BBC Africa Live
Dickens Olewe & Natasha Booty

That's all from the BBC Africa Live page this week. 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 today's wise words:

Click here to send in your African proverbs.

We leave you with this photo of a Kenyan police band during the celebration making 55 years of self-rule. It's one of our favourite pictures taken this week.

Image source, AFP

And, as a bonus, we're sharing this picture taken recently of a fearless hippo attempting to intimidate a helicopter. The aircraft was brought in to remove the animal after it attacked a baby hippo:

Since talking to the Daily Show host Trevor Noah, external on Thursday evening about why men are important for the feminist movement, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been trending on Twitter in Nigeria, with reaction to her remarks tweeted over 41,000 times at time of writing.

"Men have to be on board," said Adichie, "because we share the world".

As the author of Why We Should All Be Feminists, published in 2014 and based on her TED talk in 2012 , externalwhich has been viewed more than 1.7m times, her comments should not be a surprise.

She also touched on the question of etiquette between the genders.

Adichie explained she was happy for people to hold the door for her but hoped "they're not doing it for this idea of chivalry," as it could imply weakness on the woman's part.

However, Nigerian student Tade Derhbi suggested: "Hold the door for everyone. It's plain courtesy".

Read the full story on the BBC new website.

French-language news site RFI says , externala government body charged with resolving the crisis in Cameroon's Anglophone regions could debate a return to the federal system of two states - one English-speaking, the other French-speaking - last seen in the 1960s and early 1970s.

The National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, created in 2017, is considering the topic, RFI says.

Unlike English-speaking separatists who want to create an independent state of Ambazonia, some in the country believe a decentralised system devolving some powers to Anglophone regions could address long-held grievances over the balance of power.

It's a view shared by the International Crisis Group, external and a former US diplomat., external

Jacques Fame Ndongo of the governing Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) tells RFI "we don't exclude [opening] a dialogue", but cautions that "[our] political strategy clearly sets out that the form of the state is non-negotiable".

He adds: "I can't speak for the state but I am speaking on behalf of the CPDM party."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP

Thousands of opposition supporters have marched peacefully in Mali's capital, Bamako, to call for free and fair presidential elections next month, a news agency AFP reports.

They held banners which read "no to fraud" and "equal access to national radio and TV".

Organisers estimated 300,000 people took part in the march but local reports put the number between 10,000 to 20,000.

Opposition leader Soumaila Cisse told AFP, "We turned up to call for transparent elections and equal access to state media, and also to denounce current government policy".

Mr Cisse, 68, who lost in 2013, is one of some 15 candidates running against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, 73, who is seeking a second term in the 29 July election.

As Islamist insurgency in northern Mali has badly hit the country, spreading into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger despite peace efforts.

France intervened militarily in Mali in 2013 to help government forces combat militants linked to al-Qaeda.

Read more: Mali country profile

Mary Harper
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

The International Criminal Court has overturned the war crimes conviction of the Congolese politician, Jean-Pierre Bemba. He was also acquitted of crimes against humanity.

There were loud cheers from Mr Bemba's supporters when the decision was announced.

In 2016, Mr Bemba was given an 18-year sentence for crimes committed by his forces in the Central African Republic.

The judges ruled that he should not have been held liable as a remote commander for crimes committed by his troops in a foreign country.

Mr Bemba has already spent nearly a decade in the ICC's detention centre in The Hague.

• Follow updates on this story here

Reuters news agency reports that former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2016, has had his conviction overturned.

Mr Bemba had also been found guilty by the ICC of bribing witnesses.

Stanley Kwenda
BBC Africa

Image source, Getty Images

Former Bafana Bafana player MacBeth Sibaya says racism in South Africa is worse than anything he experienced playing in Russia.

Sibaya, who has now retired from playing, spent seven years in Russia at Rubin Kazan from 2003.

"They are very curious - I wouldn't say it's racism because I live here in South Africa so I know what racism is," he told BBC Sport.

"Racism is a system and I didn't see a system directed at hating blacks."

The 40-year-old, who was part of the South Africa squad at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, admits there are problems in Russia but not on the scale of South Africa.

"I'm not denying that it [racism] happens, but I am saying I live in South Africa - I know racism - it's not like that in Russia," he insisted.

He also had some advice for any African fans following their team at the World Cup:

"I'd say they have to be as African as they can be, because that is your strength."

Read the full story on the BBC website.

Fifa's ethics committee has banned the head of Ghana's football association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, for 90 days after he was filmed apparently receiving $65,000 (£43,000) in cash from an undercover reporter.

The ban, which takes effect immediately, bars Mr Nyantakyi from all football activities at both national and international level.

The duration of the ban may be extended for an additional period not exceeding 45 days, Fifa's statement says.

Ghana's government announced Thursday it was banning the football association after the video of Mr Nyantakyi receiving cash was made public.

Mr Nyantakyi is also the vice-president of the Confederation of African Football and a member of the Fifa Council.

He has not commented on the allegations.

He is also facing a separate investigation by Ghanaian authorities after being caught on video peddling his ability influence state officials.

The revelations are part of a two-year undercover investigation by Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremayaw Anas into football in Africa, which also revealed footage of over 100 referees and officials taking cash before games.

Watch the report below:

Yemisi Adegoke
BBC Africa

Image source, AFP

Today marks 20 years since the death of Gen Sani Abacha, considered one of Nigeria’s most brutal leaders.

His regime was marked by human rights abuses, attacks on the press and the jailing of political opponents, including Moshood Abiola who is believed to have won the annulled 1993 election.

The hanging in 1995 of nine prominent environment activists - famously known as the Ogoni Nine - caused international outrage and as a result Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth.

Gen Abacha promised to return Nigeria to democracy and held parliamentary elections in 1998 in which he was the sole candidate. He died months later.

Reaction to his death was divided, with some celebrating and other mourning, and he remains a controversial figure among Nigerians.

President Muhammadu Buhari was heavily criticised recently for his comments on Abacha’s contribution to infrastructural projects.

Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International estimates that during his five-year rule between 1993-1998, he stole between $2-5bn.

Read more:Key moments in Sani Abacha's life

Cameroon's Anglophone regions are home to around 20% of the country's population but, as the Journal du Cameroun news site reports, external, only 3% of all new voters registered nationwide since January come from those regions.

The central African nation is under scrutiny ahead of October's general election.

Last month, the US ambassador to Cameroon accused its forces of carrying out "targeted killings" and other human rights abuses in its battle against English-speaking separatists.

President Paul Biya recently appointed a new director at the electoral commission (Elecam) to tackle what its council members called the "opaque use of financial resources and staffing".

But some in the opposition accuse the new Elecam boss Erik Essousse of leading a "witch hunt".

French-language news site Jeune Afrique reports that perceived allies of Mr Essousse's predecessor are being sacked, external.

Separatists in Cameroon's two mainly English-speaking areas - the North-West and South-West regions - have been demanding independence.

Tens of thousands of Anglophone Cameroonians fleeing violent clashes with Francophone security forces have crossed into neighbouring Nigeria in recent months.

Berihu Lilay
BBC Horn of Africa

Image source, EBC

At least 6,000 residents of Irob district in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region have been protesting against the government’s decision to implement the Algiers agreement, which hands over contested territories to Eritrea.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Tuesday it was time to "end the suffering and fully return to peace" following the 16-year standoff which was sparked by a border conflict in 1998.

He hinted that troops based in the contested town of Badme might be withdrawn, saying they had experienced "psychological effects".

Irob district spokesperson, Selam Hagos, told state broadcaster EBC the decision would divide members of the minority ethnic group in bordering countries.

Local residents Aznesh Gebremesqel and Tesfay Shifare, who took part in the demonstration, told the BBC the government's decision didn’t reflect the interests of the people and needs rethinking.

The only opposition party in the region Arena also opposed the move.

“Consultation should have been held with the people and the opposition,” the party's chairman Abreha Desta told the BBC.

Read more: Ethiopia offers Eritrea chance to end Africa's longest war

Arm wrestler Bonginkosi Madonsela says he is on a mission to bring the sport to the black community in South Africa.

The 38-year-old hopes to inspire young people from tough neighbourhoods like Alexandra in Johannesburg, where he hails from.

Watch his journey as he gears up for a big arm wrestling tournament which he hopes will attract others to the sport:

Sharpening knives is a common trade in Kenya.

Traders are known to cart their pulley-like machines around residential areas and markets looking for clients.

A tweeter has shared this video of a trader adding a bit of extra swagger to his work.

Watch it, it's quite a treat:

Pumza Fihlani
BBC News

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Durban High Court where former President Jacob Zuma appeared today on a slew of corruption charges.

Many of Mr Zuma’s supporters are from his home province of KwaZulu-Natal which is where the case is being heard.

