Provides an overview of Burkina Faso, including key dates and facts about this West African nation.

For the latest updates, go to bbc.com/africalive.

Kenya enjoy double success at the Boston Marathon as Evans Chebet wins the men's crown and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir takes the women's title.

Haneen Hossam was charged with human trafficking after inviting women to earn money by making videos.

Cameroon's Joel Embiid and Greek-Nigerian Giannis Antetokounmpo are named 2021-22 NBA MVP finalists alongside reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic.

BBC World Service
The Newsroom

Image source, AFP

The UN has condemned a mortar attack on Somalia's parliament, which injured at least seven people, including bodyguards.

The Islamist militant group, al-Shabab, said it carried out the attack which happened as MPs were setting a date for the election of speakers for the upper and lower houses of parliament later this month.

This should lead to a long delayed vote for a new president.

In a statement the UN said it stood firm with Somalis in their efforts to complete the electoral process.

The home secretary responds after criticism of her refugee plan from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Sierra Leone defender Kevin Wright on how he responded to being released by Chelsea aged 20 and rebuilt his career in Sweden.

Jonathan Olakunle is fighting for a cleaner society in Osogbo, Nigeria.

A top official said the policy would only be value for money if it stopped illegal entry to the UK.

There were "serious ethical questions" over sending migrants to east Africa, Justin Welby says.

Hassana Adamu speaks to the BBC about feeling neglected on the eighth anniversary of the kidnappings.

After playing in the Australian Open, could Kenyan Angella Okutoyi emulate her hero Serena Williams?

Retired police officer John Murray says he will not stop "until Yvonne gets justice".

A civil servants union says the plan is "divisive" but officials will have to implement it or leave.

Torrential floods have killed nearly 400 people in South Africa, with more rain forecast.

The UNHCR says it is "unacceptable" to shift responsibility by sending asylum seekers overseas.

Some 50,000 people have found a place of sanctuary from the myriad armed groups in eastern DR Congo.

Ishaq Khalid
BBC News, Abuja

The US has agreed to sell military equipment worth $997m (£763m) to Nigeria, including 12 attack helicopters and numerous Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets.

The equipment had been requested by Nigeria, and would help to improve security in Sub-Saharan Africa in line with US foreign policy goals and shared security objectives, a statement from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

The US also said Nigeria will have no difficulty in acquiring the weapons, but the process is expected to take at least five years.

It will include training Nigerian military personnel on how to use the equipment and on human rights, to avoid harming civilians.

Nigeria is struggling to tackle violence by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap), as well as worsening attacks by armed criminal gangs who carry out killings and kidnappings for ransom.

This is the second major arms sale to Nigeria by the US in five years.

The US had previously rejected Nigeria's request for military equipment due to human rights concerns during the administration of Barack Obama.

But in 2017 the Trump administration agreed to sell 12 Super Tucano planes to Nigeria, which were delivered last year.

Richard Hamilton
BBC News

Thirty-five churchgoers have been killed in a bus crash in Zimbabwe.

More than 70 others were seriously injured in the accident on Thursday night.

The bus was carrying members of the Zion Christian Church, who were on their way to an Easter service in the eastern town of Chipinge, when the vehicle veered off the road and landed in a gorge.

Police spokesman, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said he thought the bus was overloaded.

He added that the police try to discourage bus drivers from travelling at night.

Correspondents say such accidents are common in Zimbabwe during public holidays, when the roads are often busier.

There are also many potholes, which contribute to accidents.