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Live Reporting

Dickens Olewe and Farouk Chothia

All times stated are UK

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  1. Scroll down for Wednesday's stories

    We'll be back tomorrow

    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: He who adorns himself knows to what sort of dance he is going." from A Kikuyu proverb sent by Bella Mwangi, Kenya
    A Kikuyu proverb sent by Bella Mwangi, Kenya

    Click here to send your African proverbs of the day.

    And we leave you with this picture of a retailer selling colourful cloths at the Al Hutaib Emporium in Uhuru Street in Tanzania's city of Dar es Salaam:

    View more on instagram
  2. Chaos in Nigeria's PDP worsens

    Naziru Mikailu

    BBC Abuja editor

    A faction of Nigeria's main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the tenure of its interim leader, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, for another year, despite the fact that its annual convention had to be abandoned today.

    Police blocked delegates gathering at the venue in the southern city of Port Harcourt following a court ruling cancelling the event - a case brought by another faction of the party.

    Splits in the PDP mean there are two leaders, and the other camp supports former Borno state governor Ali Madu Sheriff.

    Not to be dissuaded by the police, some PDP officials in Port Harcourt met elsewhere to show their support for Mr Makarfi.

    He told the BBC Hausa Service: 

    Quote Message: "We have met and discussed all the issues and we will continue to unite our great party by reaching out to the other faction."

    The party descended into chaos immediately after losing last year's general elections.  

    See earlier post for more details

  3. Deadly protest over Mali radio pundit's arrest

    Mary Harper

    Africa editor, BBC World Service

    Protesters in Mali calling for the release of a radio pundit known as Ras Bath

    At least one person has been killed and several others injured in clashes between the security forces and protesters in Mali’s capital, Bamako.

    The violence started after supporters of a radio pundit, who was arrested on Monday, gathered outside a court where he was making an appearance.

    Popularly known as Ras Bath, he has criticised the Malian army and President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in recent days.

    Police are reported to have fired tear gas at the protesters after they threw stones and set vehicles alight.

  4. Rio Olympics: Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi announces retirement

    Flamboyant Kenyan athlete Ezekiel Kemboi has announced his retirement, hours after winning bronze in the 3,000m steeplechase, Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper is reporting. 

    His compatriot Conseslus Kipruto won the race in Rio, breaking the Olympic record. Kemboi is a two-time Olympic champion.

    He will also be remembered for his famous jig in 2013 in Daegu, South Korea, after winning the race.

    Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi celebrates after winning the men's 3000 metres steeplechase final at the 2013
    Image caption: Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi celebrates after winning the men's 3000 metres steeplechase final at the 2013
  5. Rio Olympics: Round-up and tonight's schedule

    Kenya's Julius Yego is world's Javelin champion
    Image caption: Kenya's Julius Yego is world's javelin champion

    Kenya's Conseslus Kipruto won gold and set a new Olympic record in the men's 3,000m beating compatriot Ezekiel Kemboi who came third. 

    Surprisingly, no Kenyan qualified for the 5,000m final. 

    South Africa's Caster Semenya also eased through the women's 800m semifinals amidst controversy that has dogged her. She'll need the same steely performance tomorrow to brush off the negative press she's getting. 

    There are several events tonight, the headliner is Kenya's Julius Yego, who is the Javelin world champion. Here's a list of other events to look out for:

    Men’s Javelin Qualifiers starts at 19:30 GMT

    (Anyone throwing more that throws more than 83 m or the next best 12 performers qualify for Saturday’s final)

    • South Africa’s Rocco Van Rooyen
    • Kenya’s Julius Yego (reigning World Champion)
    • Ghana’s John Ampomah

    Women’s 100m Hurdles semi-finals start at 11:45 GMT

    • Nigeria’s Oluwatonilola Amusan

    (First 2 in each heat and the next fastest 2 from the three semi-finals progress to the final later on Wednesday at 01:55 GMT)

    Women’s Long jump FINAL starts at 00:15 GMT

    • Nigeria’s Ese Brume

    Men’s 200m semi-finals  01:05 GMT

    HEAT 2:

    • Nigeria’s Ejowvokoghene ‘Divine’ ODUDURU

    (First 2 in each heat and the next fastest 2 from the three semi-finals progress to Thursday’s final)

    Women’s 200m FINAL 01:30 GMT:

    • Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou

    Women’s 100m FINAL 01:55 GMT

    • Semi-finals are earlier in the evening
  6. Wayde van Niekerk victory: Is Usain Bolt a fortune teller?

    South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk sensationally broke the 400m world record and won an Olympic gold medal on Sunday, finishing in 43.03 seconds - 0.15 quicker than the time Michael Johnson clocked in Seville in 1999.

    BBC Focus on Africa's Peter Okwoche caught up with the 24-year-old to discuss the race and how seven-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt, with whom he has spent time in Jamaica, gave him huge confidence.  

    Video content

    Video caption: Wayde van Niekerk victory: Is Usain Bolt a fortune teller?
  7. 'Crushing blow' for ANC

    Milton Nkosi

    BBC Africa, Johannesburg

    Today's announcement by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) that they will vote together in mayoral elections in three South African cities is a crushing blow for the governing African National Congress (ANC).  

    Julius Malema, leader of South Africa"s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), gestures during a media briefing in Alexander township near Sandton, South Africa August 17, 2016
    Image caption: EFF leader Julius Malema was in a shanty town today

    It means the party which liberated South Africans from apartheid is likely to lose control of the commercial capital, Johannesburg, despite the fact that it won the highest number of votes in the city in the 3 August local government elections, albeit without an outright majority.  

    The opposition parties said they did not enter into a formal coalition agreement but have instead agreed to work together against what they described as an arrogant and corrupt ANC.

    EFF leader Julius Malema held his media briefing in the poor shanty town of Setswetla in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg. 

    And the DA was in Sandton, the richest square mile in Africa. The difference couldn't have been starker moving from one press conference to the other. 

    Mr Malema said he harboured no grudge against President Jacob Zuma but he wanted him out of power because "this man is costing South Africa too much with corruption."

    The ANC's refusal to agree to Mr Zuma stepping down was one of the issues which scuppered its efforts to form a coalition with the EFF in Johannesburg, the metropolitan council of Tshwane, which incorporates the capital, Pretoria, and Nelson Mandela Bay, named after one of the ANC's greatest leaders.  

    Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane gestures as he speaks to members of the media at the result center in Pretoria, South Africa August 4,2016.
    Image caption: Musi Maimane is the first black person to lead the DA

    Mr Malema said the EFF would vote with the DA when councils meet to choose mayors, despite the fact that he regarded it as a "racist" party.  He described the DA as the "better devil" (see earlier post). 

    This opens the way for the cities to have a non-ANC mayor for the first time since apartheid ended in 1994.   

    DA leader Mmusi Maimane  told me that this could be the beginning of a coalition that would bring the ANC to below 50% in the national election due in 2019. 

    President Jacob Zuma waves to his supporters as he arrives for the African National Congress" (ANC) traditional Siyanqoba rally ahead of local municipal elections in Johannesburg, South Africa July 31, 2016.
    Image caption: Mr Zuma's critics say he has become a liability to the ANC
  8. Tanzania president to buy disabled man a motorised cycle

    Tanzanian's president has offered to buy a disabled man a motorised tricycle after seeing him in a news report ingenuously using a bicycle to move around. 

    In statement read out during a news broadcast, John Magufuli said that he will use money from his salary to buy the tricycle and hand it over in a week. 

    Mr Magufuli, nicknamed the "bulldozer", has been known to make populist pronouncements since he came to office in November. 

    Watch the TBC report (in Swahili) 

    Tanzanian president buy a disabled man a motorized cycle
  9. Mixed views among Mombasa women on night wedding ban

    Ferdinand Omondi

    BBC Africa, Mombasa

    One woman I've spoken to here in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa has welcomed the decision by the authorities to ban night weddings as they have become the target of criminal gangs. 

    Maryam Bakari said:

    Quote Message: From the bottom of my heart, I am happy and I support the move because as women we have problems. We have a good time at the weddings overnight but from there unfortunate things happen. Very young boys accost women and touch them inappropriately. I’d like the order to remain.

    Another woman, Halima Abdalla, disagreed:

    Quote Message: I’m disappointed. Not all parts of Mombasa have been affected by these gangs. So let us party at the weddings until morning."
  10. Kipruto wins gold

    Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya competes during the men"s 3000m Steeplechase final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Athletics, Track and Field events at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 17 August 2016.

    Conseslus Kipruto has won gold for Kenya with a new Olympic record of 8.03.28 in the men’s 3000m steeple chase. 

    USA’s Even Jager overtook double Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi on the final straight to win silver with Kemboi third.

  11. Turning a Ghanaian shanty town into an 'art city'

    Mohammed Awudu, one of the artists recently listed among Ghana's most talented, was born and raised in a slum community in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

    Now he wants to use art to turn the shanty town into an "art city".

    Video content

    Video caption: Turning a Ghanaian shanty town into 'art city'
  12. South Sudan's Machar must 'renounce violence'

    he newly appointed South Sudanese First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, addresses journalists during a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya, 17 August 2016.
    Image caption: The new vice-president has held talks with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta

    South Sudan's new vice-president has urged his predecessor Riek Machar to keep his political ambitions in check and help achieve peace in the country., AFP news agency reports. 

    Taban Deng Gai is a former ally of Mr Machar, but broke ranks with him after a new round of violence broke out in the world's newest state in  June. 

    Quote Message: "Let [Machar] denounce violence, let him work for peace and let him wait for the elections in 2018."
    Quote Message: It cannot be violence in 1991, violence in 1998, violence 2013 and violence again in 2016. I think [Machar] should have learned from those mistakes."

    Mr Machar left the capital, Juba, after the latest violence, resulting in President Salva Kiir sacking him as his deputy and giving the post to Mr Deng.  

  13. BreakingSemenya wins heat

    2016 Rio Olympics - Athletics - Preliminary - Women"s 800m Round 1 - Olympic Stadium - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 17/08/2016. Caster Semenya (RSA) of South Africa competes.

    South Africa's Caster Semenyastrides clear of the stress and straining going on behind her to win the women's 800m heat in 1:59.31 - still four seconds off her season's best.

  14. Libyans mourn famous cartoonist

    Rana Jawad

    BBC North Africa correspondent

    Mohamed Dhaimish, known as ‘Alsature’
    Image caption: Mohamed Dhaimish, known as "Alsature"

    Libyans have taken to social media to pay their respects to prominent cartoonist and satirist Mohamed Dhaimish, who was known as "Alsature", which means "The Cleaver" in Arabic. 

    The 60-year-old, who died at a hospital in London on Tuesday where he was being treated for an illness, was known for his staunch opposition to Col Muammar Gaddafi.

    He became popular during the 2011 uprising, when the long-time Libyan leader was ousted and killed, and he continued to ridicule subsequent governments, officials and warlords.

    However, over the past two years he appeared to have been drawn into the divide plaguing Libya’s political scene, and to some his work came across as more partisan. 

    He was very critical of the UN-led mediation and his last Twitter profile picture depicted the UN envoy, Martin Kobler, with a Hitler moustache and words “No to Kobler” over a red cross. 

    The grand mufti Sadeq Elgheriani, a top Muslim cleric, and unity government Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj were also the subjects of his recent work.

    A former US ambassador to Libya, Deborah Jones, tweeted:

    He was profiled in 2012 by online news site the Huffington Post: The man who fought Gaddafi with pictures.

  15. Rio Olympics: Japanese surgeon to reward Nigerian football team

    Japanese plastic surgeon Katsuya Takasu (left) with his "special donation" to the Nigerian team in Rio
    Image caption: Japanese plastic surgeon Katsuya Takasu (left) with his "special donation" to the Nigerian team in Rio

    The woes of the Nigerian men's football team have been widely reported but it looks like they could be over, well, at least for now. 

    A Japanese plastic surgeon Katsuya Takasu wants to reward the team after hearing about their financial difficulties.

    He will pay them $20,000 (£15,350) for silver and $10,000 (£7,680) for bronze. Takasu told BBC Sport the $200,000 "is a special donation" and "it is better to deliver it to the team personally".

    He added: I've made previous donations to a Japanese hockey team and other notable causes in the past but this right now with Nigeria is incredibly passionate for me.

    He adds: 

    Quote Message: "I am deeply determined to motivate this indomitable and strong Nigerian team. I don't want to distract them but to push them further to their target - the gold in Brazil."

    Read the full story here

  16. Controversial British aristocrat dies in Kenya

    A British man who made news in 2005 for shooting dead a local man in his farm in Kenya has died, the Star newspaper reports

    Thomas (Tom) Cholmondeley, 48, died after a surgery at a local hospital, the report says. 

    He was the great-grandson of the fifth Lord Delamere, one of the first and most influential British settlers in Kenya. 

    Cholmondeley was found guilty of manslaughter but only spent eight months in prison. 

    Controversial British aristocrat dies in Kenya
  17. Effigy-burning protesters dispersed in DR Congo

    Mary Harper

    Africa editor, BBC World Service

    The security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have fired warning shots and tear gas at demonstrators in the eastern town of Beni. 

    At least one person is reported to have been killed. Hundreds of people gathered in the town's main street, burning an effigy of President Joseph Kabila. 

    They said the authorities had failed to take action in response to the hacking to death of dozens of civilians on Saturday. 

    The government blames the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) for the killings. The Islamist group, with origins in Uganda, is said to have killed hundreds of people in the Beni area in the past two years.

    Congolese President Joseph Kabila, center, waves as he and others celebrate the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, independence in Kindu, Congo, Thursday, June 30, 2016
    Image caption: Protesters vented their fury at President Kabila
  18. Nigerian police block PDP convention

    Naziru Mikailu

    BBC Abuja editor

    Police in  Nigeria have sealed off the venue for the convention of the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), in the latest sign of the deep divisions which have hit the party since it lost power for the first time last year. 

    A PDP official told the BBC that they have been denied entry to the Sharks football stadium in the southern city of Port Harcourt. The convention was due to start today.

    The party tweeted photos of security forces, which it said had tried to block the governor of Rivers state, who is hosting the event, from leaving his office:

    View more on twitter

    Two high courts have given different rulings on whether the convention can go ahead. 

    Rival factions have been jostling for power for control of the party since it was voted out of office in elections last year. 

    It ended the PDP's dominance of Nigerian politics since military rule ended more than 15 years ago, and has left the party struggling to chart a new course for itself.  

    Read: Five ways Nigeria has changed

  19. Kenyan astronomer inspires young girls to get into science

    A girl looks at the night sky during one of Travelling Telescope’s astronomy sessions.
    Image caption: A girl looks at the night sky during one of Travelling Telescope’s astronomy sessions

    A Kenyan astronomer is travelling with her telescope to remote parts of the country to try to get girls interested in science. 

    Susan Murabana's project, the Travelling telescope, plans to build East Africa’s first public observatory and planetarium, she told News Deeply Women and Girls Hub, an online publication, in an interview.

    She hopes the project will create jobs for science graduates in Kenya and also attract people from all over Africa. 

    She says that people don’t realise how applicable astronomy is to other parts of life. 

    She adds:

    Quote Message: We also want to develop applications to encourage visitors to understand other hands-on ways they can use science in their own environment, like using solar energy or growing environmentally friendly food using aquaponics [a method of growing fish and plants together in one integrated system]. She a