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 proverb of the day:

Click here and scroll to the bottom to send us your African proverbs

And we leave you with this photo of Ait Ben Haddou in Ouarzazate, Morocco, a location where many films and TV series have been filmed, including Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia and Game Of Thrones.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has confirmed that a group of 35 people, mainly women and children from Eritrea who were held for nearly six months after fleeing a former Islamic State group stronghold in Libya, have been released  (see earlier entry) .

They were freed on the orders of the General Attorney in the Libyan port city of Misrata.

Their ordeal began last year when they were held by IS fighters who took control of eastern Sirte.

After escaping the city, they were investigated for possible links to the jihadists. 

They had continued to be detained even though Libyan officials cleared them of any wrongdoing in February.

28 of the group were from Eritrea and seven from Nigeria, the UN confirmed.

UNHCR spokesman William Spindler told the BBC:

Abdinoor Aden
BBC Africa, Nairobi

Kenya's football administrators will probe the use of paper instead of digital substitution boards after we reported yesterday that they had been used in a league match: 

Image source, Photo from fan at the game as received by Abdinoo

Kenya Premier League said the rules require stadiums hosting the matches to provide them. 

The use of papers was mentioned as an isolated case since the stadium has hosted major international friendlies in the past. 

Football Kenya federation is expected to toughen measures against clubs to avoid a repeat of the incident.

The federation has been working to improve the status of club football in the country.

Polls in the Gambia parliamentary elections close at 17:00 GMT, a few minutes from now. 

Reports indicate that turnout was low.

Divisions in the governing coalition could have led to low interest in the election, local independent journalist Omar Wally told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio from the capital, Banjul.

He says that those who have chosen to vote see it as part of continuing the process of erasing exiled former President Yahya Jammeh's influence. 

About 238 candidates including 18 women are contesting for 23 seats. 

The results are expected to be announced from midnight local time. 

Aboubakar Famau
BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam

Tanzanian Bongo Fleva artist Ibrahim Musa aka Roma Mkatoliki is missing after allegedly being arrested this morning in the commercial capital Dar es salaam. 

He was reportedly picked up at a recording studio in the city, along with his producer. 

Other reports say that recording equipment was also confiscated.

People have been sharing the news on Twitter: 

Family members of the two say they have visited police stations in the city but they have not been able to trace them. 

Joff Msumule, a colleague of the missing producer, says the police were likely looking for evidence to incriminate the musician: 

Joseph Mbilinyi, a former artist, who is currently an MP, raised the issue in parliament by alleging that the government was using secret agents to arrest people.

The news comes weeks after another Bongo Fleva artist Ney wa Mitego was arrested for a song decrying the shrinking space for freedom of expression, which was deemed to be insulting to President John Magufuli's government. 

He was later released following a public outcry but he was told to improve the song to include other ills that affect Tanzanians.

Shingai Nyoka
BBC Africa, Harare

A passenger bus accident on one of Zimbabwe’s deadliest highways, in the country's south-east, has claimed the lives of at least 17 people. 

Earlier, there were reports of as many as 30 deaths.

Police say the bus was travelling to neighbouring South Africa when it collided with a haulage truck and then burst into flames. 

Some passengers were trapped in the blaze, while others escaped after breaking the windows.

Police say at least 40 people have been hospitalised and some are in critical condition.

Cross-border buses are popular among informal traders who travel to buy goods for resale in local markets.

Road accidents are also common on the busy highway, which is narrow and poorly maintained.

The Beitbridge-Chirundu road, where the accident happened, is an important gateway linking South Africa to landlocked central Africa.

Image source, Somalia presidency

Somalia's president has declared a state of war in the country, urging the nation "to stand with the armed forces in the fight against terror groups".

Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" announced a shakeup of top security personnel, declaring war on Islamist militant group al-Shabab:

He announced new chiefs of national security and intelligence, a commander of police and a new head of prison forces, Reuters news agency reports.

He also appointed a new mayor for the capital Mogadishu, which has been hit by a spate of deadly bomb attacks.

But Mr Farmajo also offered a limited amnesty for al-Shabab militants wanting to surrender:

Image source, Somalia presidency

He did not mention a recent directive from the Trump administration , which gives the US military more scope to carry out air strikes in Somalia and relaxes rules designed to guard against civilian casualties.