Addressing supporters in isiZulu after the case was postponed to 27 July, he said: “If the case must happen, I am not afraid to face it”.

A number of high-profile leaders stood alongside him on the podium erected outside the court, including the former North West Province Premier Supra Mahumapelo who resigned in May - following pressure from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) - amidst corruption allegations.

Mr Mahumapelo denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Zuma’s supporters have been described as "a band of the walking wounded" after the forced removal of the former president by the ANC in February.

Today’s show of support has fuelled speculation of a split in the ANC ahead of upcoming general elections, something the new President Cyril Ramaphosa will be keen to avoid.

A survey of birds of prey across Botswana has confirmed what conservationists feared - that vultures are fast disappearing from one of Africa's greatest wilderness areas.

The project to count the birds involved driving more than 20,000 kilometres across Botswana, following a route originally taken by scientists more than 20 years ago.

Arjun Amar of the the University of Cape Town tells BBC Newsday that other birds of prey - like the African hawk eagle and African fish eagle - are also showing a sharp decline in their numbers:

A Johannesburg-based beer company has apologised for the name of its new range of craft beers which have been deemed sexist, TimesLive reports. , external

Vale Bru ran the marketing campaign for Filthy Brunette‚ the Easy Blonde‚ Raven Porra and the Ripe Redhead, on social media.

For the Easy Blonde they used the tagline, “All your friends have already had her,” and "When gushing and moist are used to describe something‚ then you know," was used to advertise Filthy Brunette.

Several people said the marketing campaign was sexist and showed lack of respect of women.

Blogger Lucy Corne posted, external: "I understand that sex sells‚ but these names don’t hint at respectful sex. Maybe they should have asked themselves whether these are things that they would appreciate people saying about their little sister."

Vale Bru posted on Instagram: “Being offensive is wrong‚ being sexist is worse. To any ladies out there that we have offended‚ please accept our humblest apologies.”

It said its attempt "at making you‚ and ourselves‚ uncomfortable‚ worked. However‚ we never meant to belittle or degrade you".

In a Facebook post, external it said it was "removing the names and labels we have created from the market, with immediate effect".

Image source, Vale Bru/Facebook

BBC World Service

Police in Mozambique say suspected Islamists militants have killed five people in the latest attack in the north of the country.

They used knives and machetes, and also burned down houses. At least 17 other people have been killed by suspected jihadists in recent weeks.

Police have sent reinforcements to the area which is rich in natural gas.

More than 300 people have been arrested following the attacks and a number of mosques closed.

Read more: How Mozambique’s smuggling barons nurtured jihadists

Image source, AFP

The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on six leaders of human trafficking networks operating in Libya - the first time traffickers have been put on an international sanctions list.

The blacklisted six are four Libyans, including the head of a regional coast guard unit, and two Eritrean nationals.

Smugglers have taken advantage of insecurity in Libya to move hundreds of thousands of migrants by sea to Europe.

Many migrants are trapped in detention centres and beaten by traffickers.

The sanctions - a global travel ban and an assets freeze - were the result of an internationally-backed Dutch proposal. The proposal was initially presented on 1 May but held up by Russia, which sought to examine the evidence against the six men.

Read the full story on the BBC website.

Image source, .

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has sacked and replaced two of the country's most senior defence and security staff.

Gen Samora Yunis, described as Ethiopia’s “most prominent military figure” by a top prime ministerial aide, has been replaced as army chief of staff by Gen Seare Mekonen.

Air Force Commander Gen Adem Mohamed has been appointed the new head of Ethiopia's Intelligence and Security Service, replacing Getachew Asefa who was in post for 17 years.

The prime minister has brought in many reforms since April.

The outgoing army chief, Gen Samora, was due to retire in a few months time.

He fought with the rebels who overthrew Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991 and brought Meles Zenawi to power.

For the next few decades he was Mr Meles’ close ally and the key figure in the much-feared security establishment.

He leaves his post just two months after Mr Abiy came into office in a bid to end anti-government protests.

The corruption case facing South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma has been postponed to 27 July, the BBC's Milton Nkosi reports.

Mr Zuma was in court for his second appearance in two months in connection with a multi-billion dollar arms deal entered in the 1990s.

He faces 16 counts of corruption, racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

In court today in Pietermaritzburg, in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, the 76-year-old former leader waved at supporters when he arrived in the building:

Outside the court his supporters have gathered waiting for him to address them: