Uhuru Kenyatta is trending on Twitter ahead of the Kenyan president's state of the nation address today.

Kenyans want issues ranging from high levels of corruption, to the huge national debt and the ballooning wage bill to be tackled in Mr Kenyatta's speech.

Some of them have suggested on Twitter that these three issues are more important than the "Big Four" that Mr Kenyatta had previously identified - affordable health care, housing, food security, and growth of the manufacuring sector:

Some Kenyans have been joking about how the president will deal with corruption:

Zimbabwe's legal authorities have reportedly ordered thousands of dollars worth of wigs for judges and barristers from a specialist shop in the UK.

The wigs are made of horsehair and can cost anything from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

Zimbabwe is going through tough economic times so maybe not surprisingly some Zimbabweans are saying this is an extravagance.

BBC Newsday spoke to Lloyd Msipa, a Zimbabwean lawyer and former opposition member based in London:

Image source, Getty Images

Forces in eastern Libya loyal to the militia leader, Gen Khalifa Haftar, have been advancing westward, prompting a security alert in the capital, Tripoli.

The authorities there - who are recogized by the UN - have ordered a general mobilisation.

The escalation coincides with the arrival of the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, who's been seeking a truce between the rivals.

A spokesman for the eastern forces, Ahmad Mismari, said his troops were engaged in clashes with a rival militia based to the south of Tripoli.

He did not make clear whether there were plans to advance on the capital itself.

Rival Libyan factions have been fighting each other since the overthrow of the long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

The managing director of one of Tanzania's biggest telecoms companies has appeared in court over allegations of economic crimes, including the fraudulent use of network facilities.

Hisham Hendi, an Egyptian, and other executives at Vodacom Tanzania are accused of causing the government losses of about $2.5m (£1.9m).

The firm, which is a subsidiary of South Africa's Vodacom Group, said it was cooperating with the police investigation.

Last year prosecutors charged chief executives of a Vietnamese- owned telecoms company with similar crimes. They were released after paying a fine.

Under John Magufuli's presidency a strict new tax regime has been introduced. Last year officials from the country's largest gold mining company were charged with money laundering and tax evasion.

Read: Five things Magufuli banned

Our African proverb of the day:

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Welcome back to BBC Africa Live where we will bring you the latest news and trends from across the continent.

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 Wednesday's wise words:

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And we leave you with this image of a boy jumping into water in Madagascar, taken by Julio Sacristan.

Image source, AFP

Outgoing Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has sent out a "farewell" message to the people, in which he said he is proud of his tenure but also admitted that mistakes were made, the country's official news agency APS has said.

"As a human prone to making mistakes, I ask you to forgive all my shortcomings," Mr Bouteflika is quoted as saying in a message published on APS.

Mr Bouteflika stressed that while some of his actions were approved of others were "not free of mistakes".

"I speak to you in farewell, and it is not easy to express my true, honest feelings towards you," Mr Bouteflika said.

The president praised the Algerian youth, describing them as "ambitious" and "optimistic".

Mr Bouteflika officially announced his resignation on Tuesday following weeks of mass protests against his attempt to stand for a fifth term as president.

Algeria's Constitutional Council has formally accepted his resignation after 20 years in power.

His resignation marks the start of a transition phase.

Under the constitution, a caretaker government is supposed to be in charge for 90 days, during which time presidential elections must be arranged.

Image source, UN

A woman gave birth in a mango tree while escaping floods in central Mozambique caused by Cyclone Idai.

Single mother Amélia delivered her daughter, Sara, whilst clinging to the branches with her two-year-old son.

The family was rescued two days later by neighbours, following storms that have killed more than 700 people.

It comes nearly 20 years after another miracle baby, Rosita Mabuiango, was born up a tree during flooding in southern Mozambique.

"I was at home with my two-year-old son when suddenly, without warning, the water began to enter the house," she told the UN children's agency Unicef.

Read more on the BBC News website.

Emmanuel Igunza
BBC Africa, Nairobi

Image source, Reuters

Families of Kenyans who died on an Ethiopian Airlines flight last month say they will sue the airline and US aircraft manufacturer Boeing over the deaths.

The families of those who died say the aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the airline should bear the responsibility for the deaths of their loved ones.

They say that initial reports show the Boeing 737 Max 8 had design faults that could have led to the crash.

The families are being represented by a group of lawyers from Kenya and the US.

The attorneys say they are confident of winning the case, which they will file in the US.

The family of a Rwandan national who died in the crash has already filed a lawsuit in a US court, alleging that the Boeing 737 Max 8 plane design is defective.

This comes as more details emerged of the final moments of the flight.

We reported earlier that the Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed sources that indicated the pilots initially took the emergency steps outlined by the manufacturer but still could not regain control.

Last week, Boeing gathered hundreds of pilots and reporters for a presentation on proposed changes to the model, which mean the system no longer repeatedly makes corrections when pilots try to regain control of the plane, reports AFP news agency.

But Boeing has said that the upgrade was not an admission that the system had caused the crash.

Ethiopian Airlines have not yet commented on the families suing them but has promised to make a statement on Thursday.

Ethiopian investigators are still to release their preliminary report into the accident.

Thomas Naadi
BBC Africa, Accra

Image source, Getty Images

Ghana’s government says it will reduce import duties by 50% for general goods and 30% for import duties on cars.

Addressing Ghanaians today on the state of the country’s economy, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia says the reductions will take effect tomorrow.

He said the move is designed to make Ghana’s port more competitive in West Africa.

The reduction of import duties is seen as a huge relief to importers who have consistently complained about high costs in the country.

Observers fear that this may reduce demand for products made in Ghana.

