Kennedy Gondwe
BBC News, Lusaka

Image source, Getty Images

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has come under attack from the opposition because of his frequent trips abroad.

Mr Hichilema on Wednesday made his ninth foreign trip since taking office in August.

His latest trip is a two-day visit to South Africa for talks with his counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa as well as attending a book launch.

But the opposition Socialist Party has questioned the trip after his meeting with Mr Ramaphosa was described as a courtesy call.

"So, what exactly is the purpose of President Hichilema’s trip to South Africa if the meeting with President Ramaphosa is only a by-the-way? Is the meeting with President Ramaphosa a mere cover-up for his private pursuits?," Socialist Party president Fred M’membe wrote on his Facebook page.

While in the opposition, Mr Hichilema often criticised foreign trips undertaken by his predecessor Edgar Lungu.

Andyford Banda, a current opposition leader, tweeted that his party and current President Hichelema had previously both "condemned" Mr Lungu's administration for this, adding that "cutting costs must start with" Mr Hichelema himself now:

However, Mr Hichilema explained his trip in a series of Facebook posts.

He confirmed holding bilateral talks with Mr Ramaphosa which centred "around development, regional peace and security and enhancing our economic and bilateral ties".

He also confirmed taking part in the launch of a book written by Greg Mills, external, entitled Expensive Poverty, Why Aid Fails And And How It Can Work.

Kenyans are mourning a popular football fan who painted his body during matches.

Isaac Juma was hacked to death at his hometown in western Kenya on Wednesday night, local media report.

Mr Juma was known for using his body as a canvas during national and local teams' matches.

He had in the past travelled out of the country with the national team.

During a 2018 interview with local Citizen TV, he said he hoped the Kenyan team would qualify for the Afcon games that are currently going on in Cameroon.

Kenyans online have eulogised Kenya One, as he was popularly referred to by his fans.

"You were a gem, jovial and entertaining," Abu Rumi, external tweeted.

"We will truly miss your unwavering support for Kenyan football, Omwami. You were a devoted follower! Fare thee well!," @SallyBolo, external wrote.

Chris Ewokor
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, AFP

Nigeria has set up an emergency response centre to deal with outbreaks of the deadly Lassa fever in parts of the country.

This follows a rising number of cases in the last three weeks, with about 115 infections and 26 deaths having been been confirmed.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said activating the centre was necessary to contain the spread of the disease.

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness, often transmitted to human beings via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.

Symptoms include fever, general weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea, headaches and coughs.

The disease was first discovered in 1969 in the town of Lassa in Nigeria’s north-eastern state of Borno. Outbreaks are common in the country.

It has become endemic in West Africa, causing up to 5,000 deaths each year.

Read more:

• Lassa fever: The killer disease with no vaccine

Image source, Getty Images

A tourist was trampled to death by an elephant in a national park in Uganda after he got out of the car he was travelling in.

The deceased, a Saudi national, was passing through the Murchison Falls National Park to Arua city with colleagues when they stopped to relieve themselves.

A herd of elephants charged at them and the deceased, who had moved further away from the vehicle, was unable to return.

The incident happened on Tuesday night but was widely reported on Wednesday.

The park authorities confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing.

They said measures were being put in place to prevent such incidents from recurring.

Animal attacks have been reported before in Ugandan parks.

Our African proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

Burkina Faso is the latest country to experience a coup in a region where democracy had seemed entrenched.

Keeper Jesus Owono is the hero as Equatorial Guinea stun Mali with a 6-5 win on penalties after a 0-0 draw in Limbe.

Egypt beat Ivory Coast 5-4 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon following a 0-0 draw.

Lt-Col Damiba took power in Burkina Faso just three weeks after his 41st birthday - what else do we know?

That's all from the BBC Africa Live team until Thursday morning. Until then, there will be an automated news feed here where you can keep up to date with the latest scores from the Africa Cup of Nations.

You can also keep up with events on our website or by listening to the Africa Today podcast.

