, soldiers and U.N. peacekeepers this year, Mahmoud Dicko, president of the country's top Islamic body, said on Monday.

LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S., British and Italian foreign ministers began talks with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Seraj on Monday to tackle a political standoff preventing Tripoli's U.N.-brokered unity government from expanding its authority outside the capital.

LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigerian soldiers and policemen have raped and sexually abused women and girls fleeing the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

ONITSHA, Nigeria (Reuters) - A Nigerian oil workers union has confirmed an attack on a pipeline operated by state oil firm NNPC in the Niger Delta oil hub claimed by a militant group, an executive said on Monday.

DAKAR (Reuters) - Seven Gambian opposition parties united late on Sunday behind businessman Adama Barrow, endorsing him as the main challenger to President Yahya Jammeh in elections scheduled for December.

PRETORIA (Reuters) - South Africa's state prosecutor dropped fraud charges on Monday against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, the latest twist in a police investigation that has rattled financial markets in the continent's most industrialised economy.

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algerian counter-terrorism forces on Sunday searched around the eastern city of Constantine after a policeman was killed in a rare urban attack by gunmen believed to be from a local Islamic State affiliate, a security source said.

RABAT (Reuters) - Thousands of outraged Moroccans held protests in several cities on Sunday after a fishmonger in the northern town of Al-Hoceima was crushed to death inside a garbage truck as he tried to retrieve fish confiscated by police.

ONITSHA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian communities affected by an oil spill in the Niger Delta hub have threatened to block access to a pipeline unless state oil producer NNPC provides a cleanup and compensation within one week, a statement said.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's state prosecutor will hold a media briefing on Monday, his office said in a statement, amid speculation that fraud charges against finance minister Pravin Gordhan may be dropped after a review.

NAIROBI, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Monday. - - - - - EVENTS: * UGANDA - The government releases inflation figures. * KENYA - The government releases inflation figures. * KENYA - The World Bank updates its growth forecast. * ANGOLA - The government releases new interest rates. * MALAWI - The government releases new interest rates this week.