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Live Reporting

Dickens Olewe and Damian Zane

All times stated are UK

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  1. Scroll down for Friday's stories

    We'll be back on Monday

    That's all from the BBC Africa Live page today. Keep up-to-date with what's happening across the continent by listening to the Africa Today podcast or checking the BBC News website

    A reminder of today's wise words:

    Quote Message: Persistence is more effective than charms." from A Tiv proverb sent by Iorhen Kwange, Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria
    A Tiv proverb sent by Iorhen Kwange, Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria

    Click here to send us your African proverbs.

    We leave you this image from our selection of some of the best pictures from the continent this week of people breaking their Ramadan fast in Benghazi, Libya. 

    People breaking their fast in Libya
  2. 'Changing the nation' one kick at a time

    Sonwabise Dick comes from one of the toughest suburbs in the South African city of Cape Town.

    She's a professional footballer who uses her love of the sport to motivate young girls and women.The BBC's Stanley Kwenda visited her at the Manchester City Football Club headquarters in England, where she was visiting for a leadership course being run by the Premier League club.  

    Video content

    Video caption: 'Football unites people'
  3. 2016 Caine Prize shortlist: Lidudumalingani

    The winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing, will be announced next week.

    The $15,000 prize is for the best original short story by an African writer, published in English.

    This week on the BBC Africa Live page we've been featuring extracts from some of the short-listed stories

    Today's offering is by South African Lidudumalingani and his story is entitled "Memories We Lost."

    Video content

    Video caption: Listen to South African Lidudumalingani whose story is entitled "Memories We Lost."
  4. UN calls for AU to investigate Eritrea alleged rights abuses

    The UN's Human Rights Council has called on the African Union to investigate Eritrean leaders for alleged crimes against humanity. 

    In a resolution, it says the AU investigation should focus on bringing those responsible to justice. 

    Eritrea has described the resolution as unfair and unjust. 

    Last month, a UN-appointed Commission of Inquiry found that widespread and systematic crimes against humanity, including enslavement, murder and torture, have been committed in Eritrea for the past 25 years. 

    The AU has no prosecutor or court system but played a key role in setting up a special court to try Chad's former leader Hissene Habre.

    Eritrea protest
    Image caption: Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia held protest against the Ertirean government last week
  5. Tunisian doctor died in Istanbul looking for son who joined IS

    A Tunisian military doctor was killed in the Istanbul airport attacks after travelling to Turkey to bring back his son who had joined the so-called Islamic State.

    Brig Gen Fathi Bayoudh was reportedly trying to secure the release of his son, who had been detained by Turkish troops on the border with Syria.

    The BBC's Rana Jawad reports from Tunis. 

    (Some people may find images in this report disturbing.)

    Video content

    Video caption: Brig Gen Fathi Bayoudh was reportedly trying to secure the release of his son
  6. Zambia NGOs call for action to tackle gender-based violence

    Meluse Kapatamoyo

    BBC Africa, Lusaka

    NGOs in Zambia have spoken out about what they see as a lack of action when it comes to dealing with gender-based violence in the country.

    Meeting in the capital, Lusaka, the organisations condemned the the lack of intervention for such attacks: 

    Quote Message: The intensity of the violence and the impunity with which the violence is committed is shocking. Lack of remorse among onlookers who even laugh and make fun of the barbaric act is a sign of moral degradation. "
    Zambia NGOs meeting
    Zambia NGO meeting

    The organisations say that the violence has also moved online. 

    Earlier this week, a video of a woman being physically and sexually assaulted by a group of men emerged on social media sparking outrage.

    Three suspects are in custody but the police are yet to arrest the main suspect.

  7. Kenya's Instagram entrepreneurs

    Getting into the retail business in Kenya can prove difficult for small start-ups. High set-up costs, expensive rent and complex regulations create significant barriers to entry.

    But now a new breed of Kenyan entrepreneurs are turning to social media to find a way around all that.

    From Nairobi, the BBC's Nancy Kacungira finds out more for Africa Business Report.

    Video content

    Video caption: Kenya's Instagram entrepreneurs
  8. Kidnapped Sierra Leone diplomat was going to graduation ceremony

    Martin Patience

    BBC News, Nigeria correspondent

    Sierra Leone’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria has been kidnapped in the north of the country, say Sierra Leonean officials.  

    Maj-Gen Nelson-Williams is understood to have been abducted in Kaduna state were he was travelling to attend a graduation ceremony at a military base. 

    Sierra Leone’s Information Minister Mohamed Bangura told the BBC the Nigerian authorities assured him they were doing all they could to rescue the deputy high commissioner. 

    Kidnapping for ransom is common in some parts of the country. 

    Even so, the abduction of a senior diplomat will be hugely embarrassing for the Nigerian government.

  9. Kenya human rights groups plan big march to protest extrajudicial killings

    Human rights organisations in Kenya have announced plans to hold a protest on Monday to express outrage over the killings of lawyer Willie Kimani, and his taxi driver. 

    His client is also believed to be dead.

    The organisations have called on lawyers and taxi drivers to join the demonstration.

    The group plans to hand over petitions to the offices of the police, the president and parliament.

    The three men disappeared shortly after leaving court where Mr Kimani was pursuing a case of police brutality.

    Screenshot of a tweet
    Image caption: The last tweet of lawyer Willie Kimani
  10. Exiled Ethiopian journalists on hunger strike

    Emmanuel Igunza

    BBC Africa, Nairobi

    A group of Ethiopian journalists living in exile in Kenya are holding a hunger strike to protest against the treatment of an opposition politician who is critically ill in Ethiopia.

    The authorities have denied permission for him to leave the country to get treatment. 

    Ethiopian journalists

    Habtamu Ayelew was arrested in July 2014 and charged with terrorism for allegedly working with banned opposition group Ginbot 7. 

    His family says he was tortured while in detention and refused access to medical treatment causing his health to deteriorate. 

    Even though a high court ruling acquitted him of the charges, the prosecution is appealing against that decision.

    The 18 exiled journalists on hunger strike say Mr Habtamu will likely not survive if he does not get proper treatment.

  11. SA government's Twitter account hits back

    Whoever is in charge of the South African government's Twitter account today has decided to directly respond to criticisms.

    Earlier it posted this:

    One person responded:

    And the answer to that:

    And someone else had a query:

    And that got a response:

  12. Zimbabwe activist who abused Mugabe hands himself in

    We reported earlier that Zimbabwean activist Lumumba Lumumba has got himself in trouble for using highly offensive language to criticise President Robert Mugabe. He was speaking during the launch of his party, Viva Zimbabwe. 

    Mr Lumumba has now handed himself in. 

    Police had been looking for him since he made the remarks on Thursday. 

    One of his party colleagues told the BBC's Brian Hungwe in Harare that Mr Lumumba insulted the president because he was frustrated with what is happening in the country.

  13. Nigerian engineer designs and builds a '100% Nigerian' tractor

    Isa Sanusi

    BBC Africa, Abuja

    UK-trained Nigerian engineer Timothy Addigi Terfa is getting ready to launch a Nigerian-built tractor. 

    Tractor in action

    Mr Terfa said: "I designed and built this tractor, which is 100% Nigerian, with a team of skilled individuals."

    He has called the tractor Ijodo, meaning labour in the Tiv language.

    Tractor in action

    The tractor is designed with different attachments to cover a variety of farm jobs.

    For many, agriculture is still manual in Nigeria because of the high cost of farm machinery.

    Some Ijodo tractors have been sold, but the engineer is looking for more investment.

    Mr Terfa wants to inspire others:

    Quote Message: My greatest desire is that someone out there will be encouraged and motivated to do something with the ideas they have to make Nigeria better."
  14. Sierra Leone diplomat kidnapped in northern Nigeria

    Umaru Fofana

    BBC Africa, Freetown

    Sierra Leone’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Maj Gen Alfred Nelson-Williams has been kidnapped in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna state. 

    The country's high commission in Abuja has confirmed the news. 

    The identity of the kidnappers is not known, but they have been in touch to demand a ransom.

    Gen Nelson-Williams is a former head of Sierra Leone's army. 

  15. Uganda drops Russian company for South Korean to build oil refinery

    Patience Atuhaire

    BBC Africa, Kampala

    Uganda's government has suspended negotiations with a Russian company, Rostec Global Resources Consortium, which had been offered a deal to build Uganda's oil refinery. 

    A government statement says the consortium made additional demands after a final agreement had been reached.

    The contract has now been offered to South Korean company, SK Engineering, which had come second in the original bidding process.  

    There is speculation that the change is related to South Korean President Park Geun-hye's visit to Uganda in May.

    South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye (R) drinks a toast with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni (L)
    Image caption: President Yoweri Museveni welcomed his South Korean counterpart in May
  16. Seven convicted of rape of school student in Chad

    Abdourahmane Dia

    BBC Afrique

    In Chad, seven men on trial for the alleged rape of a high school student in February have been found guilty and sentenced to 10 years hard labour. 

    The crime, which was filmed and posted on the internet, led to a huge outcry in the country. 

    It led to a series of rare demonstrations in the capital, Ndjamena.

    The high-profile case even got the country's long-serving President Idriss Deby involved. 

    On a social media post, he denounced this "barbaric, shameful and unspeakable act" and promised that justice would be done. 

    The case has further political significance as the victim is the daughter of an opposition leader.

    Idriss Deby
    Image caption: President Idriss Deby condemned the rape
  17. Analysis: Kenyans' uneasy relationship with police

    Nancy Kacungira

    BBC Africa, Nairobi

    The relationship between Kenyans and their police force hasn't always been an easy one.

    Kenya police
    Image caption: The police service has worked to improve its image over the past 10 years

    Just a week ago, the police spokesperson came out to ask Kenyans to change their perception of the police:

    Quote Message: There is pervading fear among the public as they believe that law enforcers are working with criminals." from Police spokesperson Charles Owino
    Police spokesperson Charles Owino

    He’s not wrong. Many victims of crime would rather forsake justice than go through the process of dealing with the police. 

    It is largely seen as a fruitless and frustrating endeavour.

    The police service has worked to improve its image over the past 10 years - dropping the word "force" from its official title in favour of "service", vetting officers, instituting community policing and establishing gender and children desks.

    But it appears that the more recent incidents of police beating protesters at a demonstration, and a wave of controversial killings, are still sending the Kenyan public a much louder message.

  18. Dutch parliament 'moves to protect Eritreans'

    The Dutch parliament has passed a resolution calling for action against the Eritrean government for its activities in the Netherlands, former BBC Africa editor Martin Plaut reports

    This would include a ban on supporters of the ruling party – the PFDJ – from working in the Dutch immigration service where they have acted as translators.

    Some 14,000 Eritreans and their supporters had signed a petition to parliament before the debate.

    Mr Plaut has summarised the key points from the resolution:

    Staement
  19. Kenya Olympic trials continue in Eldoret

    It's day two of the trials to get into Kenya's Olympics athletics team.

    Kenya has one of the world's best athletics teams and came top of the medals table at the world athletics championships in Beijing last year.

    The BBC's Abdinoor Aden is covering the event and has sent some pictures of some of the hopefuls: 

    Kenyan athletes
    Image caption: Vivian Cheruiyot ( L) won the 10,000 metres
    Kenyan athlete
    Image caption: Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor, favourite for the men's 10,000 metre race dropped out
    Kenyan athlete
    Image caption: Paul Tanui won the men's 10,000m race