The ruling New Patriotic Party had promised Ghanaians it will establish a factory in each district nationwide to boost domestic production and reduce over dependence on foreign products.

Killian Ngala Chimtom
BBC Africa, Yaounde

The Cameroon government has hit back at Human Rights Watch (HRW) over its report that accuses the military of gross human rights violations in the fight against separatists in Cameroon’s English-speaking North West and South West regions.

Government spokesman Rene Sadi accused the HRW of “obvious bias in favour of armed gangs".

The HRW report says, external the Cameroon security forces “have committed extrajudicial executions, burned property, carried out arbitrary arrests, and tortured detainees”.

The report however documents abuses on both sides, including arson attacks on homes and schools.

The militias began to emerge in 2017 after a security force crackdown on mass protests, led by lawyers in wigs and teachers in suits, over the government's alleged failure to give enough recognition to the English legal and education systems in the North-West and South-West.

After some groups declared independence on 1 October 2017, the government dismissed the armed groups as "terrorists", and state radio reported that Mr Biya had "declared war" on them.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

The Ugandan authorities say an American tourist and a Ugandan driver have been kidnapped by gunmen in one of the country's most popular national parks.

The government says four armed men staged an ambush on Tuesday in Queen Elizabeth National Park, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo where many rebel groups are active.

It says four other tourists who were present when the gunmen attacked were unharmed and are safe.

A spokesman said the Ugandan police, army and wildlife officials were working together to try to locate and free the two hostages.

Last year tourism in a national park across the Congolese border was suspended after two British tourists and their driver were kidnapped. They were released two days later.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, Other

Human rights activists are calling on the Eritrean authorities to release a woman who has been held incommunicado for more than six years.

Ciham Abdu was arrested at the age of 15 shortly after her father - a former government minister - fled the country and sought asylum in Australia following a rift with President Isaias Afwerki.

To mark her 22nd birthday, activists in the diaspora are staging a series of protests.

The Eritrean government has not commented on Ciham Abdu's detention and her family has no idea if she is still alive.

Image source, Jordan Kinyera

A Ugandan man, who was only six years old when his father lost his land in a legal dispute, has finally won it back 23 years later, after becoming a lawyer.

Jordan Kinyera went through 18 years of education and legal training before taking on the case.

On Monday, the High Court delivered a final judgement which ruled in his family's favour.

Mr Kinyera told BBC Newsday that the loss of the family land when he was aged six changed his life.

"I made the decision to become a lawyer later in life but much of it was inspired by events I grew up witnessing, the circumstances and frustrations my family went through during the trail and how it affected us," Mr Kinyera said.

Read more on the BBC News website.

BBC World Service

A prominent campaign group says debt payments by developing countries have increased by 85% per cent since 2010.

The Jubilee Debt Campaign says repayments account for more than 12% of government revenue in the world's poorest countries.

That's the highest level since 2004.

Data from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank show that those with the highest debts had seen falls in public spending.

These include Egypt, Cameroon and Angola.

The group is calling on all international loans to governments to be publicly disclosed.

A 10-month-old springer spaniel is putting his nose to good use by protecting the last two remaining northern white rhinos.

The dog, whose name is Drum, is based on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.

Part of his job is to stop poachers from smuggling guns and ammunition on to the reserve.

The northern white rhino has been brought to the brink of extinction by poaching, with horns fetching up to $78,000 (£60,000) per kilo.

Watch Drum in action:

Image source, AFP

The leaders of South Sudan are set to visit the Vatican next week, a spokesman told AFP news agency.

Arch-rivals President Salva Kiir and rebel leader and former Vice-President Riek Machar are expected to be at the Vatican on 9-10 April.

Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti is quoted by AFP as saying this will be a "spiritual retreat".

It is not clear whether they will be meeting the Pope during their visit.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the conflict which broke out in 2013 - about two years after South Sudan's independence.

Riek Machar fled the country in 2016 but is planning to return next month following a peace agreement last September.

Read more about the peace deal: The handshake that may end a recurring nightmare

Athuman Mtulya
BBC Africa

Image source, Parliament of Tanzania

Tanzania's parliament has found auditor general Mussa Assad guilty of disrespecting and belittling the legislature, and refused to work with him.

Its decision came after Mr Assad described parliament as weak in a radio interview in December.

“The National Audit Office of Tanzania prepares reports which are supposed to be worked on by parliament, but no action is taken, which to me is a weakness of parliament... I believe it is a challenge that should be worked on... Parliament is failing to exercise its responsibilities effectively,” Mr Assad.

He refused to withdraw the remark when he appeared before the parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers committee in January on the orders of speaker Job Ndugai.

Speaking to Tanzania’s national broadcaster this morning, Mr Assad said a constitutional crisis would be triggered if parliament's resolution was implemented.

“If they are not going to work with me then that would be a gross contempt of the constitution,” he said.

The opposition is supporting Mr Assad, and an outspoken MP Halima Mdee has been suspended from attending the next two parliamentary sessions after she echoed Mr Assad’s view that the legislature was "weak".

Read: Five things Tanzania's president banned

Image source, Reuters

The BBC’s Mohamed Arezki Himeur in Algeria's capital, Algiers, says there were huge celebrations in the city in the wake of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's resignation, with people shouting and honking their car horns all night.

The 82-year-old, who suffered a stroke six years ago, resigned on Tuesday evening after weeks of massive streets demonstrations.

But the demonstrators have vowed to continue their protests on Friday, our reporter says.

The protesters do not only want Mr Bouteflika to go, they want the whole system to change - in particular the government that was only appointed last weekend, he says.

“This is just a little victory - the biggest is still to come,” one protester said.

Read more on the BBC News website.