Here's a reminder of Wednesday's wise words:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this Instagram post from journalist Esther Nsapu of someone holding up a placard saying: “A good husband does not hit his wife” during a demonstration in Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday morning.

She says it follows the death of a female journalist in South Kivu after she was beaten up by her husband:

Ameyu Etana
BBC Afaan Oromo

Image source, Getty Images

The man who has been the face of the conflict in Ethiopia - senior army commander General Bacha Debele - has been appointed as an ambassador.

Details of his destination have not yet been disclosed by the office of the president.

It may indicate a change in tactics by the government - earlier on Wednesday the cabinet said it intended to end the state of emergency declared in November early.

Analysts say it may be part of a strategy to engage with the international community 15 months into the civil war.

Anne Soy
BBC senior Africa correspondent

A group of Russian military contractors has written to the coup leaders in Burkina Faso offering to train the West African country’s army in their fight against jihadists.

The group calling itself “Community of Officers for International Security”, which is based in the Central African Republic (CAR), published its offer in a letter the BBC has seen and verified.

It is not clear if it has been or will be accepted.

Burkina Faso is now led by a military junta that overthrew the government of President Roch Kaboré on Monday.

The offer in the letter is explicit: “If Russian instructors are invited to train the army in Burkina Faso, they can do it effectively.”

The letter, which has been verified by a Russian security adviser to the CAR presidency, also takes a swipe at the French-led offensive against extremists in the Sahel.

Despite leading the operation for over a decade, it alleges they have had "no success", and adds that the Russian group can help the Burkinabè soldiers to “master the security situation in very little time”.

Western powers condemned the deployment of Russian mercenaries to neighbouring Mali in December, saying it could lead to a further deterioration of security.

You may be interested in:

• Mali's plan for Russia mercenaries to replace French troops unsettles Sahel
• Who is Burkina Faso coup leader Lt-Col Damiba?

Kennedy Gondwe
BBC News, Lusaka

Zambia’s government, led by President Hakainde Hichilema who came to power in August, has been accused of attempting to muzzle the media by a consortium of 10 civil society groups, external.

It comes after police warned and cautioned a journalist from Kenmark Broadcasting Network (KBN) after the privately owned television station aired a story about a presidential aide.

In the report the aide is heard telling a top civil servant that a member of the opposition should be "fixed" in an audio clip that has since gone viral.

The government has not commented on the story, but advised the media to be “ethical and professional”.

The civil society consortium suggested the government be more concerned about dealing with the revelations rather than criticising the press.

The statement also noted their disappointed that a member of the opposition had been cautioned for using hate speech under the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, legislation the president criticised while in opposition and promised to repeal.

There is increasing scrutiny on Mr Hichilema’s government with many Zambians calling for more tangible results. He won elections promising to tackle corruption and to end the country’s economic crisis.

The price of commodities has continued to rise after the government removed subsidies as part of a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - increasing tensions.

Two of the remaining three Africa Cup of Nations matches due to be played at Douala's Japoma Stadium are moved to the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

Image source, AFP

Authorities in Ghana have denied introducing a mandatory insurance scheme for all travellers arriving in the country through the country's main airport.

The National Insurance Commission (NIC) said the scheme popularly known as “Akwaaba” had not been approved and any reports that it had should be disregarded.

The reports had been met with criticism from travel sector players and business experts who said it would be another hurdle to doing business in the country.

“You can’t force anyone to buy a policy if it’s not needed,” trade expert John Kennedy of Bespoke Business Consulting told the BBC, adding that many travellers already have insurance.

“Making it compulsory wouldn't work as they need to prove beyond reasonable doubt the intent, usefulness and benefit.”

Update 27 January: This story has been updated to reflect the NIC denial

Senegal are criticised after Sadio Mane continued playing despite suffering suspected concussion in a "sickening collision" with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.

