Summary

  • Nigeria loses $1.1bn (£837m) every year, he says

  • US revokes visa of war crimes prosecutor Fatou Bensouda

  • Nigeria denies 80 foreign embassies closing down

  • Rival Libyan force moves towards capital

  • Belgium sorry for mixed-race kidnappings in colonial era

  • Vodacom Tanzania replaces detained MD with South African

  1. Boeing admits to anti-stall system failure after Ethiopia crashpublished at 07:17 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    The chief executive of Boeing, Dennis Muilenburg, has acknowledged that a problem with the automated anti-stall system contributed to two fatal crashes of its 737 Max aircraft in the past five months.

    But he said the 737 Max would be among the safest planes ever to fly when it returned to service after a software fix and revised pilot guidelines.

    Earlier, delivering a preliminary report on last month's crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max, Ethiopia's transport minister said the plane's automated systems had forced it to nose dive despite the crew following recommended emergency procedures.

    Flight ET302 crashed after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing 157 people.

    Last October, Lion Air flight JT 610 crashed into the sea near Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board.

    Illustration
  2. Why I forgave my children's killerpublished at 07:12 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    Media caption,

    Rwanda genocide 25 years on: Why I forgave my children's killer

    Twenty-five years ago Rwanda descended into mass murder on a scale that still shocks the world.

    Anne-Marie watched as her neighbour killed two of her children in the Rwandan genocide.

    But she has forgiven the man responsible.

    Rwanda has always been a tightly controlled society and under President Paul Kagame, the media is closely monitored.

    Here's one moving story of survival and reconciliation.

    Video producers: Jean-Paul Habyarimana,Ciru Muriuki and Didier Bikorimana for BBC Factfinder

  3. Vodacom picks South African as Tanzania MD after arrestpublished at 06:51 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    Vodacom logoImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    South African-owned Vodacom has about 35 million customers in Tanzania

    Mobile phone giant Vodacom has appointed South African Jacques Marais as its acting managing director in Tanzania following the arrest of the incumbent, Egyptian Hisham Hendi, on charges of economic crimes.

    Mr Marais' appointment would ensure that its operations continued "free of interruptions", Vodacom Tanzania said.

    It supported the police investigation, and had also initiated an internal investigation into the allegations, it added in a statement.

    Mr Hendi, who was appointed MD last month, appeared in a court in the main city, Dar es Salaam, on Wednesday, and was remanded in police custody along with other Vodacom Tanzania executives.

    They have been charged with the "fraudulent use of network facilities", and causing the government losses of about $2.5m (£1.9m).

    They have not yet been asked to plead.

    Vodacom Tanzania said an application for their release on bail would be heard in the next few days.

    It added that it upheld the "highest standards of business integrity, ethics and good corporate governance", without commenting specifically about the charges against Mr Hendi.

  4. How Belgium caused pain in its former coloniespublished at 06:01 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    "We carry the pain of our ancestors in our bones," Heleen Debeuckelaere said, as she discussed with BBC Newsday's James Copnall the apology of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel for the kidnapping of thousands of children born to mixed-race couples during colonial rule in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

    Her mother was among the "métis" children born to Belgian settlers. It's estimated that as many as 20,000 children were taken from those countries and brought to Belgium from 1959 until the independence of each of the three colonies.

    Ms Debeuckelaere has been campaigning for this part of Belgium's history to be acknowledged. Listen to her story here:

    Media caption,

    Some 20,000 children born to colonial settlers and African women were forcibly taken

  5. Nigeria denies 80 diplomatic missions to shutpublished at 05:33 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    Mayeni Jones
    BBC News, Lagos

    Nigerian girl with flagImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Nigeria is regarded as an African superpower

    The Nigerian foreign ministry has denied reports that 80 of its diplomatic missions around the world are facing closure.

    A spokesperson told the BBC that reports of budgetary shortages were inaccurate.

    Earlier, Nigerian senators strongly criticised what they said was a lack of funding for the country's diplomatic missions.

    Members of the foreign affairs committee complained that most of Nigeria's embassies were in a sorry state, with many unable to pay electricity or water bills.

    They said they'd received complaints from embassy staff who said they were unable to pay school fees for their children.

  6. US revokes ICC chief prosecutor's visapublished at 05:29 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    Fatou Bensouda waits for former vice-president in the transitional government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to enter the court room of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stand trial on charges including corruptly influencing witnesses by giving them money and instructions to provide false testimony, and presenting false evidence, at The Hague, the Netherlands, on September 29, 2015Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Fatou Bensouda is a Gambian who became ICC chief prosecutor in 2012

    The US has revoked the entry visa for the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    Fatou Bensouda has been investigating allegations of war crimes by US forces and their allies in Afghanistan - and last month the US warned it might refuse or revoke visas to any ICC staff involved in such probes.

    Ms Bensouda's office insisted she would continue to do her duties without fear or favour. The US is not a member of the ICC.

    The African Union (AU) lobbied intensely for Ms Bensouda to become ICC chief prosecutor in 2012 after accusing her predecessor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, of unfairly targeting Africans for investigation, an allegation he denied.

  7. Friday's wise wordspublished at 05:29 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    Our African proverb of the day:

    Quote Message

    Do not spill millet where there are many chickens."

    A Swahili proverb sent by Tom O. Matoke in Euless, Texas, US.

    Illustration

    Click here to send us your African proverbs.

  8. Good morningpublished at 05:29 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    Welcome back to BBC Africa Live for the latest news and trends from around the continent.

  9. Scroll down for Thursday's storiespublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    We'll be back on Friday

    That's all from BBC Africa Live for now, but you can keep up-to-date with what's happening across the continent by listening to the Africa Today podcast or check the BBC News website.

    A reminder of Thursday's wise words:

    Quote Message

    A black dog has slept in the hearth.

    A Nubi proverb sent by Amatre Ronald Mark Smith Cathy, Arua, Uganda

    Click here to send us your African proverbs.

    And we leave you with this shot of a young man holding a rose, taken by @iamabke:

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  10. Ethiopia crash: Boeing responds to crash reportpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Boeing has stressed that "safety is a core value" following the issuing of the preliminary reporting into last month's Ethiopian Airlines crash.

    There has been some criticism of Boeing in the wake of the air disaster as people argued that the circumstances were similar to the downing of a Boeing plane last October.

    In a statement, the manufacturer said their "technical experts continue to assist in this investigation and company-wide teams are working to address lessons from the Lion Air Flight 610 accident".

    Boeing has updated the software on the 737 MAX.

  11. Rival Libyan leader orders march on capitalpublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    BBC World Service

    The leader of forces in eastern Libya has ordered them to march on the capital Tripoli where the internationally recognised government is based.

    Khalifa Haftar, who commands the self-styled Libyan National Army, issued the order in an audio message broadcast on a local television station.

    It comes amid conflicting reports that his forces had entered the town of Gharyan some 100km (62 miles) south of Tripoli.

    Powerful armed groups from the western city of Misrata, which back the government in Tripoli, have vowed to stop any advance.

    On a visit to Libya ahead of a planned conference on the country's future later this month the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said he was deeply concerned by troop movements there.

  12. Court wigs are 'out of date'published at 17:21 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Lawer's wigImage source, Getty

    Buying lawyers' wigs from London is both costly and anachronistic, a leading Zimbabwean lawyer has told the BBC.

    Doug Coltart was reacting to news reported in the local media that Zimbabwe's legal authorities have ordered over $155,000-worth (£119,000) of wigs for judges and barristers from a specialist shop in the UK.

    Mr Coltart told the BBC that the money spent on wigs could have been used to renovate the "dilapidated courts" instead.

    In addition, he does not support the practice of wearing wigs.

    "It harks back to the colonial era", he said.

    "Courts appear less accessible and more intimidating for ordinary people."

  13. Ethiopia crash: Hard to deal with an unidentified problempublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Aeroplane engineImage source, Reuters

    In its preliminary report on last month's Ethiopian Airlines crash, the Ethiopian government said the pilots followed procedures recommended by Boeing - the aeroplane's manufacturer - before the crash.

    The airline also praised the pilots' behaviour.

    There are still a lot of details to find out, and it's not clear what the pilots did exactly.

    Former pilot Mervyn Granshaw told Focus on Africa radio that those flying the plane may have done all the things recommended, but that would not have been enough if it was not clear what was causing the plane problems.

    "The pilots did what they could do in the circumstances but if you can't identify the problem it makes it almost impossible to do anything about it," he said.

  14. South Africa nursery teacher arrestedpublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Pumza Fihlani
    BBC News, Johannesburg

    The nursery school teacher who was caught in a video allegedly assaulting children has been arrested. The video was taken a year ago but surfaced recently (see earlier entry).

    Some parents have subsequently removed their children from the nursery school after several videos surfaced on social media which appeared to show one of the teachers assaulting children and babies, according to local media.

    The school principal's lawyer, Danie van Zyl, says the person who took the video has also been reported.

    "We immediately went to the child protection unit and opened a case there. The lady who assaulted the children was immediately arrested," Eye Witness News quotes Mr Van Zyl as saying.

    One of the videos shows the teacher lowering the jeans of the child before striking her on the buttocks a number of times after she vomited in class.

    "Why are you vomiting? Why?" the teacher is heard scolding the toddler.

    The child, who is crying at the time, looks up at the teacher and continues to use a cloth to clean a small green plastic table.

    Government officials visited the school on Thursday to assess the facility, local reports say.

  15. Tripoli forces 'on maximum alert as rival army closes in'published at 16:08 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    BBC Monitoring
    The world through its media

    The Ministry of Interior of the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA) has put its forces on maximum alert as forces loyal to the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) close in on the capital, Tripoli.

    "The Ministry of Interior raises the highest state of emergency and issues its orders to all security units to strongly resist any attempts to undermine the capital's security and to take all security measures in this regard," the ministry said in a statement issued on its Facebook page.

    "The forces attacking Tripoli are not aware of the extent of the crime they are committing against the homeland and citizens," the ministry added.

    "We hold the attacking party fully responsible for the dire consequences of this attack. The international community must shoulder its moral and legal responsibility and clearly state its position on these serious breaches the attacking side has always been guilty of," the ministry ended, in a reference to the LNA and its commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

    His forces have moved west, taking control of a several towns.

    UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres is in Tripoli and was supposed to be holding a news conference today, days before the expected launch of a conference bringing together rivals from across the political spectrum.

  16. 'It's been an extremely difficult year'published at 15:50 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Sierra Leone's president marks 12 months in office

    Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, who came to power 12 months ago, has acknowledged in a BBC interview that "it's been an extremely difficult year".

    But, he told BBC Focus on Africa's Umaru Fofana, that there have been some achievements, including launching free primary and secondary education.

    He said that there are big challenges in the healthcare sector, including a lack of hospitals, but he trumpeted the provision of free ambulances for women about to give birth.

    Talking about economic difficulties he said he "did not promise to make this country heaven in a year". He also defended his record in fighting corruption and asked people to be patient.

    Tune in to Focus on Africa on the BBC World Service at 15:00 GMT to hear more. Or listen here after the show.

    Julius Maada BioImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Julius Maada Bio was announced the winner of the run-off election a year ago

  17. Liberia wants Ethiopian Airlines to fly to its capitalpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Jonathan Paye-Layleh
    BBC Africa, Monrovia

    Liberia's President George Weah is asking for the resumption of Ethiopian Airlines flights to Monrovia. The airline stopped flying there in 2011.

    A statement posted on the presidential website, external says President George Weah made the request to the Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde at the inauguration of the Senegalese President Macky Sall near Dakar.

    Mr Weah expressed his sympathy with the victims of last month's plane crash, and said he had confidence in the airline, which is the largest on the continent.

    He asked the Ethiopian president and other African countries to tap into “Liberia’s warm and rewarding business climate”.

    George Weah and Macky SallImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    President George Weah (left) was in Senegal for the inauguration of his counterpart Macky Sall

  18. Rival Libyan force 'enters cities west of capital'published at 14:44 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    BBC Monitoring
    The world through its media

    Map showing location of cities in the report

    In Libya, forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA) based in the east have entered the cities of Sabrata and Surman, west of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, a domestic television channel has reported.

    The report comes shortly after the LNA said it had entered the city of Gharyan, south of the capital - part of its military push in the western region, mostly controlled by forces and militias allied to the rival UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

    In a breaking news caption, 218TV reported that LNA forces had "entered Sabrata and Surman and are taking up position inside them".

    The Saudi-funded, pan-Arab Al-Arabiya TV reported at the same time that LNA troops "are advancing towards Surman".

    Early on Thursday, LNA spokesman Ahmad al-Mismari said that its forces had arrived in Gharyan after clashing with rival fighters south of Tripoli.

    In response, the GNA declared a general mobilisation of its forces and warned against escalation ahead of the upcoming reconciliation conference.

    The UN-sponsored national forum, to be held in the town of Ghadames in 10 days, brings together rivals from across the political spectrum, in an attempt to end divisions between the country's rival authorities in the east and the west.

  19. Algerian activist pledges to continue protestspublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Person waving plagImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Street demonstrations have drawn tens of thousands of people

    A leading opposition figure in Algeria has said that mass protests will continue until the entire political elite has been swept aside.

    Lawyer and activist Moustapha Bouchachi told the BBC that the resignation of four-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was just the beginning.

    Mr Bouchachi said that millions of Algerians would stay on the streets until real change occurred.

    He rejected the Algerian government's proposal that it will manage a political transition - and he reiterated the opposition's refusal to negotiate with the country's current political leadership.

    Read more about what some young Algerians are saying.

  20. South Africans shocked at 'nursery abuse' videopublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    South Africans have taken to Twitter to express their shock at videos of what appears to be a nursery school teacher who seems to be hitting children while forcing them to clean.

    In one of the videos, it looks like the woman forces a small boy to clean a rug and then repeatedly hits him on the head before tossing him around and stepping on his head.

    In another video, the same woman can be seen telling a crying girl to clean up her vomit and then starts to hit her on the head.

    Screengrab from filmImage source, Twitter

    After watching the video @zee_pho23 tweeted: "My heart sank". @BrittanyX0_ said: "Wow you don't understand how much this brings tears to my eyes, poor baby." And there have been calls for the perpetrator to be punished.

    There have also been questions about why the person filming the incidents didn't step in, though others felt that the films provided important evidence.

    In response, the Department of Social Development has asked people to come forward if they have information on the woman:

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    However, the Sowetan Live news site reports that the woman in question has been arrested and is awaiting a court appearance.