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 our African proverb of the day: 

Click here to send us your African proverb.

And we leave you with this street scene from Zanzibar in Tanzania: 

Lagos state governor Akinwunmi Ambode says he plans to ban the yellow minibuses known as "danfos" by the end of the year, AFP news agency has reported.

The vehicles are "not acceptable and befitting for a megacity", the agency quoted him as saying.

Lagos is home to some 20 million people and has seen its population boom without infrastructure and transport services keeping up with demand. 

The governor's goal is to replace the buses - as well as motorcycle taxis and three-wheeled motorised rickshaws - with a modern public transportation system.   

The first phase of a rapid transport rail system was originally due to open in 2014 and then in December last year, while there are even plans for a cable car system. 

Before the buses are banished, here's a reminder of their visual impact, as captured by one photographer over the past month:

Leone Ouedraogo
BBC Africa, Dakar

Image source, A Screaming Man

Celebrated film directorMahamat Saleh Haroun has been made Chad's culture minister in a cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Haroun is well known for his film A Screaming Man, which is based on Chad's civil war.

It won the Jury Prize at the 2010 Cannes film festival. 

He is also known for Hissene Habre, a Chadian tragedy, a documentary shown last year at Cannes.  

This is the first major cabinet reshuffle in a year and comes just after the nomination of Moussa Faki Mahamat as the new African Union commission chairperson. 

Cameroon's footballers have been mobbed by cheering crowds on their return to Yaounde after winning the Africa Cup of Nations yesterday.

The national football federation posted footage of the team bus moving slowly down a road, escorted by police, as flag-waving fans cheered and saluted them. 

BBC Africa sport writer Piers Edwards says Cameroon's fifth Africa Cup of Nations victory was arguably their greatest triumph. 

Prior to the tournament, Cameroon's most high-profile player was Joel Matip of English Premier League side Liverpool but like some half a dozen others, the defender refused to honour his call-up for the 2017 finals.

The players' excuses ranged from differences with the federation to not wanting to leave their clubs midway through the European season.

Yet their absence galvanised those who did travel to Gabon, where even a mid-tournament row over player bonuses refused to distract this generation of Indomitable Lions, as the team is known.

Continue reading here.

South African Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa is visiting Zambia, from where he has tweeted several photos, including pictures of former ANC president Oliver Tambo's home:

The building in Lusaka has recently been declared a national heritage site by Zambia. Mr Tambo, who died in 1993, lived there for many years during his exile from South Africa in the apartheid era.

Mr Mthethwa also met Zambia's first president, Kenneth Kaunda, who governed for 27 years and is now 92.

Image source, AFP

South Sudan President Salva Kiir is reported to have said soldiers who rape civilians should be shot. He was speaking during a visit to the town of Yei, near the Ugandan border, where a large contingent of soldiers is based. 

Rights groups have accused South Sudanese soldiers of involvement in sexual assaults and say women have been raped on the basis of their ethnicity.

"Those who are doing unlawful acts, raping women and girls, this is not the policy of the government... the body of a woman cannot be taken by force," Reuters quoted Mr Kiir as saying, external. 

"I want the general chief of staff General Paul Malong and the defence minister to report to me from now on if anything like this [rape] happens. In such a case, we will shoot the person who did it."

The comments were also reported by Eye Radio, external.

It was Mr Kiir's first visit to Yei since South Sudanese independence in 2011.

Habiba Adamu
BBC Africa, Abuja

Image source, Getty Images

The failure of President Buhari to reveal the exact amount of additional medical leave he intends to take in London is worrying many Nigerians. There have been rumours about the president's health since he left the country two weeks ago.

He officially handed over affairs of state to the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a move commended by some experts as a sign of respect to the constitution and the rule of law.

Although things are running smoothly on the surface since Mr Buhari’s departure, his continued absence might not be accepted wholeheartedly by some because of the country's worsening economic crisis.

Mr Buhari’s medical trip has also been condemned by health professionals who feel that the president should have stayed and got treatment at home.

The Nigerian medical association frowned on his last medical trip to the UK for ear treatment last year, saying the country had competent doctors who could have treated him. 

Health Minister Dr Osagie Ehanire says Nigerians spend more than $1bn annually on medical tourism, something the present government promised to reduce. 

It's not clear how much Mr Buhari's treatment will cost or who will pay for it. But as the number one citizen, the state is expected to look after his wellbeing. However, many Nigerians will not be happy to learn how much such medical trips could dent the country's already depleted foreign reserves.

