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Live Reporting

Clare Spencer and Damian Zane

All times stated are UK

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  1. Scroll down for Friday's stories

    That's all for today

    We're closing the BBC Africa Live page for the weekend but we'll be back on Monday to update you on stories from across the continent.

    Today's African proverb: "A bird that chooses to perch on a rope should be ready to dance with the rope." Sent by Emmanuel Ukaegbu, Chester, UK.

    Click here to send us your African proverbs.

    We leave you with a reminder that you don't need to save tinsel for Christmas from one man in Africa's week in pictures.

    A Kenyan stands in front of a placard depicting US president Barack Obama as he waits for his arrival near a stadium in Nairobi 26 July 2015
  2. Nigerian takes charge of regional anti-Boko Haram force

    Nigerian Maj Gen Ilyasu Abbah formally took charge of the regional force that's been set up by Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin to tackle Boko Haram.

    Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said today that the force will "lead to the speedy defeat and elimination of Boko Haram".

    Mr Buhari is due to go to Benin tomorrow to meet President Boni Yayi.

  3. 'Brave rangers'

    Wildlife cameraman James Suter from South Africa's Black Bean Productions has posted this film on Instagram for World Ranger Day - to celebrate those who protect wildlife.

    "And as you can imagine a very important day for me. It's a day to celebrate what these brave men and women do everyday," he says.

    View more on instagram
  4. Rangers in the firing line

    As some people around the world continue to express outrage over the killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe, the Game Rangers' Association of Africa remind us of the rangers who have died trying to protect animals: 

  5. Calais migrants dispaly an anti-racism message

    A BBC reporter who's covering the issue of migrants gathering in the northern French city of Calais has spotted an ironic message one of them has written:

  6. Tools to manage your farm from the city

    Water scientist Kala Fleming is working on a piece of technology in Kenya which could help people stay in the city and visit their farms at the weekend.

    Dr Kala Fleming IBM
    Image caption: Water scientist Dr Kala Fleming is leading the EZ-Farm project for IBM

    She works on Tech giant IBM's EZ-Farm project which is trialling a sensor which monitors the amount of water in the soil and infrared cameras which measure rates of photosynthesis.

    All this data is streamed wirelessly to farmers' phones so they can stay in the city longer.

    Read more about the rise of so-called telephone farmers on the BBC News website.

  7. Museveni celebrates his government's achievements

    In addition to a tweet about the fact that wanting to be the governing party's presidential candidate in the next election was not just his idea, President Museveni has been trumpeting his achievements.

    Except in this message he talks about 'minimum economic recovery'. We're not sure what he means:

  8. Uganda's Museveni said candidacy bid is not just his idea

    Uganda's President Museveni said today that he hopes to be the governing NRM party's presidential candidate in the 2016 election.

    If successful he'll be running for a fifth term, but in a tweet he says other people were involved in the decision:

  9. Safari hunters "not welcome" in Botswana

    The government of Botswana have made clear its position on trophy hunters such as the US dentist who killed Cecil the Lion in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

    Cecil the lion
    Image caption: Cecil was a major tourist attraction in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park

    In a press statement, a spokesman said sport hunters were "not welcome in Botswana".

    "Safari hunting of threatened species such as lions has the potential to undermine our regional anti-poaching efforts as it encourages illegal trade which in turn promotes poaching," the statement added.

    The country banned hunting in 2014.

  10. 'That kind of trivia'

    Here's how Olushambles from our satire Resident Presidents analyses US President Obama's trip to Kenya and Ethiopia earlier this week:

    "Obama and East Africa's leaders saw eye-to eye on everything apart from human rights, homosexuality, accountability, third terms of office, that kind of trivia."

    Listen on Sound Cloud.

    Resdient Presidents
  11. NBA game to being 'hope' to future generation

    Luol Deng

    Luol Deng, a basketball star from South Sudan, has said everyone is excited about Saturday's first-ever NBA game in Africa.