Mercy Juma
BBC News, Nairobi

Image source, Reuters

Three senior employees of the state-run Kenya Power Lighting Company have been charged with sabotage and neglect following a nationwide blackout that affected the country two weeks ago.

Six other staff members have been released unconditionally.

The whole country was plunged into darkness on 11 January after a high-voltage transmission line broke. Power was restored in phases after several hours.

According to the charge sheet, the three staff members are accused of failing to maintain the high-voltage power lines and wilfully neglecting to attend to towers that had been vandalised weeks before the blackout.

The three denied the charges and were freed on bail of $10,000 (£7,400) each, with the hearing of the case set for the end of February.

Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta raised concern over increased vandalism, especially of government infrastructure.

He described the acts as economic sabotage and banned any further dealing in scrap metal until guidelines to regulate the sector had been put in place.

Read more: Kenya Power in the spotlight after nationwide blackout

Some Cameroonians have been learning the Egyptian national anthem ahead of the Pharaoh’s Africa Cup of Nations match against Ivory Coast.

A clip of people practising has been posted on Twitter - it seems as if people would prefer to face Egypt rather than The Elephants at a later date.

Egypt have been the poorer performer of the two teams so far at the tournament in Cameroon, says BBC Africa sport expert Nick Cavell.

Plus Cameroonians had backed Ivory Coast in their match against Algeria - but have since been upset by a social media row, he says.

Ivorian fans have been saying the home side has an unfair advantage - in particular over the case of Comoros' goalkeeper, who was unable to play on Monday against Cameroon despite having a negative Covid test.

In Douala, where the match is kicking off at the Japoma Stadium, the BBC’s Victoire Eyoum has seen people dressed up to show their Egyptian brothers that they are on their side.

This man is a big fan of Egypt captain and star Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah:

Image source, BBC’s Victoire Eyoum

The team which strikes lucky in Doula will face Morocco on Sunday in the quarter-finals, with the winners of that match playing either Cameroon or The Gambia.

Kalkidan Yibeltal
BBC News

Image source, AFP

The Ethiopian cabinet has passed a resolution to lift a state of emergency declared last November when an alliance of rebel forces was pushing towards the capital, Addis Ababa.

The decision comes ahead of the African Union (AU) head of states summit expected to be held in Addis Ababa in the first week of February.

The city is the AU’s official HQ, but the country has been in the grip of a devastating civil war for the last 15 months.

The Ethiopian authorities have hailed the AU’s decision to conduct its annual meeting in Addis Ababa as a major diplomatic victory.

It looks like the prime minister wants to signal to the international community that the country is returning to normal after government forces - aided by aerial power, especially drones - managed to push back Tigrayan rebels from territories they held outside Tigray.

The state of emergency had been declared for six months, but the prime minister’s office says changes in the security situation show that threats can now be dealt with under existing laws.

It certainly shows the government’s confidence it has turned the tide.

But it could also signal the increasing likelihood of peace talks - something the international community, including the UN and the US, has been urging.

The newly appointed US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, recently travelled to Addis Ababa while the AU’s mediator, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, has also met senior Tigrayan leaders.

The cabinet’s resolution requires approval from the lower house of parliament - but is unlikely to face much opposition as the chamber is dominated by the governing Prosperity Party.

Rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have accused the government of using the state of emergency to profile ethnic Tigrayans and arrest journalists.

• Ethiopia's Tigray conflict: Mass arrests and ethnic profiling haunt Addis Ababa

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

A protest has been held in Sudan in support of the military, to denounce efforts by the UN to resolve the political crisis.

The demonstrators - many of whom were driven to the event in buses - gathered outside the UN office in the capital, Khartoum, to condemn what they called outside interference.

Earlier this month the UN began a mediation effort but has stressed that it is not imposing any options on the people of Sudan.

Since October’s military coup there have been frequent pro-democracy protests in many Sudanese cities.

Security forces have violently dispersed them - killing more than 70 people.

You may also be interested in:

• Sudan protesters: 'Did I just survive a massacre?'