The office of the attorney general in Switzerland has said it is investigating former Gambian Interior Minister Ousman Sonko for possible crimes against humanity.  

Mr Sonko, who is seeking asylum in Switzerland, was taken into custody last month after a Geneva-based campaign group, Trial International, filed a criminal complaint accusing him of serious assault, coercion and false imprisonment, relating to his time in office in The Gambia. The attorney general's office said, external it "would not rule out a suspicion of crimes against humanity". 

Mr Sonko has not commented on the accusations against him.

The former interior minister was one of the longest-serving members of ex-President Yahya Jammeh's regime. He was also head of police but fell out with his boss in November last year - a month before the presidential election, which Mr Jammeh lost.    

Image source, AFP

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has praised the country's police chief for suspending 12 junior officers last week on suspicion of drugs trafficking.

He told police to crack down on the drugs trade and said no-one should be spared, even if they were top officials or their relatives. 

"Popularity should never matter. Arrest all suspects of drugs abuse, ask them where did they buy the drugs from and the dealers will tell you where they get the drugs from," he said on Tanzanian television.

He went on to say: "Even if you suspect my wife Janet of being involved in this business, come and arrest her."

Tanzanian media reports have suggested a number of high-profile people may face questioning in connection with the investigation.

Nebert Rugadya
BBC Africa, Kampala

Image source, AFP

A Ugandan parliamentary committee has demanded a complete review of the Uganda-Kenya Standard Gauge Railway Project.

Committee members recently visited railway lines in Ethiopia and Djibouti, and found that costs associated with Uganda's new line were much higher. 

The plan is that the railway will be funded by a Chinese bank and built by a Chinese construction company and should open in Kampala in late 2020.

The 1,740km (1,081 miles) of the rail is expected to cost $12.8bn (£10.3bn).

The Ethiopian-Djibouti line, which opened in October, cost $3.4bn (£2.7bn) for 750km (466 miles).

Image source, EPA

Rwanda's government has dismissed 200 police officers implicated in corruption, reports AP news agency.

AP adds that police spokesman Theos Badege said there would be ``no mercy'' for corrupt officers. 

The dismissal of the police officers was approved by a Cabinet meeting last Friday chaired by President Paul Kagame.

Rwanda has been hailed by donor countries for punishing corrupt officials and is sub-Saharan Africa's third least corrupt country, according to Transparency International's latest survey.

Image source, Getty Images

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud did not turn up to the country's televised presidential debates.

We reported earlier that only three out of 11 presidential candidates for the first debate turned up today. Mr Mohamud was due to be at the second debate.

The debates were split into two groups because there are 23 people running.  

The election, which Mr Mohamud is standing in, is taking place on Wednesday.

It is unclear why people are not taking part by in the televised debates, although previous plans for debates were delayed over a row about whether the debates would be live or pre-recorded.

Chris Ewokor
BBC Africa, Abuja

The city of Maiduguri in Borno state, in north-east Nigeria, has been one of the places worst affected by the insurgency waged by Islamist militants Boko Haram.

So it's not often that we get a glimpse of normal life in the town.

But the government says it has defeated the insurgents and peace is returning to the area.

I visited the town to see what they meant. 

And here are a few of my pictures which show business is returning, including this street vendor selling dried smoked fish:

Image source, Chris Ewokor

Image source, Chris Ewokor

Image source, Chris Ewokor

An another sign of normal life returning - football - was captured by the BBC's Naziru Mikailu:

However, there is still a shadow of insecurity as security agents are stationed at some road intersections:

Image source, Chris Ewokor

Image source, AFP

Africa has 12% of the world's population but only 3% of its airline traffic, says travel industry website Skift. And despite the potentially big market, low-cost air travel has yet to take off in the continent. Why is this?

As Skift explains, the three major hurdles are protectionist regulation that restricts business, currency difficulties (when your income is in local currencies and your expenses are largely in US dollars) and having a small middle class.

You can read the full article here, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Former South Africa rugby captain Joost van der Westhuizen has died aged 45.

Van der Westhuizen, who helped the Springboks win the World Cup in 1995, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2011.

Regarded as one of the finest scrum-halves in history, he won 89 caps for the Springboks between 1993 and 2003, scoring 38 tries.

He captained the Springboks for four years, including at the 1999 World Cup, before his retirement in 2003.

"Joost will be remembered as one of the greatest Springboks - not only of his generation, but of all time," said South Africa rugby president Mark Alexander.

"He also became an inspiration and hero to many fellow sufferers of this terrible disease as well as to those unaffected.

"We all marvelled at his bravery, his fortitude and his uncomplaining acceptance of this terrible burden."

South African Rugby, former team mates and other rugby stars are among those who have been paying tribute.

Read more at BBC Sport.

Image source, AFP

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has ordered a 60-day moratorium on all foreign travel by government officials, effective from the beginning of February. 

A statement issued on Saturday, external said those affected by the moratorium included the heads of all ministries, agencies and commissions along with their deputies and assistants.

"Exceptions will only be granted by the president herself following a one-on-one meeting with the official requesting to travel and if it is determined that such travel is of utmost imperative in the national interest," the statement said.

The statement gave no reason for the move, but correspondents say Liberia's foreign currency reserves have become severely depleted, partly because of falling prices for the country's commodity exports. 

The government statement said the Central Bank of Liberia had been mandated to review an "alarming situation of capital flight" and "strengthen its regulatory measures so as to curb the illicit repatriation of foreign currency".

Nomsa Maseko
BBC Africa, Johannesburg

Today marks the start of the academic year at many institutions of higher learning across South Africa, with people hoping that classes will begin without distraction. 

Last year, student protests for free tuition at universities and technical colleges continued unabated throughout the country. 

Some of the protests resulted in violent clashes with several student leaders arrested and still facing public violence charges. 

There is already a heavy police presence in some university campuses with officers keeping a close eye on proceedings. 

Today the situation appears to be back to normal and without disruption. 

But student leaders say they are regrouping and will soon engage government and universities on the fees issue. 

Image source, EPA

The average university student is expected to pay just over $7,000 (£5,600) per year for fees and accommodation - with the vast majority saying this is unaffordable. 

The protest reached its peak when Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande announced an 8% fee hike for the 2017 academic year. 

The commission of enquiry into the feasibility of free higher education continues with public hearings. It is expected to present its final report to President Jacob Zuma by the end of June.

Leaders from Germany and East Africa will attend the second German-African Economic Summit in Kenya's capital Nairobi this week.

It comes two months after German car maker VW opened a new plant outside Nairobi, marking its return to Kenya after a four-decade break. 

Car sales have been surging in East Africa and VW hopes its locally assembled Polo Vivo will capture a large chunk of regional sales.

German tourists have also become increasingly significant for the regional economy, since Lufthansa resumed direct flights between Frankfurt and Nairobi in 2015.

As well as investment and tourists, East African countries would also like better access to German markets for their products.

Image source, AFP

And what do East Africans think of when they think of Germany?

German broadcaster DW offers these snippets of historical perspective:, external "For decades, East Africans' perception of Germany was shaped by two television programmes shown on local networks, Football Made in Germany and Derrick, the later being a crime series which ran from 1974 to 1998 and featured a lugubrious German detective of the same name."

The broadcaster also notes that a number of German words were absorbed into Kiswahili during the colonial period.

Only three out of 11 candidates turned up for Somalia's presidential debate today.

It was the first ever televised presidential debate in Somalia.

The debate was rescheduled from last week when some of the candidates boycotted it in a row about whether it should be broadcast live or be pre-recorded.  

There are 23 candidates in total, after one pulled out this weekend.

The 23 were split into two groups and the other 12, including incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, are due to debate later today.

Image source, reuters

The election is due to take place on Wednesday but Somalia is not running the one-man-one-vote system because of security fears.

Instead 135 clan elders chose 14,025 people to select MPs. The MPs and the upper house will then choose the president.

A near-complete lock down has been put in place in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

All major roads have been shut for public use and schools have been closed.

Libya's coastguard intercepted at least 1,131 migrants near the western city of Sabratha over the course of a week, a spokesman has told Reuters.

Ayoub Qassem said 431 migrants had been stopped on four inflatable boats off the coast on Thursday and about 700 had been intercepted on 27 January on three wooden vessels in the same area.

"The illegal migrants are from various sub-Saharan countries and include a big number of women and children," Mr Qassem said of those picked up on Thursday.

Libya is the main departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe over the Mediterranean. Its government said last week the EU must provide more money to fund efforts to stem the flow.