Africa highlights: Buhari misses Friday prayers, Ethiopia invites UN rights chief for visit

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has received an honorary degree from a Kenyan university for his role in the liberation of his country as well as the African renaissance. 

Dedan Kimathi University, which is named after Kenya's independence hero, awarded Mr Mbeki the degree during its sixth graduation ceremony, South Africa's state broadcaster SABC reports. 

In his acceptance speech, the former South Africa president lauded the role of Kenya's liberation heroes in South Africa's battle against the apartheid:

French nuclear giant Areva was solely responsible for a controversial $320m (£250m) uranium deal, a parliamentary investigation in Niger has said.

The 2011 deal, known as "uranium-gate", involved companies in Niger and abroad. Activists have begun legal proceedings.

It caused an uproar after a local paper said it had served as cover for officials to embezzle public funds.

The report did not find any evidence of wrongdoing by any officials. Areva says it cannot comment on the report.

The French company says it has not yet received the report. It has previously said it was co-operating with a French investigation into the case.

Niger is one of the world's biggest uranium producers and the metal is the country's largest export.

AFPCopyright: AFP

The South Sudan We Want Campaign has uploaded a video of South Sudanese talking about their vision for the nation.

It comes as fighting in the civil war, which began in December 2013, continues and famine has been declared in parts of the country.

The campaign says: "these visions and dreams reflect aspirations of the South Sudanese people to create the nation they struggled and overwhelmingly voted for."  

Here's what some of the people say:

Quote Message: I want to live in a South Sudan where everyone is equal."

I want to live in a South Sudan where everyone is equal."

Quote Message: I want to see a South Sudan that belongs to all who live in it."

I want to see a South Sudan that belongs to all who live in it."

Quote Message: I want a South Sudan that's democratic."

I want a South Sudan that's democratic."

Head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis has met his counterpart from the Coptic church during his trip to Egypt.

A Catholic press service has tweeted this picture:

Read more: Egyptian Christians living in fear for the future

The slump in the cocoa price comes as the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) officially moved its headquarters from London to Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan. 

The BBC's Tamasin Ford sat down with Jean-Marc Anga, the executive head of the ICCO and asked him what impact the fall in cocoa prices is having:.  

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has missed Friday prayers at the mosque in the grounds of Aso Rock, or state house.

This is unusual given that he is in the capital, Abuja, the BBC's Mohammed Kabir reports. 

Earlier this week he missed his second cabinet meeting in a row amid speculation about the state of his health.

Last month, he returned from London after spending seven weeks away on medical leave where he was treated for an undisclosed condition.

His office sent a statement  yesterday to explain his absence from cabinet saying it was "a last minute decision". 

It added that Mr Buhari was still carrying out his presidential duties:

Quote Message: Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria.

Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria.

Quote Message: He receives daily briefings on the activities of government, and confers regularly with his Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

He receives daily briefings on the activities of government, and confers regularly with his Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

Quote Message: His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office."

His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office."

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

On his trip to Egypt, Pope Francis wants leaders of all faiths to come together to renounce religious extremism, the Reuters news agency reports.

He said:

Quote Message: Let us say once more a firm and clear 'No!' to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred carried out in the name of religion or in the name of God."

Let us say once more a firm and clear 'No!' to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred carried out in the name of religion or in the name of God."

EPACopyright: EPA

The two-day visit comes just three weeks after 45 Coptic Christians were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Egypt.

The Pope also denounced demagoguery, reports the AFP news agency:

Quote Message: It is disconcerting to note that, as the concrete realities of people's lives are increasingly ignored in favour of obscure machinations, demagogic forms of populism are on the rise."

It is disconcerting to note that, as the concrete realities of people's lives are increasingly ignored in favour of obscure machinations, demagogic forms of populism are on the rise."

The Pope has been tweeting his message as well:

During the visit, the pope has also met Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi:

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Scientists and agricultural experts are meeting in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, to work out a strategy to tackle crop-destroying caterpillars.

The Fall Army Worm has arrived in Africa from the Americas for the first time, and within months has spread across half the continent. 

Both the worms and their moths are having a devastating impact on crops. 

CABICopyright: CABI

They are voracious eaters of pretty much anything, lay up to 2,000 eggs a month and have spread from Zambia to Ethiopia in three months. 

Large parts of Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa have been affected and scientists fear there’ll be a devastating impact on the harvest across southern Africa in the next few weeks and in eastern Africa later in the year. 

Many areas there are already suffering food shortages through drought. 

Read:Why are armyworms attacking Africa's crops?

Nigerians on Twitter have been discussing a new book, #AgainstTheRunOfPlay , which looks back at the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan. 

The book, written by journalist Olusegun Adeniyi, is described on Amazon as "an intense look at Nigerian politics at a time when an entrenched political party was defeated in a presidential election after 16 unbroken years in power". 

A review of the book by Azu Ishiekwene published by Sahara Reporters refers to the book as an "eloquent ... repository of why former President Goodluck Jonathan had to go". 

Mr Ishiekwene says the book gives an account about Mr Jonathan's shortcomings while in office and paints him as consumed in his own insecurity: 

Quote Message: From his first day in office, Jonathan was determined not to succeed. Even though forces beyond him may have also conspired to remove him – the same way they conspired to install him."

From his first day in office, Jonathan was determined not to succeed. Even though forces beyond him may have also conspired to remove him – the same way they conspired to install him."

Quote Message: That siege mentality governed Jonathan’s presidency most of the time. The first nine of the 12-chapter book carefully documents Jonathan laying his bed."

That siege mentality governed Jonathan’s presidency most of the time. The first nine of the 12-chapter book carefully documents Jonathan laying his bed."

The head of the international body monitoring the peace agreement in South Sudan has issued a warning to the national army to stop all on-going violence in the country immediately. 

Botswana's former President Festus Mogae said that if the fighting did not stop it would be clear who was responsible. 

The medical charity MSF said on Thursday that up to 25,000 people had fled the north-eastern town of Kodok because of intense fighting. 

The ceasefire monitoring body said it had received reports that the army was moving towards areas where civilians had fled to. 

There was no immediate response from the army. 

AFPCopyright: AFP

This week in our selection of the best photos from the continent we feature the Sapeurs - or dandies - who gathered in Ivory Coast to remember Papa Wemba who died a year ago.

Tamasin FordCopyright: Tamasin Ford

Ivorian market trader Madame Constance is one of the subjects of a new outdoor exhibition in Ivory Coast's town of Grand Bassam, reports the BBC's Alex Duval Smith.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Alex snapped the trader along with with photographers Armand Gauz (right) and Dorris Haron Kasco 

The photographers decided to create the outdoor exhibition, which features 20 large portraits lining the road, to support the traders and crafts people of Grand Bassam, a popular weekend destination for professionals from the main city Abidjan. 

The seaside resort also was the scene of a militant gun attack last year in which 16 people died.

Ms Constance, who sells carved wooden souvenirs, hopes the exhibition will improve business. 

Quote Message: We have suffered a drop in custom since the shootings on the beach last year. People don't stop at my shop so much these days."

We have suffered a drop in custom since the shootings on the beach last year. People don't stop at my shop so much these days."

Alex also snapped Hamidou, who makes and sells bronze objects, next to his portrait:

BBCCopyright: BBC

Gauz said he hoped the exhibition would raise the profile of the traders and artisans along the road into Grand Bassam.

He said:

Quote Message: People admire artists. They look down on artisans. We're asking the question 'what's the difference between us?'"

People admire artists. They look down on artisans. We're asking the question 'what's the difference between us?'"

A man who investigators in South Africa suspect is behind an elaborate assassination plot allegedly targeting cabinet ministers and possibly President Zuma, has appeared in court in Johannesburg.

Elvis Ramosebudi, 32, appeared briefly to be formally charged with conspiring to murder, in a case which has drawn much speculation. 

AFPCopyright: AFP

The state is basing its case on an investigation by the elite crime fighting unit - the Hawks - which claims the suspect was intercepted as he tried to raise donations for his plot. 

Mr Ramosebudi appeared calm under the glare of media spotlight in court as the charge was read out to him.

But the prosecution has raised concerns about the 32 year old's state of mind and says it might request a psychiatric evaluation. 

The case has captured the imagination of some South Africans at a time when the police and intelligence services have been accused of becoming involved in political point scoring as President Zuma fends off calls by critics for him to resign.

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has sacked nearly 10,000 civil servants who have been found to have forged secondary school certificates.

There isn't a particular place which is well known for making fake ones here, but it's easy enough to get hold of a certificate on the black market.

And it is very common for people to use fake certificates in Tanzania.

Police raided a house in the main city Dar es Salaam last year and found two individuals with machines, stamps and piles of templates for fake secondary school, birth and even business licence certificates stacked up in a room. 

It is also very common for people to use their friends' or family members' certificates.

In this case, when someone gets a job or goes on to higher education, they will actually change their name to match the one on their certificate.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Manchester United has revealed plans to honour the Nigerian fans who died in a freak accident last week while watching the team on television at a viewing centre in the south-eastern city of Calabar.

At least seven people were electrocuted after a high-tension cable fell on the crowded shack showing the Europa League quarter-final between Manchester United and Anderlecht.

The UN's human rights chief is set to visit Ethiopia next week after being invited by the government, according to a statement from his office.

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein's trip comes just over a week after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn dismissed calls to allow independent investigators look into the security forces' response to the recent wave of anti-government protests in which hundreds of people died.

Mr Al Hussein has himself called for an independent inquiry but it is not clear whether his trip will lead to UN investigators being allowed in.

The UN statement says he will meet the prime minister "to discuss the human rights situation in Ethiopia".

A fortnight ago, Ethiopia's state-affilated human rights commission released a report saying that 669 people died, including 63 policemen, in the protests that began in November 2015.

Right groups have given much higher figures. 

AFPCopyright: AFP

Pope Francis has landed in the Egyptian capital, Cairo to start his 72-hour trip in the country. 

Ahead of the trip, the Pope said he hoped his visit would support the region's Christians and send a "message of brotherhood" to Muslims. 

Egyptian Christians have been targeted by jihadists with a recent attack on Palm Sunday killings dozens. 

The Pope is scheduled to meet Muslim and Christian leaders before visiting a church that was bombed in December, the Reuters news agency reports. 

He will lead a mass tomorrow. 

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Two more people have died from an unknown illness that infected people who attended a funeral earlier this week in Liberia's Sinoe county, south-east of the capital, Monrovia.

The deaths bring the total to 11. 

Five people remain in isolation and four others have been discharged after being stabilised, Liberia's Chief Medical Officer Francis Kanteh has told BBC's Focus on Africa programme. 

The authorities have said this is not another outbreak of Ebola. 

Further tests have yet to show the cause of the strange illness but the health ministry plans to send more blood specimens to laboratories outside the country, including in the US, which have the capacity to identify the cause of the infection. 

Officails have advised the public to observe precautions implemented during the recent Ebola breakout, including washing of hands. 

AFPCopyright: AFP

The BBC's Martin Patience has been talking to Nigerian Kelvin Imasuen who has a tragic tale to what happened when he tried to cross the Mediterranean in a bid to reach Europe.

He left his home in Benin City with his sister, Augustina, in search of job opportunities elsewhere.

They travelled across the Sahara but they were put on separate boats for the crossing to Europe.

Augustina's boat capsized and she drowned. Kelvin's boat, which also got into trouble was rescued by the Libyan coastguard.

The International Organization of Migration then took him back to Nigeria.

You can read more about the story here and in this video a Nigerian people smuggler talks about what he does: