Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

A UN human rights expert has called on the authorities in Mauritania to take urgent measures to implement an anti-slavery law which was passed in 2015.

Following a visit to the West African country, Tomoya Obokata - the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery - said some progress had been made in abolishing the practice but warned much more needed to be done.

He said people were still being born into slavery and people affected by the practice needed help to seek justice and achieve equality.

Mr Obokata said people were now more willing to discuss the issue openly. But he said caste-based slavery and chattel slavery – where one person owns another – were still happening.

He warned that a change in the mindset of the country’s leaders was needed - because even though laws had been passed, they were not being implemented. The Japanese scholar said enslaved people in Mauritania - particularly women and children - were subject to violence and sexual abuse.

Pumza Fihlani
BBC News, Johannesburg

Image source, Getty Images

A report by the World Weather Attribution (WWA), an international group of climate scientists, released on Friday has found that climate change led to increased rainfall that caused devastating flooding in South Africa last month.

It's one of the first reports on the devastating floods that hit KwaZulu-Natal in April – described as the worst in 60 years.

The floods left more than 430 people dead, tens of thousands displaced and millions of dollars’ worth of damage.

A team of scientists from South Africa, Europe and the US collaborated on a study to see what role climate change played in the recent floods and what lessons can be learned.

The flooding occurred as a direct consequence of two days of extreme rainfall in the region, at unexpected levels. The WWA report says many factors - natural and manmade - contributed to the high death toll and damage in the region.

It said initial assessments show that the floods disproportionately affected poorer communities. The report also found that historical injustices that continue to affect communities such as apartheid-era housing planning, old infrastructure and a lack of clear early warning systems all worsened the impact of the floods.

It did find positive signs, according to the WWA - as the eThekwini municipality in Durban moves to implement existing plans around improved flood protection and to invest in a state-of-the-art warning system.

The scientists say South Africa, like many countries, needs to speed up its climate change adaptation plans, with extreme weather events expected to increase in the future.

Read more: Southern Africa storms fuelled by climate change - study

DJ Edu
Presenter of This Is Africa on BBC World Service

Image source, @GeminiMajor

Benn Gilbert Kamoto AKA Gemini Major is a Malawian music producer and singer-songwriter who is full of ambition. He's just released his second album, entitled Island Water - a reference to the islands of Lake Malawi.

The album itself has a melodic soulful vibe, which Gemini Major thinks was helped by the coronavirus lockdown.

After graduating in IT he moved to Durban, South Africa in 2009 to pursue his dream of a career in music. He produced for several artists performing different genres, from hip-hop and dancehall to R&B. In 2013 he moved to Johannesburg. At a video shoot for a song that he'd produced, he met one of South Africa's most successful rappers and producers, Cassper Nyovest. He was then signed to Nyovest's Family Tree Record label. He produced Nasty C's hit single Juice Back, which really launched them both.

Despite the fact that he's still based in South Africa, he says his Malawian roots are always present in his music.

Gemini returns to Malawi regularly and performs to enthusiastic audiences. In Malawi he says the feeling among the fans is one of pride - of having him as "their boy doing amazing things".

In 2015 Gemini was first nominated as producer of the year at the South African hip-hop awards along with some of the country's greats.

Gemini's introduction to production had humble beginnings after his cousin started making beats.

That was until he saw his cousin's friend making a beat and then recording a song which ended up becoming a big hit in Malawi. From then on, Gemini became intrigued and started playing around with that same project.

His favourite track on the new album is Ooh La La, on which he collaborates with rising Nigerian singer Ayra Starr.

On another track entitled Ewele, he sings about how tough 2020 was with the coronavirus pandemic.

Although Gemini has built his reputation in South Africa he has ambitions of connecting with the rest of the world and is planning to go to London.

To hear the full interview with Gemini Major and tracks from his album Island Water, listen to This is Africa on BBC World Service radio and partner stations across Africa, and online here.

Jean Claude Mwambutsa
BBC Great Lakes, Kigali

Image source, Miss Rwanda

A court in Kigali is hearing the case against the Miss Rwanda pageant organiser accused of sex crimes behind closed doors to protect witnesses, a judge has said.

Dieudonné Ishimwe, widely known in Rwanda as Prince Kid, is accused of rape, soliciting or offering sexual favours and harassment against the pageant contesters.

He has not responded to the allegations.

He was set to plead to the charges during a bail hearing today, but as soon as the proceedings began, the prosecutor requested that the trial be held in secret.

The prosecutor cited moral reasons because of the sexual nature of the case and protection of witnesses.

Mr Ishimwe objected, requesting that the hearing should be open “for the public to follow and know the outcome”.

A judge ruled that the hearing should go on behind closed doors, and the public and journalists were immediately ordered out of the courtroom.

This case is currently one of the most discussed issues by Rwandans on social platforms.

Last week, the culture ministry suspended the Miss Rwanda contest, while its 2017 winner Elsa Iradukunda was arrested in connection to Mr Ishimwe’s case.

The co-creator of the Netflix show Young, Famous & African spoke to us about the show's success.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been criticised for deleting social media posts condemning the murder of a woman in northern Nigeria on allegations of blasphemy.

Deborah Samuel, a Shehu Shagari College of Education student in Sokoto state, was killed on Thursday by an angry mob for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.

Mr Abubakar from northern Adamawa state is a frontline opposition aspirant for next year's general elections and is considered by supporters in southern Nigeria, to hold moderate Islamic views.

In now deleted posts on his Facebook page and Twitter account, he had said: “There can not be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered, and all those behind her death must be brought to justice."

The posts attracted comments from people who said they were no longer going to vote for him in February because of his stance on the woman's death while others praised him for speaking up on the issue.

He has since come under fire for deleting the initial posts, such as this tweet from a famous Nigerian comedian "that politicians don't care for the people. They only play to the gallery when seeking for our votes":

Mr Abubakar has since clarified on another Facebook page for Hausa users, external, that his initial post "doesn’t agree with my orders. I use this to announce that any post without AA is not from me," he said.

The decision by Nigeria's government to withdraw the nation from all international basketball is "heart-wrenching", says Upe Atosu.

Joice Etutu
BBC News, Nairobi

The United Nation's humanitarian affairs agency (Ocha) says the world is not paying enough attention to crises beyond the war in Ukraine including a devastating drought in East Africa.

The head of the organisation, Martin Griffiths, made the appeal after visiting Turkana in north-west Kenya where food is extremely scarce after a lengthy period without rainfall.

People there are suffering from malnutrition with some left too weak to stand or walk. The UN World Food Program says 20 million people across East Africa are at risk of severe hunger.

Image source, Getty Images

South African comedian Trevor Noah has paid glowing tribute to his grandmother, Frances Noah, who was buried on Thursday.

His grandmother was 95 and passed away peacefully in her sleep earlier this week, he said in a Twitter thread.

He termed her life as "the greatest 'movie' I’ve ever watched".

"Every moment spent with her felt like a magical journey through time where she would recount all of the family’s greatest joys, losses, achievements and milestones.

"Her house in Soweto wasn’t just a home, it was a refuge, a place where other women would come when they had no other place to go."

Namibian police have arrested an official of an opposition party for allegedly inciting violence and looting of stores owned by foreigners in China Town area of the capital, Windhoek.

Michael Amushelelo, the commissar of economic development for the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (Neff) party, faces multiple charges including incitement to public violence.

Some protests were reported on Friday following his arrest.

The Namibian police chief on Thursday ordered his arrest for allegedly “terrorising” the business community and promoting “hooliganism”.

A video shared by The Namibian newspaper showed him ordering some Chinese traders in a shopping centre to close down their premises.

The move reportedly paralysed all business operations at the shopping complex.

In the video, he claims - without evidence - that the stores were selling “fake things”.

The Neff party has close links with the South African Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party founded by firebrand youth opposition leader Julius Malema.

Image source, JAMES KAGAMBI

Kenyan mountaineer James Kagambi was among a group of climbers who made history on Thursday as the first all-black team to climb Mount Everest.

At 62, Mr Kagambi - a retired teacher - also became Kenya's first native African to conquer the mountain.

The group made their final assault on the summit after spending about 40 days on the mountain. Six of the team's nine members reached the summit along with their guides.

“I made it. I was on top of the world just a few hours ago. I did it, we did it," Mr Kagambi is quoted as saying by his sponsor, Kenyan sports betting firm Betika.

"I didn’t know that I would make it this far with my old age and my weak knees, but I pushed myself to the next level. Africans should know that this space exists for them too," he added.

The Full Circle Everest team hopes to encourage diversity in the sport of mountaineering.

More on this story:

• Kenyan climber joins first all-black team attempting Mount Everest

Asli Hassan Abade made history in 1976 by becoming the first female military pilot in Somalia and in Africa.

Rhoda Odhiambo
BBC health reporter, Nairobi

A Kenyan nurse has won the first ever global nursing award that has a prize of $250,000 (£205,000).

Anna Qabale Duba, who practices at Marsabit County Referral Hospital in northern Kenya, was honoured for her dedication towards eradicating harmful cultural practices like female genital mutilation in her community.

Ms Duba has also set up a foundation - Qabale Duba Foundation - aimed at empowering young girls.

"Through my organisation, I have built a unique school in my village that teaches both children and their parents, because for me education is key to a better future," Ms Duba said in her speech.

More than 24,000 nurses from 184 countries submitted their applications.

She was feted in Dubai at a ceremony held in commemoration of International Nurses Day.

BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

The Tunisian government has denied that the former prime minister, Hamadi Jebali, has been arrested.

On Thursday, a post on his official Facebook page said Mr Jebali had been detained by the security forces.

The Islamist Ennahda party also demanded his release.

But the interior ministry now says it's investigating a factory on land owned by the former leader's wife - and that he'd insisted on accompanying her to a police station.

Critics accuse Tunisia's president, Kais Saied, of trying to stifle dissent.

Last year he dissolved parliament and took executive powers.

Ishaq Khalid
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, UGC

Nigerian police say two suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of a Christian student accused of blaspheming against Islam.

The young woman was attacked by Muslim students at her college in the city of Sokoto, who killed her and set her body alight.

Religious and political leaders in northern Nigeria have appealed for calm after the murder, amid condemnations including by both Muslims and Christians.

The most senior Islamic religious leader in the country, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, described the violence as ‘’unjustified’’ and called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice while appealing for calm.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Matthew Kukah called for justice, but said the incident should be treated as a criminal and not a religious act.

Rights group Amnesty International called for the authorities to ensure justice and take measures to end ‘’the impunity that led to an increase in mob violence’’.

The Sokoto state governor urged members of the two faiths to continue to live in peace.

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged international organisations and donor agencies to buy Covid vaccines from African manufacturers.

President Ramaphosa said this would “ensure the developing capabilities on the continent are retained”, while speaking to a global summit on Covid on Thursday.

"International agencies that have had a lot of money donated to (them) for purchasing and procuring vaccines for developing-economy countries are not buying vaccines from African vaccine manufacturers, even for those vaccines that are destined for African countries," he said.

It comes as a vaccine manufacturer in South Africa risks stopping production for lack of orders.

Aspen Pharmacare recently said that it may have to stop production in its South African plant after being hit by low demand.

The company negotiated a licensing deal in November to package and sell Johnson & Johnson's vaccine for distribution across Africa.

It was seen as a boost for vaccine production and distribution across Africa. However, the continent still has a low vaccination rate even as it faces a new wave of the virus.

Fewer than one in six Africans have had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, with many reluctant to get jabbed.

On Thursday, Mr Ramaphosa said his country was still advocating for an intellectual property waiver to improve global access to vaccines.

Our proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

A selection of the best photos from across Africa and beyond this week.

Protais Mpiranya led the presidential guard that killed the then-PM and 10 Belgian peacekeepers.

That's all for now from the BBC Africa Live team. There will be an automated news feed until we're back on Friday morning.

You can also keep up to date on the BBC News website or by listening to the Africa Today podcast.

A reminder of our wise words of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with a picture of the latest work by Kenyan photographer Thandiwe Muriu which has gone on show in London this week: