Africa Live this week: 3-7 June 2019 as it happened

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The President of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Ahmad has been released without charges "at this stage".

Prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux from the French city of Marseille added that Ahmad "was questioned as part of a probe into corruption, breach of trust and forgery".

On Thursday Fifa confirmed that Ahmad was being questioned by authorities in France.

At the time a statement from football's world governing body said it was "in relation to allegations related to his mandate while President of Caf".

It added that "Fifa is unaware of the details surrounding this investigation and is therefore not in a position to make any comment on it specifically.

"Fifa is asking the French authorities for any information that might be relevant to investigations taking place within its Ethics Committee."

In Ethiopia blind backpacker Tony Giles experiences paintings designed to be touched.

BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport

Sierra Leone's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has lodged an appeal against the acquittal of the football association president Isha Johansen. The ACC said in a statement that it has "filed a ten (10) grounds Notice of Appeal in the Court of Appeals of Sierra Leone, against the judgment of the High Court of Sierra Leone".

Johansen and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) general secretary Christopher Kamara were cleared of three charges of corruption on 28 May.

Despite lodging an appeal the ACC has ruled that the pair will be allowed to continue in their posts with the SLFA and so avoid a potential suspension from world football.

"It (the ACC) confirms that having concluded trial it will not interfere with the continuance in office of the officials of the Sierra Leone Football Association pending the conclusion of the Appeal."

Read more here.

Thousands of Liberians are protesting outside the presidency and parliament. They are carrying placards saying: "We need better living conditions" and "we are tired of suffering".

They are protesting against high inflation as well as accusing President George Weah of violating the constitution and concentrating on amassing personal wealth instead of focusing on the needs of impoverished people.

Protesters say they will not leave the protest site until their demands are met, including the dismissal of the finance minister and the governor of the Central Bank.

People have been tweeting photos and videos from the scene:

It is believed to be the biggest protest in Liberia since a devastating series of civil wars ended 15 years ago.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The Nigerian government has shut down the country's first private television station, Africa Independent Television (AIT) and its sister radio station, Ray Power.

The country's broadcasting watchdog, National Broadcasting Commission, has suspended licences of the private broadcaster accusing it of violating professional ethics.

The television and radio stations have been owned and operated by an opposition politician, Raymond Dokpesi, for more than two decades.

AIT and Ray Power have been fiercely critical of the Nigerian government.

The stations broadcast on satellite but are now off air.

Local activists and opposition politicians have also condemned the closure, calling it "dictatorial" and "an infringement on media freedom".

But the watchdog says the broadcasters have ignored several warnings in the last two years to stop broadcasting what it calls inciting, divisive and inflammatory content especially on some of their popular political programmes.

It also says they have failed to pay their license fees on time.

The broadcasters denied the allegations saying they were being intimidated.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Days after Naomi Campbell and Alicia Keys were spotted in Dakar, the seaside capital is bracing for another fashion event.

Senegalese designer Adama Paris, whose real name is Adama Ndiaye, is organising the 17th edition of Dakar fashion Week.

It's an annual event that aims to showcase the continent's best designers as well as shine a light on up and coming African talents.

A special guest this year is Spanish actress Rossy de Palma who brought a team of Vogue Spain to cover the show.

African-inspired fashion has made noise this year after a number of international fashion houses, including Dior, released collections featuring wax prints designs, a step that some saw as cultural appropriation.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

This year's edition will feature brands like Versaille by the New-York based Moussa Dia, who has been participating for many years.

Others like Simone & Elise from Ivory Coast and Maison Ramatoulaye Diop from Senegal are participating for the first time.

Many young designers are drawn to the event because of the support of Adama Paris.

"I decided to come for the second time because I am convinced by what she is doing here," said Adriana Talansi, a designer from Congo-Brazzaville, speaking at a press conference ahead of the show.

Like others designers present, she says she likes that the event is "not just for business" but also for a common cause - of showcasing African fashion and supporting African women in the industry.

"Together we matter," Adama Paris responded, adding that she believes her success was made possible by the support of others and by working together.

Over the years, Dakar has sought a place alongside the world's fashion capitals.

In Africa, the industry represents a potential of more than $17m (£13m) over the next five years if properly financed and exploited according to a report published in 2017 by the African Development Bank.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

A cafe owner in Tunisia has been fined and given a one-month suspended sentence after staying open during the hours of daylight this Ramadan.

Human Rights Watch has described the sentence as an arbitrary use of criminal law.

The group says that Imed Zaghouani was detained for ten days in prison before appearing in court.

There are no laws in Tunisia requiring cafes to close during Ramadan.

The Tunisian authorities say that Mr Zaghoauni was arrested when he became verbally abusive towards police - he says that he has been harassed in previous years for keeping his cafe open during Ramadan.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika has warned opposition leaders against inciting their supporters following two days of protests in the capital, Lilongwe.

In a televised speech, and in comments directly aimed at opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera, Mr Mutharika warned that he would not allow violent protests to continue.

He said police and military had been deployed to keep order and peace.

On Thursday, police in Lilongwe used tear gas to disperse supporters of Mr Chakwera, who lost narrowly in last months elections. The outgoing US ambassador to Malawi was caught up in the fracas but escaped unharmed.

Opposition supporters have taken to the streets in the capital and several other towns calling for the elections results to be nullified.

They say massive irregularities were witnessed during the vote.

Two of President Mutharika's challengers have filed cases in court seeking to nullify the results.

afpCopyright: afp

The escape of 14 lions in South Africa may be the largest the country has ever seen, authorities have said.

Municipal worker Mahira Masakwameng, 38, who has lived in Phalaborwa all his life, tells me he knows of four lion attacks in the area since his childhood - the last attack was on a hunter a few years ago.

“People are afraid because unlike other animals we’ve seen roaming the streets from time to time over the years, we know lions attack when they come into contact with humans,” Mr Masakwemeng explained.

He said that residents are hoping the animals will be captured soon.

National Parks spokesperson Ike Phahla explained that simply returning them to the reserve may not work. “They may escape again or be chased off by other lions, because lions are quite territorial," he said.

One suggestion is to relocate them to another park and find them an area large enough for them to live in but that is yet to be decided.

Park rangers are monitoring the pride’s movement to make sure it does not stray into a residential area.

BBCCopyright: BBC

In an attempt to encourage young people to opt for teaching as a career, the Rwandan government has announced that it will drop university fees for those who want to study education. It will also cut secondary school fees by half for students who say they hope to become teachers.

The Rwanda Education Board (REB) says the measure will come into force next year.

REB head Irenée Ndayambaje told the BBC that high-school graduates who want to take advantage of the free degree programme will have to teach for three years in a primary school or kindergarten beforehand.

But will people take advantage of the offer?

"A teacher’s low salary can be discouraging," a high-school graduate in the capital, Kigali, told the BBC.

The government has recently increased teachers' salaries by 10%, but many still say their pay is too low.

AFPCopyright: AFP

The father of the two year old killed by a leopard this week in South Africa's Kruger National Park has spoken about the tragedy.

Isiah Ntimane told Johannesburg Star newspaper that his wife and son were visiting him at the park where he works.

They were having a barbecue when the tragedy happened.

"I was walking to my cottage and he [his son] followed me. I didn’t notice that he was behind me, because I left him there playing with his mother’s phone. And just when I got to my cottage and was closing the door behind me, I heard screams coming from outside," he was quoted saying.

When he went to investigate what had happened, Mr Timane said he saw his son hanging from the leopard’s jaw.

Johannesburg Star reported that the beast tried to drag they boy over the fence but failed and disappeared into the bush.

Mr Ntimane and his wife rushed their bleeding son to Shongwe hospital but the boy was declared dead on arrival.

Mr Timane says he gets flashbacks from the horror.

"I cannot even leave my cottage or go to work, because when I walk out, I get flashbacks of what happened. The memory of it all is painful,” the report said

The leopard was tracked and shot dead by Kruger Park officials.

Hundreds of people on their way to a mass protest dubbed "Save the State" in Monvoria, Liberia, have abandoned their vehicles as police searches have brought traffic to a standstill.

Shops and banks are also closed.

The protesters aim to put pressure on President George Weah to fight corruption and stop alleged violations of the constitution.

They accuse him of ignoring the plight of the impoverished Liberian people and concentrating more on acquiring wealth.

The organisers are expecting the mass protest to be the largest against a government since the end of the country’s civil war 15 years ago.

Under enormous pressure to allow the protest go ahead, the Liberian president said in a pre-recorded nationwide address last week that it was the constitutional rights of citizens to protest.

But tensions were high ahead of the protest and heavily-armed police were joined by the Drug Enforcement Agency and Immigration police.

Police Chief Patrick Sudue, however, promised the protesters protection.

Organisers said they will not leave the protest grounds until President George Weah takes actions against his finance minister, Samuel Tweah, and the governor of the Central Bank, Nathaniel Patray, in connection with the mishandling of $25m.

Read more about Liberia's missing millions here.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Global Society for Anti CorruptionCopyright: Global Society for Anti Corruption

A 100-year-old death row inmate dubbed 'Nigeria's oldest prisoner' has been released from jail after receiving a state pardon.

We reported about the attempts to free Celestine Egbunuche last year.

He had spent over 18 years in prison after being found guilty of plotting a murder.

Egbunuche was met outside Enugu state maximum security prison by his daughter and the representatives of Global Society for Anti Corruption, an NGO who campaigned for his release.

"I'm so grateful to God for this day," his daughter Chisom Celestine told the BBC.

"I'm the happiest human being on Earth," Ms Celestine said.

Egbunuche, who suffers from health problems including diabetes and failing eyesight, is currently in hospital for observation, but there is concern about what will happen to him next.

His daughter says she does not have the means to take care of him.

Whilst he was in prison, he was being care for by his son Paul, who was also jailed on the same murder charge. He did not receive a pardon and remains in jail.

The state government who pardoned Egbunuche has been replaced by a new administration and it is not clear, what, if any assistance they will offer him.

A private company in Uganda has passed a policy that entitles female employees to six months of paid maternity leave, and one month of paternity leave for men.

Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL), an arm of international brewery Diageo, is the first company in the country to take such a move.

"It is an amazing step," women's rights campaigner Manuela Pacutho told the BBC's Newsday programme.

Female employees in Uganda are currently entitled to two months paid maternity leave.

Ms Pacutho said UBL's move is a good sign and she thought other companies should follow the example.

Elsewhere in East Africa, women in Tanzania are entitled to three months paid maternity leave. After that new mothers are allowed to work part time and will be paid to take the rest of the time off.

Pictures shared on the official Twitter account of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed show him meeting Sudan's military leaders:

He flew into the country on Friday morning to help mediate in the crisis and try and restart talks between the Transitional Military Council and the protesters.

Negotiations were halted after security forces broke up protests on Monday killing dozens of people.

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa donned protective clothing to take part in a national clean-up campaign in a poor area of the capital, Harare.

A video shared by the ministry of information shows the president sweeping up litter in a gutter. His face is obscured by a mask but you can tell it's him because of his trademark scarf:

Mr Mnangagwa follows in the footsteps of Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who helped sweep the streets of the main city Dar es Salaam in December 2015.

According to the responses on Twitter, people are not so impressed with the Zimbabwean president's efforts.

@ssyyddoo tweeted: "Why not sweep the corrupt government and stop all this child play."

And other people responded saying that the president should be focusing on the economy.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has arrived in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, ahead of expected talks with the military authorities and the protest leaders, AFP news agency reports.

People in the north-east of South Africa have been told to be careful and on the look out as the authorities search for 14 lions which are believed to have escaped from the Kruger National Park.

The Limpopo provincial government has released a statement saying people should "be alert at all times":

The authorities are now trying to restrict the pride's movement.

Ike Phaahla from South African National Parks (Sanparks) has told national broadcaster SABC that the 14 lions may have been roaming the area for some time and that a "permanent solution" is being found.

He added that taking them to Kruger may not work as they could come into conflict with other lions.

US border patrol agents in Texas have detained hundreds of people from African countries over the past week.

US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) says the "dramatic rise" in migrants from African countries arriving in the area is a "humanitarian crisis".

More than 500 African migrants have arrived at Del Rio border patrol sector in the past week, since 30 May.

Most of these people are families that have travelled from Angola, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo, CBP said.

Last week, on 30 May, one large group of 116 people who had all originally travelled from African countries arrived at the southern border.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Read more on this story