    A team of NBA stars from Africa are taking on a world team in Johannesburg.

    "It's going to be fun," he told the BBC, "I really don't know what to expect.

    "The game coming to the continent just brings hope and belief for all these kids who are watching, they can see where we're from and know that the game is really trying to reach them."

  12. Museveni is 'our sole candidate'

    Museveni supporters

    Supporters of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni have been celebrating his announcement that he wants to be the governing party's candidate in the 2016 presidential election.

    If nominated - which looks likely - he will be running for a fifth term.

    One supporter told the BBC: "We have our leader, a visionary leader and... he is our sole candidate because we are not confused. We know what we want."

    Museveni supporters

    Former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, who had said he was going to run against Mr Museveni for the party's nomination, has pulled out of the race.

  13. Billionaire matches Cecil donations

    An American billionaire philanthropist has agreed to match every dollar donated to the conservation unit who were tracking Cecil the Lion until he was killed by a US hunter.

    Tom Kaplan has capped the offer at Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at $100,000 (£64,000).

    The organisation has already raised £300,000 to continue tracking Cecil's pride, reports the BBC's Tom Turrell.

    Tourist Ronna Tom shot this video of Cecil in 2010 which shows his collar that researchers used to track him:

    View more on youtube
  14. Why are South African universities better?

    Six out of the 10 top African universities are in South Africa, according to a list by Times Higher Education journal.

    Ugandan Ventorino Otto took his masters degree in South Africa and tells us on Facebook the experience was "world's apart" from his own country.

    He thinks a secret to South African success is because they get more money from a specific source:

    "Just think of how much money SA universities make from govt-sponsored students from all over Africa... and interest earned from delayed payments!"

    Ctudents celebrate their graduation at Cape Town university in 2013
  15. 'Boko Haram' arrests in Cameroon

    Randy Joe Sa'ah

    BBC News, Yaounde

    Cameroonian security officers have detained two suspected Boko Haram members carrying explosives.

    Their arrests comes in the wake of tightened security aimed at preventing suicide attacks.

    The men - in their early 20s - were picked up as they entered the northern city of Maroua following a top off from an informant.

    The arrests come just over a week after two attacks killed more than 30 people in the city.

    Security forces use blanket to transport victims of Wednesday's attacks in Maroua 22/07/2015
    Image caption: One of this month's attacks in Maroua were said to have been carried out by two young girls
  16. Ebola survivor welcomes vaccine news

    A Liberian health worker who survived Ebola has welcomed the news that there could soon be a vaccine against the virus.

    Philip Ireland

    Dr Philip Ireland told BBC Focus on Africa radio that "it's the best thing to happen in this region".

    The vaccine, which in early tests has proved 100% effective, could be used to protect health workers who are in close proximity to people with Ebola.

    Dr Ireland said the vaccine "will instil the kind of confidence we need to treat out patients".

  17. Ebola vaccine trial 'very promising'

    Ebola health poster
    Image caption: More than 11,000 people have died from Ebola in West Africa in the recent outbreak

    An Ebola vaccine could be available within months if tests continue to prove that it is effective in preventing infection.

    Trials from Guinea show that the vaccine offered protection to everyone who got it.

    Prof Peter Smith, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who advised on the study, told BBC Focus on Africa radio that the results were "very promising".

    "There is potential for using the vaccine on those who are in close proximity to an Ebola case.... and that may help to bring the current outbreak to an end.

    "And if there are further outbreaks of Ebola elsewhere it will be possible to go in very quickly."

  18. Donations flood in for Cecil the Lion's researchers

    Cecil the Lion

    Researchers at Oxford University who studied Cecil the lion have received more than £230,000 ($360,000) in donations since the animal was killed by a hunter.

    A conservation unit in the Department of Zoology has satellite-tracked the famous lion's movements since 2008.

    The project will now study the effect of Cecil's death on the surviving lions in his pride, including his cubs, which the unit's founder Prof David Macdonald said could now be at risk.

    Cecil the Lion with a collar
    Image caption: Cecil the lion had been tracked since 2008
  19. '6 ft 10 and not even playing basketball yet'

    There are a growing number of players from Africa who are coming into American basketball, says the NBA Africa Vice President Amadou Gallo Fall.

    Amadou Gallo Fall

    He told the BBC that 25% of players in the NBA come from outside the US.

    But he sees an opportunity for more players from Africa:

    "You see 6 ft 10 kids not starting to play basketball until their late teens" he said.

    He was speaking on the eve of a game in Johannesburg which sees a team of African NBA stars take on a team from the rest of the world.

  20. What we don't know about the Ebola vaccine

    There are a few caveats to the news that a new vaccine against the Ebola virus offers 100% protection.

    Ben Neuman a lecturer in virology at the University of Reading, UK points out a few of the things we still don't know:

    • We don't know how it works with the immune system to stop Ebola
    • It wasn't tested on children - or pregnant women, who are a high-risk group
    • We don't know how long the effects of the vaccine last.
    A woman gets vaccinated on 10 March 2015 at a health centre in Conakry during the first clinical trials of the VSV-EBOV vaccine against the Ebola virus
    Image caption: The clinical trial in Guinea vaccinated the friends, neighbours and family of each Ebola patient to create a protective ring
  21. Uganda's Museveni pledges to tackle government corruption

    Patience Atuhaire

    Kampala, Uganda

    President Museveni speaking

    Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has been speaking about why he wants a fifth tem in office.

    He was addressing supporters outside the governing party's office where he went to pick up nomination papers to become the NRM's presidential candidate in next year's election.

    He said his government had cleaned up the army and other public institutions, and now he would deal with corruption in government departments as well.

    Museveni poster

    Mr Museveni is the only person to have picked up the nomination forms to become the NRM's presidential candidates so far.

  22. NBA stars are warming up in Johanesburg

    Players from NBA Team Africa have been warming up at the basketball arena in South Africa where they're due to take on a rest of the world side tomorrow:

  23. Ebola vaccine trial potential 'game changer'

    Vaccine trial

    A vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus has led to 100% protection and could transform the way Ebola is tackled, preliminary results suggest.

    There were no proven drugs or vaccines against the virus at the start of the largest outbreak of Ebola in history, which began in Guinea in 2014.

    The World Health Organization said the findings, being published in the Lancet, could be a "game-changer".

    Experts said the results were "remarkable". Read the BBC News story for more.

  24. Uganda's Museveni picks up nomination papers

    Patience Atuhaire

    Kampala, Uganda

    President Museveni

    Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has arrived at the headquarters of his NRM party to collect nominations papers for the race to become its presidential candidate next year.

    He was greeted by party officials:

    President Museveni being greeted

    Amama Mbabazi, the man considered to be the big rival for the party's candidacy, has now dropped out of the NRM race.

    If Mr Museveni is nominated, he will be running for a fifth presidential term.

  25. Religious sign 'appears' on wall in Mali

    Alex Duval Smith

    BBC Africa, Bamako, Mali

    Stain on the wall

    Thousands of people are flocking to see the outside wall of a toilet in central Bamako, Mali's capital, where a vision of a praying man is said to have appeared.

    A white image appeared on the wall last Saturday evening and has been changing shape ever since.

    People have formed long queues outside the compound of the Traore family near the Ousmane Kalapo mosque.

    People queuing

    When I visited the compound the image seemed like a drying patch of cement in the shape of a standing woman.

    "It changes shape every day. Sometimes the white apparition leaves the wall altogether and moves around the compound. Then it goes back," said Aliou Traore, who lives in the compound.

    People queuing
  26. Hunter 'tarnishes' Zimbabwe's image

    Here are some more quotes from Zimbabwe's Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri on the call for the extradition of the US hunter, Walter Palmer, who killed Cecil the lion.

    "As we frantically try to protect our wildlife from organised gangs such as this one, there are people... who can connive to undermine Zimbabwean laws," she said.

    "One can conclude with confidence that Dr Palmer, being an American citizen, had a well-orchestrated agenda which would tarnish the image of Zimbabwe and further strain the relationship between Zimbabwe and the USA."

    Mr Palmer has admitted killing the lion but says that he believed he was on a legal hunt.

    Cecil the lion
  27. Is there really only one Nigeria university in top ten?

    There's been some scepticism about the list of Africa's top universities (see the post at 11:18). 

    One tweeter questioned the result that only one Nigerian institution made it into the top ten:

    The tweeter, who also blogs about Nigerian security, linked to an article from This Day which says a list by the Journals Consortium put ten Nigerian universities in the African top 50.

    What do you think Africa's best universities are? Tweet to @BBCAfrica and use #BBCAfricaLive to let us know.

  28. Lupita to debut on New York stage

    Lupita in green dress

    Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o is set to make her New York stage debut in September in a new play set during the Liberian civil war, reports the New York Times.

    Eclipsed, by playwright Danai Gurira, is about a group of women held captive by rebels during the conflict.

  29. Excitement about NBA in South Africa

    Africa is taking on the rest of the world in a basketball match which pits African NBA stars against a team made up of NBA players from elsewhere.

    It will be the first NBA game on the continent.

    It's being hosted in Johannesburg and South Africa's minister of sport is getting caught up in the excitement:

  30. Africa's best universities

    UCT
    Image caption: The University of Cape Town has been listed as the continent's best university

    A survey of the best universities in Africa has put six South African institutions in the top 10 and only one Nigerian.

    The Times Higher Education journal has ranked the universities based on the amount of citations there are for the university's work.

    The top 10 are:

    1. University of Cape Town - South Africa
    2. University of the Witwatersrand - South Africa
    3. Makerere University - Uganda
    4. University of Stellenbosch - South Africa
    5. University of KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa
    6. University of Port Harcourt - Nigeria
    7. University of the Western Cape - South Africa
    8. University of Nairobi - Kenya
    9. University of Johannesburg - South Africa
    10. Universite Cadi Ayyad - Morocco
  31. Why the NBA set up Team Africa

    As basketball fans gear up for the game between Team Africa and Team World tomorrow, USA Today pinpoints why the NBA are interested in Africa.

    It says, Africa is most likely the place where the next basketball stars will be found.

    As well as the game, the NBA has selected 60 of Africa's best players for a three-day training camp called Basketball Without Borders.

    NBA players Joel Embiid, Gorgui Dieng and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute are among former Basketball Without Borders participants, USA Today points out.

    Joel Embiid
    Image caption: Cameroonian Joel Embiid was discovered at a basketball camp by Luc Mbah a Moute
  32. Zimbabwe wants US to extradite hunter

    Zimbabwe is calling for the extradition from the US of the hunter accused of illegally killing a lion.

    Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri told a press conference in the capital, Harare, that Walter Palmer should be "made accountable for his illegal actions".

    The lion he killed was known as Cecil, who was distinctive because of his black mane, and was a big draw for tourists.

    Mr Palmer has admitted killing the lion but says that he believed he was on a legal hunt.

    Cecil
  33. How to prevent migrant deaths on the English Channel

    More accommodation should be provided in France to dissuade migrants from risking their lives trying to cross the English Channel, which separates France from England.

    That's the suggestion the UNHCR spokesman Philippe Leclerc gave on BBC Newsday.

    He said when people arrive from Eritrea and Somalia, among other countries, "both Italy and France are not offering what they expect".

    "The process is too slow and people who didn't intend to go to the UK do."

    Migrants in Calais
    Image caption: Eurotunnel says incursions are now a nightly occurrence
  34. 'Warrior' waiting to greet President Museveni

    Patience Atuhaire

    Kampala, Uganda

    MP for Moroto Municipality in Karamoja region, Simon Peter Aleper, dressed like a Karimojong warrior.

    Continuing the theme of people getting dressed up for Uganda's President Museveni, here's Simon Peter Aleper, MP for Moroto Municipality in Karamoja region, eastern Uganda.

    He has come as a Karamojong warrior, and is waiting at the headquarters of the governing NRM party for Mr Museveni to pick up his nomination papers to become the party's presidential candidate at the next election.

  35. Uganda's ex-PM will not challenge Museveni within the party

    Uganda's former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi says he will not be challenging President Yoweri Museveni to become the governing NRM party's presidential candidate next year.

    But he will be an independent candidate instead.

    A spokesperson for Mr Mbabazi has been laying out the position in a series of tweets:

    Despite saying he will challenge President Museveni as an independent candidate, Mr Mbabazi will not be leaving the NRM:

  36. Chad reintroduces death penalty

    Parliament in Chad has voted to reinstate the death penalty for acts of terrorism after it was abolished six months ago.

    The move follows recent attacks by Islamist militants Boko Haram.

    N'Djamena
    Image caption: The full Islamic veil and begging in the capital N'Djamena are already banned

    Civil right activists are criticising the new anti-terror legislation saying it will be used to curb civil liberties.

  37. Dressed up for Museveni

    People are still arriving at the headquarters of Uganda's governing NRM party, ready to welcome President Yoweri Museveni as he comes to pick up the nomination papers to become the party's presidential candidate for the next election.

    The BBC's Patience Atuhaire has been sending us more pictures of what they're wearing:

    Museveni rosette
    Woman in Museveni t-shirt
  38. Indians kidnapped in Libya

    Four Indian teachers have been kidnapped in Libya, India's foreign ministry has said.

    On their way back to India, the four were abducted at a checkpoint near the city of Sirte, where they were teaching at a university.

    "We are in regular touch with the families concerned and all efforts are being made to ensure the well-being and early release of the four Indian nationals," India's foreign ministry said in a statement.

    University of Sirte
    Image caption: The Indians were teaching at the University of Sirte
  39. Slump in birth registrations in Liberia

    The Liberian government estimate 70,000 babies' births have not been registered in Liberia during the Ebola outbreak.

    Maternity wards were forced to close last year as health workers were infected.

    Liberian mother and baby

    Birth registrations plummeted by almost 40% compared to 2013, says Unicef.

    Unicef's representative in Liberia Sheldon Yett told AFP news agency that unregistered children won't be able to get identity documents, and will be in danger of being trafficked or illegally adopted.

  40. Ready to welcome Museveni

    Patience Atuhaire

    Kampala, Uganda

    Museveni supporters

    Supporters of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni are getting ready to welcome him to the headquarters of the governing NRM party in the capital, Kamapala.

    He is expected to pick up his nomination papers to become the party's presidential candidate later today.

    Mr Museveni will be running for his fifth term in office, but may face a challenge within the party from former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi.

    Museveni supporters
  41. Bomb kills five in Nigeria

    At least five people have been killed by a bomb near a market in Maiduguri in north-eastern Nigeria witnesses told the BBC.

    No-one has claimed responsibility for the bombing yet.

    Boko Haram was founded in Maiduguri more than 10 years ago, and has carried out several attacks there.

    Nigeria's military began moving its headquarters to the town in June.

  42. Wise words

    Today's African proverb: "A bird that chooses to perch on a rope should be ready to dance with the rope." Sent by Emmanuel Ukaegbu, Chester, UK

    Birds on telephone wire

    To send in your proverb click here and scroll to the bottom for the form.

  43. Good morning

    Welcome to the BBC Africa Live page for today where we'll be keeping you up-to-date with stories on the continent.