• Who are al-Shabab?
• Big challenges face Somalia's 'Mr Cheese' president

Thomas Naadi
BBC Africa, Accra

Commuters in Ghana's capital Accra have complained after a 15% hike in fare prices that came into effect today, saying it would translate into high costs of living.

The increase is part of a deal agreed by transport unions and the government to review fare prices twice a year, between the months of January and June, and only affects private transport companies.

The the last review of fares was done in February 2016.  

The unions are defending the increase saying it will cover their rising expenses in buying vehicle spare parts and for maintenance. 

Some commuters are however unhappy that President Nana Akufo-Addo's new government approved the hikes, having won elections in December with pledges to transform the struggling economy and improve the living conditions for Ghanaians. 

Rexmond Amankwa, a trader, asked why the increases were not captured in the national budget: 

Image source, Reuters

South African MPs from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) will oppose a no-confidence motion being backed by opposition parties against President Jacob Zuma scheduled for 18 April the party has said. 

The party's Chief Whip Mphikwa Jackson Mthembu said the party would stand by the decision taken by an influential body in the party to support the embattled leader: 

Mr Zuma has been under increasing pressure following his removal of widely respected Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, with the rand currency falling 12% against the US dollar since his plans began to emerge last week.

Three other cabinet ministers sacked by Mr Zuma resigned as MPs earlier. 

James Copnall
Africa editor, BBC World Service

The civil war in South Sudan has made life hard for almost everyone - but it hasn't stopped the country's cinephiles from working on their passion.

The second edition of the Juba film festival is coming up in a few months, and this week residents of the capital were able to attend a screening of a new movie, Zawaja Gali - which means 'Marriage is Expensive'.

It's the story of a young South Sudanese man who wants to marry his girlfriend. In the best traditions of cinema, it won't be easy - as one character puts it, "love alone will not do it any more."

The short film is is directed by Cont de Monk, and is written by and stars Sam Lukudu.

Lukudu told the BBC that Zawaja Gali "touches on two sensitive issues in our society. Namely, tribalism, and the commercialisation of marriages."  

You can watch the film's trailer here:

Sammy Maina
BBC Monitoring

Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister Samy Badibanga has handed in his resignation as part of a deal brokered by the Catholic church to end a political crisis in the country, UN-backed Radio Okapi reports, external .

It follows a speech yesterday from President Joseph Kabila, in which he told MPs that he would name an opposition prime minister within the next 48 hours.

Mr Kabila said he would stick to the electoral calendar agreed as part of the deal with the opposition, which requires polls to be held before the end of 2017. 

There has been growing unrest in the country after he failed to step down when his second and final term in office ran out in December.

Mr Badibanga handed in his notice at the presidential palace in the capital Kinshasa, Radio Okapi adds, quoting one of his aides. 

We've just spotted these photos on The Kenyan army twitter account. 

They show troops near the border with Somalia aiding a thirsty buffalo in the drought-stricken region.

Image source, KDF

Image source, KDF

BBC World Service

UN peacekeepers in South Sudan say they have twice been prevented from accessing the town of Pajok, where the army is accused of killing civilians. 

The peacekeepers say they are concerned about the reports of fighting and attacks on civilians, and are calling on the government to allow them to visit the area. 

Several thousand people have fled Pajok into neighbouring Uganda. Some said government troops shot their relatives as they ran, or arrested and then killed them. 

The army has denied targeting civilians. 

Read more: South Sudan declares famine

BBC World Service

The campaign group Human Rights Watch has criticised the Ethiopian authorities for failing to hold accountable a paramilitary force it accuses of killing at least 21 civilians in June last year. 

The incident took place in the village of Jaamac Dubad in Ethiopia's Somali regional state. 

Human Rights Watch said the force, known as the Liyu police, started shooting indiscriminately after an officer had been wounded in a dispute with traders, killing at least 14 men and seven women.

It says nine months later survivors said they were not aware of any investigation and had not received compensation.

There was no immediate reaction from the Ethiopian government.  

An HRW researcher has tweeted a copy of the report:

Alastair Leithead
BBC Africa correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

A court ruling legalising the domestic trade in rhino horn in South Africa has been criticised by some conservationists and welcomed by others, but there’s still uncertainty over its impact. 

South Africa’s Constitutional Court lifted a ban on trade within the country, which has been in place since 2009, but only under licence, and the selling of rhino horn abroad is still banned under an international treaty.

A third of South Africa’s rhinoceroses are privately owned – that’s more than 60,500 according to the Private Rhino Owners’ Association. 

Its members want to painlessly harvest the horns – which grow back – and sell them to pay for the conservation of their rhinos. 

This Constitutional Court ruling once again allows them to do that – but only within South Africa and only with a permit. 

The main market for rhino horn is Asia where it is used as a medicine and to make cups and jewellery – and an international treaty prevents their sale abroad.

There is already a thriving illegal trade – every year in South Africa more than a 1,000 rhinos are killed for their horns which can fetch more than $90,000 (£72,000) a kilo on the open market.

Critics say it will be hard to regulate the legal trade and it will result in more illegal rhino horn being trafficked to Asia by criminal syndicates. 

Kenya's electoral commission has agreed to allow political parties to independently monitor the voting process of the 8 August general election. 

It however said that it will have the exclusive responsibility of announcing the results. 

Opposition leader Raila Odinga had caused a political storm over the weekend after he told supporters that the opposition coalition, Nasa, will set up a parallel vote tallying system and announce results during the elections. 

Opposition leaders say that a parallel tallying system would guard against manipulation of votes. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta is seeking a second term and is expected to face a candidate backed by major opposition parties.

An Egyptian professor fears she may lose her job after posting a video of herself bellydancing on Facebook.

The video, as well as a photo of Mona Prince in a bikini, has been widely shared and has attracted online criticism. Now the professor, who teaches English literature at Suez University, is being investigated over them,  Ahram Online reports, external .

While some have defended her, many on social media said they expected a university professor to act within the norms and traditions of Egypt's mostly conservative society, and to be a role model.

Read full story

Image source, FACEBOOK/MONA PRINCE

Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo"  has declared war against Islamist militant group al-Shabab, in what is being seen as a key moment in his four month-old presidency.

He announced an amnesty of 60 days for militants to surrender, in exchange for training, employment and education.     

It comes a day after a suicide attack near a government building in the capital Mogadishu that killed seven people and a spate of kidnappings of aid workers by armed militants in the drought-hit country. 

"Terror attacks have become frequent and all Somali forces were on the state of alertness to combat insecurity and terror" he said. 

He also said that he had replaced senior security officers in the intelligence service and police force to prepare for the escalating war against the militants.

He wore full military fatigues during the press briefing:

Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre also said that the new measures would be implemented in Mogadishu and other main regions. 

Analysts think the new security measure is about reinforcing gains made by UN mission in Somalia Amison and Somalia forces. 

Last week the New York Times reported , external that US President Donald Trump had relaxed some of the rules for preventing civilian casualties in Somalia when counter-terrorism air strikes are carried out, laying the ground for an intensification of the campaign against the group.

Read more: Somalia's 'Mr Cheese' president has a lot on his plate

French President Francois Hollande has expressed his condolences after a French soldier was killed by militants in Mali last night.

The soldier, named as Julien Barbe, was killed "in a clash with terrorists after an operation in the country's southeast", according to an official statement from the president's office.   

With France's presidential election less than three weeks away, candidates have been quick to show their support. 

Leading candidates, including Marine Le Pen, Francois Fillon and Emmanuel Macron have all paid their respects on Twitter.

The troops were attacked after an explosive device blew up an armoured vehicle, with the soldier killed in the ensuing clash, an official statement added.

Some 3,500 French soldiers are deployed to five countries in the Sahel as part of Operation Barkhane, a French-led operation against militant groups that began in 2014.  

Read more: France - the Saharan policeman

Rachel Dolezal -  the white US woman who said she was black  - sparking huge controversy, has announced that she will be visiting South Africa to promote a book she has written about her experience. 

Ms Dolezal will be a special guest of the inaugural Quest for Non Racial South African Society Dialogue (QfNRSASD), Reading List publication reports., external

The group's founder Bishop Clyde NS Ramalaine had defended Ms Dolezal after she was exposed, saying that her critics were envious that she had "successfully transitioned race".

He added: 

Ms Dolezal insists that she is a transracial woman in a white body. 

She's also said that that she faces "more stigma for race fluidity" than people do for gender fluidity.