Researchers in Kenya say that treated mosquito nets that are widely used in East Africa are not safe and could cause asthma and cancer in infants and young children, the Daily Nation reports. , external

Its research says that the use of synthetic insecticides contains particles that don't break down easily. 

Dr Festus Tolo, head of Natural Product Research and Drug Development Programme at the Kemri institute says they are working on a natural substitute: 

Excited groups gathered in the city centre to share the news with each other on Thursday night, as passing cars honked their horns in celebration.

Students, those working in the financial sector, and businesses who sell products online say they suffered hugely during the ban.

Cyber-cafes which were forced to close are now reopening.

My own work and family life were affected.

I had to make a four-hour round trip to a neighbouring region every time I wanted to send radio reports to my editors.

There are those who see this as the first step towards resolving tensions between the government and the Anglophone community.

Some are even encouraging their friends to be less outspoken on social media to avoid another shutdown.

But others are still angry and say the release of three leaders of the Anglophone protests and 30 others who are still detained should be the priority.

Cameroon's mobile providers are welcoming residents of Cameroon's north-west and south-west regions back online with free internet access.

The English-speaking areas were cut off from the internet for three months following anti-government protests.

MTN's chief executive in the country has tweeted:

In Kitwe in northern Zambia, a lawyer-turned-radio entrepreneur Gesh Groove has set up his own academy to teach the skills needed to become a successful DJ.

He has some great advice for aspiring DJs and radio presenters - and it's not just about playing records.

The BBC's Africa Business Report went along to sample his style of teaching.

Some Nigerian players are tweeting condolence messages for Ugo Ehiogu who died this morning at the age of 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

He was working at Tottenham's Under-23s coach at the time of his death.

Ehiogu made over 200 appearances for Aston Villa between 1991 and 2000 and then spent seven years at Middlesbrough.

He had Nigerian roots but played for England.

Nigeria and Wolves goalkeeper tweeted:

And a Super Eagles player based in Belgium also tweeted his memories:

The Ethiopian state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) is reporting, external that over the past two months the authorities have arrested 98 people, described as "anti-peace elements", trying to cross over from Eritrea.

FBC says that those arrested were from the Eritrea based Ginbot 7 and Oromo Liberation Front "terrorist organisations".

It quotes a local official saying that the 15 arrested this week were planning to attack "socio-economic institution".

There is a state of emergency currently in Ethiopia as the government tries to deal with protesters, including those from the Oromia region.

Internet users in Cameroon's English-speaking regions have been celebrating the fact that they've been reconnected three months after the data connection was cut following protests.

People were delighted when online access was restored in both regions on Thursday at 19:00 GMT, a BBC correspondent in Bamenda reports.

Before the ban, authorities had warned mobile phone users they faced jail for spreading false information.

Some tweeted their appreciation:

But some have used the opportunity to tweet some more political messages including referring to activists who have been detained:

South Africans are tweeting about the funeral of Ontlametse Phalatse who died at 18 earlier this month after her battle against the premature ageing disorder progeria. 

Doctors had said Ontlametse would not make it past the age of 14.

At the time of her death President Jacob Zuma was among those who conveyed their condolences to the family of "the special child of South Africa". 

Mr Zuma has been speaking at her funeral:

People are also sharing videos of the funeral:

While others are sharing Ontlametse's picture:

Manchester United have reacted to last night's tragedy in Nigeria's port city of Calabar where football fans who had gathered at a viewing centre to watch the Uefa Europa League match against Anderlecht, were electrocuted, with several feared dead. 

The police say that seven died in last night's tragedy and 11 are being treated in local hospitals. 

However, some witnesses say that the number of the dead could be higher.   

There has been an exchange of gunfire in the Gambian town of Kanilai, the birthplace of former President Yahya Jammeh, BBC Afrique is reporting.

Soldiers from the mission of the West African regional grouping Ecowas and the Gambian military fired at each other.

The Ecowas soldiers went to Kanilai to search Mr Jammeh's house for weapons that are allegedly being hidden there.

The Ecowas mission is in The Gambia to help restore security in the country.

Sources told BBC Afrique that two pro-Jammeh fighters were injured. They are now being treated in hospital.

On 4 April, the same group of Gambian soldiers on duty at Kanilai forced a unit of their colleagues from the Yundum military camp to turn back.  

Mr Jammeh is now living in exile in Equatorial Guinea after leaving the country that he ruled for 22 years.

He was defeated in an election in December but initially refused to make way for the victor Adama Barrow.

Image source, Getty

The authorities in Uganda's capital, Kampala, are taking action to clear the streets of preachers among others.

In a notice released on Thursday the council says that the police will "start to arrest and prosecute" street preachers and unlicensed traders.

Image source, KCCA

Preachers are a common site in many cities across the continent.

To capture a flavour of what they're like here's a YouTube video we found:

A police statement from Nigeria's port city of Calabar now confirms an incident last night where several football fans died after being electrocuted. 

They were watching a Uefa Europa League match between Manchester United and Anderlecht. 

Police say seven died in the incident, and that 10 victims have been admitted to hospital and one remains in intensive care: 

We have been reporting about an incident last night in Nigeria's southern port city of Calabar where several football fans watching the Uefa Europa match between Manchester United and Anderlecht, were electrocuted. 

A witness, Anthony Sunday, has told the BBC that several people were killed: 

Football fans, who had gathered to watch last night's Uefa Europa match between Manchester United and Anderlecht at a viewing centre in the southern port city of Calabar, have been electrocuted after an electric fault.

There are reports that some of them were killed but there are no confirmed figures.

A local journalist has told the BBC that the incident happened when a high tension cable fell on the building.

Other reports say that there were 80 people in the building at the time but some managed to get away before safely.

Local authorities have however not confirmed what happened and the police are said to be in a meeting with emergency service officials.

A local journalist says the scene has been cordoned off and the electricity supply in the area has been switched off.

We will keep you informed as we get more details. 

Image source, Reuters

BBC World Service

An Egyptian-American charity worker detained in Cairo for three years on charges of human trafficking has been flown home to the United States. 

Aya Hijazi landed in Washington aboard a US military plane accompanied by senior White House official Dina Powell. 

President Donald Trump reportedly asked his Egyptian counterpart to help resolve her case, when President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visited Washington earlier this month. 

Ms Hijazi founded a non-governmental organisation working to improve the lives of street children.

Karen Allen
BBC southern Africa correspondent, Johannesburg

South Africa's former President Kgalema Motlanthe has told the BBC that his vote for the ANC cannot be taken as a given come elections in 2019. 

Mr Motlanthe, who briefly served as president and was once President Jacob Zuma's deputy, revealed that he tried to persuade the leader to stand down more than a year ago.

He also derided what he said was the "cavalier" attitude of some ministers towards the economy.

Mr Motlanthe is one of the most senior figures to cast doubt on the future of the ANC with Mr Zuma, who was once a close ally, at the helm. 

The embattled president faces a vote of no confidence in parliament next month and opposition to him appears to be hardening, although he still enjoys strong support in the rural areas.

Image source, AFP

You can listen to part of the interview here:

South African artist Ayanda Mabulu is trending on Twitter as people there react to his latest controversial art work showing President Jacob Zuma having sex with Nelson Mandela.

Angry comments like these are typical:

The Nelson Mandela Foundation has issued a statement, external saying that though it respects the right to freedom of expression it finds the "painting distasteful".

The governing ANC says it finds the work "grotesque, inflammatory and of bad taste - but the party also defends the right for the artist to express himself.

Mabulu has in the past drawn a number of pictures showing the president in sexually explicit positions.

Today’s African proverb:

Image source, AFP

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

Welcome to the BBC Africa Live page where we'll be keeping you up-to-date with news stories on the continent.