Shingai Nyoka
BBC Africa, Harare

Image source, AFP

Russia will not interfere in Zimbabwe's upcoming elections, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promised during a visit to the country.

Mr Lavrov made the promise as he revealed the two countires had signed deals on agriculture and mining, and were hoping to increase military cooperation and diamond mining in the future.

Russia and Zimbabwe are already working together to exploit one of the largest platinum reserves in the world, just west of the capital, Harare.

Mr Lavrov's visit coincides with Washington’s decision to renew economic, travel and arms sanctions against Harare.

Russia has maintained close political ties with Zimbabwe since the 1970s war of independence.

But on this visit the minister also brought President Emmerson Mnangnagwa a special message from Russia's President Vladmir Putin: a promise to help stablilise the country, politically and economically.

Mr Lavrov has now left for Ethiopia, where he is expected to meet African Union representatives.

Jonathan Paye-Layleh
BBC Africa, Monrovia

Image source, Reuters

About a thousand Sierra Leoneans who had used the land border to cross from Liberia into their home country to vote were stopped from returning late on Wednesday.

They were stopped after Liberian officials began to suspect they had been joined by other Sierra Leoneans trying to illegally enter the country, immigration authorities told the BBC.

Lemuel Reeves, commissioner of the Liberia Immigration Services, said those blocked from crossing the Mano River Bridge, which runs between the two countries, included women with babies and small children.

Sierra Leonea had asked Liberia to allow its citizens “free passage” so they could take part in the presidential and general elections, according to Mr Reeves.

But he said hundreds of others joined the returning Sierra Leoneans and “tried to force their way to enter Liberia”.

“They don’t have any travel documents, you don’t cross borders just like that, they want to come into this country freely, it is our job to screen them,” he said.

Mr Reeves said they had allowed in all those with travel documents.

However, an eyewitness told the BBC between 20 and 50 buses were waiting on the Liberian side of the border to transport the Sierra Leoneans to Monrovia but they were still being held at nightfall.

Refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone ended up in their neighbouring countries during their respective civil wars, but years later, there are still thousands who are still living in their neighbouring country.

BBC Trending

Image source, Getty Images

When is a football manager like a controversial ousted ruler?

Arsenal twitterdom has found an innovative way to call for an end to Arsene Wenger's 21-year tenure as manager: by comparing him to former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Comparisons between the two men have been the basis for jokes all season long, but the memes really took off after Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Brighton over the weekend. And the heat on Wenger has only continued in advance of Thursday's Europa League match against AC Milan.

The comparison between Arsenal's manager and Zimbabwe's ex-president seems to have originated as far back as 2016, in a sweary YouTube video posted by ArsenalFanTV - a channel unaffiliated with the club but run by Gunners supporters.

But the comparison has reverberated far beyond north London - for instance, last year someone taking part in an anti-Mugabe rally was spotted with a "Wenger Out" placard.

The #WengerOut meme also made it to a concert in Kenya.

With nearly 22 years under his belt as Arsenal manager, Wenger is often referred to as the most successful manager in the club's history. But, like Mugabe, is his time up?

Ghanaian film star Yvonne Nelson has been answering your questions on BBC Africa.

But, as it is International Women's Day, we couldn't resist adding one of our own: Is the time now for African women?

And according to Nelson, it most certainly is.

"African women, we've been ready," she said. "So we just need opportunities, we need the world to believe in us more.

"We believe in ourselves. We just need to doors to open."

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

On his first diplomatic visit to Africa the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, has again warned African countries of the dangers of accepting loans from China.

Speaking in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, he said that the US was not trying to keep Chinese money out of Africa but warned there was a danger of losing control of infrastructure or resources if a country failed to repay a loan.

"We are not in any way attempting to keep Chinese dollars from Africa," Mr Tillerson told a press conference.

"(But) it is important that African countries carefully consider the terms of those agreements and not forfeit their sovereignty."

Mr Tillerson was also asked if Africans deserved an apology for derogatory remarks President Trump made about African countries.

He said America was committed to its relationship with Africa and said President Trump had written to the Chairman of the African Union

Tamasin Ford
BBC Africa, Monrovia

Image source, AFP

As the world celebrates International Women's Day, the Ivorian government has updated its labour laws to stop women from doing certain jobs.

The decision was revealed in a closed press conference on Wednesday, with the first reports emerging on Thursday morning - International Women's Day.

According to the government spokesperson, Bruno Koné, the list of banned jobs includes "work that exceeds the ability and physical capacity of women, or work that presents dangers which is likely to undermine their morality, for example, working underground or in the mines".

It's unclear how this would undermine anyone's morality.

The irony of the order will also not be lost on those who have seen one of the most common sights in the West African country's rural areas: a woman carrying a heavy load of wood on her head, with a child strapped to her back, often breastfeeding simultaneously, walking for miles in the hot sun.

But when quizzed on the announcement, Mr Koné insisted this law is all about "protecting women".

What's more, he said, if a woman did want to carry out any of the work on the "prohibited list" all they needed to do was to contact an inspector at the Ministry of Work and "simply" get them to come and do a survey and check that the woman is able to do the job.

Ivory Coast's move came as leaders from around Africa went out of their way to praise women and their abilities on International Women's Day,

In South Sudan, President Salva Kiir hailed women and girls for their courage, strength and resilience, while Uganda's Yoweri Museveni described women as "the engine, the heart and backbone of our society".

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Eritrean migrants at a detention facility in Israel have told the BBC they are being issued with permits which allow them to stay in the country - but they say they are being restricted from living in the country's major cities.

Last month, the Israeli government issued a notice for thousands of African migrants to leave the country or face imprisonment.

Around 500 Eritreans are living in the Holot detention facility in southern Israel, where they have been facing an uncertain future.

The Israeli government wants them and more than 30,000 other African asylum seekers to leave the country.

Some of the Eritreans have told the BBC they have been given one- or two-month permits which allow them to leave the detention centre and to stay in Israel, but they can't go where they please.

Israel's seven major cities are off-limits.

The Eritreans fear this is a move to split them up and prevent them from finding work with the aim of forcing them out of the country.

Image source, AFP

Israel recently gave African migrants 60 days to choose between returning home or relocating to a third African country. Rwanda and Uganda are widely believed to be the third countries, but they have denied doing any deportation deal with Israel.

They would receive a $3,500 (£2,520) payment each. Anyone refusing to leave faced imprisonment although women, children and men with families in Israel would be allowed to stay temporarily.

Eritrea's president, Isaias Afewerki, said the Eritrean migrants should be given $50,000 (£36,000) each.

Shingai Nyoka
BBC Africa, Harare

Image source, Reuters

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says he will not be meeting the US Secretary of State in Ethiopia - despite an offer by Rex Tillerson.

Speaking at a press briefing in Harare today, Mr Lavrov said Mr Tillerson had contacted him proposing a meeting in Addis Ababa where both officials will be today.

But neither party had agreed to meet.

He said he was revealing the details to clarify the discussions between himself and Mr Tillerson.

The Kenyan man who underwent brain surgery by mistake due to a patient mix-up has been discharged from hospital and has spoken about his ordeal.

With a large scar visible across the top of his head, Samuel Kimani told Kenya's Nation TV he had been unconscious when he was admitted to the Nairobi hospital and did not know why the doctor had operated on him.

Kenyatta National Hospital apologised after admitting that the identity tags of two patients had been mixed up.

The man who was supposed to have undergone brain surgery for a blood clot has also been discharged and said it was not yet clear if he still needed the operation.

The case has horrified Kenyans since it came to light.

Read more: Wrong patient given brain surgery

Chris Ewokor
BBC Africa, Abuja

Image source, AFP

The "mastermind" behind a bombing which left 12 people dead as they celebrated 50 years since Nigeria's independence has been sentenced to life in prison.

Charles Okah was sentenced for the 2010 attack on Eagle Square, in the capital Abuja, five years after his older brother Henry was jailed in South Africa for the same offence.

Henry, the former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), is serving 24 years for 13 terrorism-related charges over the twin car bombings.

Charles and his accomplice Obi Nwabueze were sentenced at Abuja High Court in a judgement which last more than five hours.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole said the terrorism charges they were facing had been proved beyond all reasonable doubt.

According to the court, Henry released funds to the two so they could buy cars used in two separate attacks in March and October of 2010.

The October attack left 12 dead and 36 injured.

Henry Okah led a group which said it was fighting to help Niger Delta residents gain a greater share of the oil wealth from their part of southern Nigeria.

It is International Women's Day today, and Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo has been speaking to the BBC about how to make the #MeToo movement work across the vast African continent.

The movement, which used social media to shine a spotlight on sexual harassment and abuse, has already been hugely successful in the US and Europe.

Hear what she has to say below:

"Who raises boys - us women," Kidjo tells the BBC. "We are mothers of girls and boys. Why do we make the boy more important in every choice that we make? That's where we start the revolution."

"The Me Too movement can only happen in Africa if we have men that come on board to speak about the issue," she continues.

She added that "macho" attitudes on the continent mean its different regions require tailored approaches if the movement is to be successful.

Image source, Pierre Tostee/MRP Foundation

A crowdfunding campaign has raised more than $33,000 (£24,000) in just 24 hours for the South African athlete who was viciously attacked by a gang who tried to saw his leg off.

The fund was set up yesterday, as news of the horrific attack on Mhlengi Gwala began to spread around the world.

Mr Gwala was out training in Durban early on Tuesday morning when he was pulled into the bushes by his attackers, who proceeded to saw into his leg.

He only managed to escape after they hit his bone.

The story sent shockwaves through South Africa and beyond, leading one South African to set up the BackaBuddy fundraising page to "get Mhlengi back on his bike".

The money raised - which stood at 400,000 rand ($33,550; £24,175) on Thursday morning - will help with medical bills and rehabilitation costs, the site says.

Dennis Jackson, director of the elite athlete programme for KwaZulu-Natal province, told the BBC's Newsday programme they would also be doing everything possible to get Mr Gwala back on his feet.

"Like a lot of young kids, he had a bit of trouble growing up. But he decided that he wanted to change his life and take up sport, and that's what he did," he said.

"So when people ask me now, is he going to overcome this, I say, for sure. He's got the mind, he's got the will, he's got the strength."

Mr Jackson said he was sure Mr Gwala - a "shining ambassador" for triathlon in South Africa - would compete again, although at what level remained to be seen.

But, he added: "Don't be surprised if in a year or two, we see him back on the world stage."

• Read Africa Live's story on the attack here.

Wanjiku Mungai
BBC Monitoring

Economist and writer David Ndii has taken to Twitter to vent his anger at being suspended as a weekly columnist from the privately owned Nation newspaper.

"I write to advise that we are reviewing the op-ed pages of our platforms with a view to enhancing their relevance and utility value,” read the screenshot of an email the outspoken government critic says he was sent by an editor of the publication.

“As part of this, the Saturday Nation will be temporarily suspending the publication of your column," the email continues. "We hope that we will be able to reinstate it at the end of the exercise."

Unverified reports on social media had claimed the columnist had been sacked, but the email said Ndii's review was a routine quality assurance exercise. Ndii himself believes he has been fired.

Ndii is well known for his controversial stance supporting secession. He wants a "People’s Republic of Kenya" which would exclude central Kenya, parts of the former Rift Valley province and Eastern provinces.

Last year, he was reportedly arrested for incitement charges which he claimed were “fake news”, the Daily Nation, external reported.

He is also one of several opposition figures whose passports were suspended by the government this year, reported The Star newspaper, external.

Eighteen gorilla sanctuary workers have been kidnapped by a militia group in the violence-ravaged eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The employees - including nine guards - were taken by an armed group called the Mai-Mai Raia Mutomboki on Monday, an official told news agency AFP.

They had been conducting an inventory in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a huge expanse of rainforest named for the two extinct volcanoes which lie in its borders and is home to an estimated 250 lowland gorillas, as well as other rare species.

Kashombana Bin-Saleh, administrator of Shabunda territory, told AFP they were all still alive, and negotiations were due to begin for their release.

But local civil societies groups said the militia were demanding a huge ransom.

The sources told AFP the kidnappers had forced locals to carry the victims' luggage.

The Unesco World Heritage site, which sits on the border of Lake Kivu and Rwanda, is in an area which has seen years of violence, which has sent millions fleeing for safety.

Kenya is "broke", its Treasury says, and now plans to slash its budget deficit which reportedly stands at least 80bn shillings ($790m; £569m).

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich made the comment at a senate finance committee yesterday, where he told senators to reduce budgets for each of Kenya's 47 counties by up to 18bn shillings ($178m; £128m) within this financial year.

"We are running short of revenue. There was a slow-down in business activities because of [last year's contested] elections. We are now catching up," he added.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it has given Kenya a six-month extension of a frozen $1.5bn (£1bn) stand-by facility in return for “substantially modifying” interest rate controls, the Financial Times reports.

Kenya’s economic growth is expected to have fallen to about 4.8% in 2017, the Financial Times quotes the IMF as saying, external, from 5.8% in 2016 due to the controls, the political crisis and a prolonged drought.

Our African proverb of the day:

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

Welcome back to BBC Africa Live, where we will bring you the latest news and views from around the continent throughout the day.

Keep scrolling down for Wednesday's news.

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 Wednesday's wise words:

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

And we leave you with this photo of a tree-hugging leopard in South Africa:

Image source, Getty Images

The Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has jumped five spots to be named the world's 100th richest person on Forbes' annual billionaires list, external.

He is one of three Nigerians represented in the index, which also features at least seven South Africans, one Algerian, one Angolan, six Egyptians, two Moroccans, one Swazi, one Tanzanian and one Zimbabwean.

The richest of the African group is Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa.

Mr Musk was 50th on the list with a fortune of $19.9bn.

Just one woman was represented in the group, Isabel Dos Santos, the daughter of Angola's former president, with a fortune of $2.6bn.

Around 2,500 Burundian members of a Catholic sect have fled the Democratic Republic of Congo for Rwanda, the news agency AFP reports.

The migrants, who follow the teachings of a female prophet called Zebiya, left Burundi claiming religious persecution.

They had been receiving aid from the United Nations but this ended in January when the group refused to register on a biometric database, which they said was in violation of their religion.

Speaking to AFP, one of the migrants, Dionyse Nyandwi, said the group had been "living under threat from our Congolese neighbours and we feared being extradited to Burundi".

He added that UN peacekeepers had escorted them to Rwanda where they hoped for a happier stay.

Thousands of Burundians fled to the DR Congo following months of violent political unrest in Burundi.