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Live Reporting

Hugo Williams and Damian Zane

All times stated are UK

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  1. Scroll down for Tuesday's stories

    We'll be back tomorrow

    That's all from the BBC Africa Live page today. Listen to the Africa Today podcast and keep up to date with stories from across the continent on the BBC News website.

    Today's African proverb: A bird hanging between two branches will get bitten on both wings. An Ethiopian proverb sent by Den, Houston, The US.

    Click here to send your proverbs.

    We leave you with this picture of the moment when Nigeria and Liverpool forward Asisat Oshoala heard she had been named as the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year.

    Asisat Oshoala hearing the news that she won
  2. Air France flight 'missed' Cameroon mountain

    An Air France aeroplane missed hitting the highest mountain in central Africa in early May, French investigators say.

    Flight AF953 was travelling from Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, to Douala, Cameroon's commercial capital, when it hit bad weather on 2 May.

    An aircraft Boeing 777 of French airline Air France stands on the airport Tegel, Berlin, on January 31, 2012.
    Image caption: The Air France Boeing 777 ran into bad weather close to the coast of Cameroon (file picture)

    After diverting north to avoid storm clouds shortly after 21:00 local time, the plane's new route to Douala took it directly towards the mountain.

    An initial incident report published by French investigators said an automated warning, saying "Pull up", was activated. The plane then ascended quickly from 9,000ft (2,743m) to 13,000ft (3,962m) to avoid a collision.

    Map of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea
  3. Africa internet access 'doubles in five years'

    More than one in five Africans now have access to the internet, according to the latest figures from ITU, the UN agency for IT statistics. That's more than double the figures for 2010, when less than one in ten of those living in Africa had internet access.

    That means roughly 230 million people across the continent now have access to the internet, out of a total population of 1.1 billion.

    internet statistics
  4. Healing through music

    Senegalese griot Ablaye Cissoko has been speaking to Focus on Africa TV about his kora playing.

    "The kora is part of African art, the player heals the sick and brings answers to questions. Music is about bringing peace to the souls of men," he says.

    Griot

    You can see more of Ablaye Cissoko on BBC World News (outside the UK only) at 17:30 GMT.

  5. Burundi polls 'will go ahead'

    Elections in Burundi will still go ahead as planned, despite the government's appeal for citizens to donate their own money towards running them (see post at 12:43), Burundi's presidential spokesman Gervais Abayeho has told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio.

    "We don't anticipate that the government won't have enough money [to carry out the elections]," he said.

    protesters in Burundi
    Image caption: Protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza's third-term bid continued on Tuesday
  6. Mozambique's elephant population 'halved'

    The US-based Wildlife Conservation Society says poachers in Mozambique have killed nearly half the elephant population there in the last five years.

    Aerial surveys show numbers have decreased from about 20,000 to just over 10,000.

    The organisation says poachers have moved from neighbouring Tanzania, where the population has already been decimated.

    Elephants
    Image caption: Elephants are poached for their ivory tusks which are have become very popular in parts of Asia
  7. UN 'alarmed' by Burundi violence

    The UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein has expressed concern about recent events in Burundi.

    He told the UN's Human Rights Council that on a visit to Brundi in April he "was alarmed by the violence of the Imbonerakure militia, which is a strong supporter of President Nkurunziza's government, and by politically motivated harassment, threats, and hate speech".

    He said the situation has now got a lot worse and "many ordinary people still fear for their lives".

    Opposition protesters demonstrate by a burning barricade in the Buyenzi district of the capital Bujumbura, Burundi
    Image caption: Protests against President Nkurunziza's third-term bid are now in their fifth week
  8. Burundians 'fear for their lives'

    UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein has been speaking about the Burundi crisis:

  9. Kenyan bank to expand

    BBC Monitoring

    Equity Bank Managing Director

    Kenya's Equity Bank has announced it will take over ProCredit Bank, the leading bank in the small business sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya's Daily Nation reports.

    Equity Bank's Managing Director James Mwangi is quoted as saying this move will allow the bank to extend its mission of financial inclusion across Africa.

  10. Reaction to BBC Women's Footballer of the Year

    President of the Nigerian Football Federation Amaju Pinnock has been reacting to Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala winning the first ever BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award:

    "We are so excited and proud of Asisat, she's just 20, she's a star in the making."

    "I told our guys - look at the girls, they've been so patriotic, they believe the national flag is so sacred."

  11. 'Don't impose South Sudan sanctions'

    South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has warned against imposing sanctions on his country:

    There has been an upsurge in fighting between government troops and rebels in the north of the country in recent weeks. 

  12. 'Delighted' Oshoala

    Asisat Oshoala

    Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala is delighted to have won the first ever BBC Women's footballer of the Year award.

    "I feel very happy and appreciated," she said on receiving the award. "It's a great day for me."

  13. BBC Women's Footballer of the Year announced

    Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala has won the first ever BBC Women's Footballer of the Year competition.

    The 20-year old represented Nigeria at the under 20 World Cup in Canada last summer, winning the golden boot for the tournament's top scorer. 

    She currently plays for Liverpool Ladies in the Women's Super League, the highest league for women's football in England. 

    She was the first African player to appear in the league. She beat four other shortlisted finalists from Brazil, Spain, Germany and Scotland.

  14. Cholera 'under control'

    The UN refugee agency says that measures to contain the cholera outbreak among Burundian refugees in Tanzania "appear to be working".

    Thirty people have died from the disease so far, but the UN says that since Thursday there have been no new deaths, and the number of new cases per day is falling.

    There was a fear that the cholera outbreak could get out of control.

    Burundian refugee
    Image caption: Nearly 100,000 Burundians have fled the country since the third-term crisis began
  15. Inaugural BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award

    The first ever BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award will be announced live on a BBC World Have Your Say special at 14:00 GMT.

    Listen live to the programme here

    women footballers of the year

    Nigeria and Liverpool striker Asisat Oshoala is among the five nominees.

    Exciting, explosive and still only 20, Asisat Oshoala is the first player from Africa to compete in the Women's Super League.

    Asisat Oshoala and Ugo Njoku of Nigeria celebrate victory following the final whistle of the FIFA U-20 Women"s World Cup Canada 2014
    Image caption: Asisat Oshoala (l) celebrates Nigeria's semi-final victory at the Women's World Cup in 2014
  16. Sankara exhumation

    In Burkina Faso, the exhumation of what are thought to be the remains of former President Thomas Sankara continues for a second day, reports the BBC Thomas Fessy.

    His grave as well as those of 12 colleagues are being dug in a bid to identify the corpses.

    It is hoped that the exhumation may solve the mystery surrounding the exact circumstances of President Sankara's death when he was overthrown in a coup in 1987.

    A member of the security force prevents people from entering the Dagnoen Cemetery, as the graves of thirteen people including Burkina Faso revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara
    Image caption: People have been stopped from getting into the graveyard where the exhumation is taking place
  17. Marikana report release in June

    BBC reporter in South Africa

    South Africa's president has said that he will soon publish the report into the police killing of 34 miners during a strike at Marikana in 2012:

    President Zuma received the report in March and has been under pressure to release the details.

  18. Burundi summit on Sunday

    Hassan Mhelela

    BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Tanzania's foreign affairs ministry says that East African heads of state will be meeting in Dar es Salaam on Sunday to look once again at the situation in Burundi.

    The last time they met a fortnight ago there was an attempt to overthrow Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza while he was in Tanzania for the summit.

    Heads of state
    Image caption: East African heads of state have said Burundi's controversial elections should be postponed
  19. Kaberuka says farewell

    People have been tweeting about the final address by the outgoing president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Donald Kaberuka.

    He's speaking at the bank's annual meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

    The bank will elect its next president on Thursday.

  20. Burundi asks citizens for election donations

    Burundi's government has asked people to donate money to ensure the successful running of controversial elections scheduled for June. There have been weeks of violent protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term.

    In its appeal for donations, the government refers to the importance of reinforcing "a democratic culture based on the universal principle driven by the choice of the people".

    The Facebook post continues: "The government invites patriotic citizens convinced by this noble principle to make a voluntary contribution to push forward the efforts already agreed to by other friends of Burundi."

    President Pierre Nkurunziza
    Image caption: Nearly 100,000 people are estimated to have fled the country due to ongoing political unrest

    It then points people towards an account set up at the Bank of the Republic of Burundi under the name "ELECTIONS 2015".

    The EU is withholding $2.3m (£1.5m) of funding for the elections unless "conditions for a free, peaceful and credible election are secured". Former colonial power Belgium has also suspended $2.2m (£1.4m) funding for the elections.

  21. 'Rise' in suicide bombing

    The UN's children's organisation, Unicef, says there has been an alarming increase in the number of suicide attacks, many involving girls and young women in northern Nigeria.

    It says there were 27 suicide attacks so far this year compared with 26 in the whole of 2014.

  22. Punishment 'approved' in Zambia

    A survey carried out in Zambia on attitudes to physical punishment suggests that a large majority of women think it's acceptable for husbands to use it against their wives:

    The BBC's Meluse Kapatamoyo in the capital, Lusaka, was surprised at the results. She said this is not the view of the women she knows.

    27 May 2015: Afrobarometer has issued an apology to correct its survey, saying that in fact 87% of Zambians disapprove of husbands physically disciplining their wives.

  23. 'Human excrement'

    RFI reporter in Burundi

    David Thomson says he has seen evidence of an unusual tactic being used by protesters in the Cibitoke neighbourhood of the capital, Bujumbura. He tweets (in French): 

    "In #Cibitoke demonstrators are covering rocks in human excrement to prevent police from removing their barricades."

  24. South Africa's economy slows

    South Africa's economy grew at an annualised rate of 1.3% in the first three months of 2015, compared to a 4.1% growth rate in the in the fourth quarter of 2014, Statistics South Africa reports.

    The decline in the growth rate is partly due to a slowdown in the manufacturing sector. But a spokesman said it was hard to pinpoint the reason behind this - it could be either the erratic electricity supply or reduced demand.

  25. Malawi's tobacco sales

    Tobacco auction in Malawi

    Tobacco has been selling this morning at a lively auction in Malawi's commercial capital, Lilongwe, for $1.50 per kg, reports the BBC's Jason Boswell.

    The price has been stable in recent months.

    The crop is the country's biggest foreign exchange earner with up to 50,000 120kg bales are sold every week.

    Tobacco auction in Malawi
  26. Kenya's new black rhino

    Black Rhino calf

    A rare black rhino calf is being hand-reared in Kenya's Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, reports the Africa Geographic website.

    The male calf, which was born in April, is being hand-reared as the mother's previous offspring were attacked by predators, the website says.

  27. Burundi president 'welcomes back' refugees

    The Burundian presidency has posted photos on its Facebook page which it says show President Pierre Nkurunziza welcoming back Burundian refugees from Tanzania.

    The UN refugee agency estimates that since April, nearly 100,00 people have fled Burundi, as protests continue over the president's bid for a third term.

    Burundian refugees on way back from Tanzania

    The photos appear to show the president addressing a crowd of thousands on Monday on the banks of Lake Nyanza, near the Burundian border with Tanzania.

    Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza

    An estimated 75,000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring Tanzania due to the recent political unrest.

    drummers on shores of the lake
  28. Budget worries in Malawi

    Daily Times Malawi

    Budget cuts to Malawi's judiciary is the story leading the country's Daily Times newspaper.

    It reports that the judiciary is concerned that one section of its budget has been cut by more than half.

    A spokesman says "it could make it impossible to purchase new vehicles for judges", the paper says.

  29. Burundi protests continue

    Al-Jazeera reporter in Bujumbura

    There are reports of continuing protests in the Burundian capital Bujumbura over President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term. Al-Jazeera reporter Haru Mutasa has been tweeting from the neighbourhood of Nyakabiga.

  30. 'Stuck' at Lagos airport

    Kaura Abubakar

    The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar is among hundreds of passengers stuck at the domestic airport terminal in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos.

    He was booked on a morning flight which was cancelled because of the continued fuel shortage despite a deal being reached between the oil wholesalers and the government.

    He is trying to get on another flight, but it is not clear when the next one is taking off.

    Queues at airport

    He also says that at one point the power went out in the terminal building.

    The oil wholesalers say they have released fuel for nationwide distribution, but it may take a few days before the situation returns to normal.

  31. 'Only one injured'

    Kenya Interior Ministry

  32. One Kenya policeman injured

    There are conflicting reports of the outcome of an al-Shabab ambush on police in eastern Kenya.

    There had been suggestions that there were a number of deaths but Kenya's Ministry of Internal Security says that only one police officer was injured

    Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka told the BBC there was a fierce exchange of fire between the police and the militants.

  33. Al-Shabab claims Kenya police attack

    BBC Monitoring

    Somali militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for an attack on Kenyan policemen in north-eastern Garissa County, according to pro-al-Shabab website Somali Memo.

    In a statement on the site, the group's military spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab said the attack was carried out by special "mujahideen" forces.

  34. Kenya police officers 'missing'

    Standard story

    Kenya's Standard newspaper is now reporting that 13 police officers are missing after the al-Shabab attack in Garissa country, quoting officials, but it is not talking about confirmed deaths.

    The newspaper says that security chiefs are currently holding a "crisis meeting" in Nairobi.

  35. Kenya police attacked

    Several policemen in Kenya are feared dead after a suspected al-Shabab militant attack in Garissa County in the east of the country.

    The officers are said to have run into an ambush on their way to the town of Yumbis which has been targeted by the jihadist group over the past week.

    Al-Shabab has carried out frequent attacks in Kenya including a siege on the Garissa University College in April when 148 people were killed.

    People listen as an artist gives a speech on the stage during a memorial concert held for the victims of an attack on Garissa University College that killed more than 150 people, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, 14 April
    Image caption: Victims of the al-Shabab attack at Garissa University College in April were mourned across Kenya
  36. Wise Words

    Today's African proverb: A bird hanging between two branches will get bitten on both wings. An Ethiopian proverb sent by Den, Houston, The US.

    Click here to send your proverbs.

  37. Good Morning

    Welcome to the BBC Africa Live Page, where we'll be bringing you news from across the continent, as it happens.

    Our top story at the moment is the deadly al-Shabab ambush on Kenyan police. Tweet us using the hashtag #AfricaLive with your story suggestions.