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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant for the arrest, external of a Central African rebel leader, Nourredine Adam, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil strife in 2013.

He is wanted for crimes he allegedly committed while he was the country's security minister.

The crimes include torture, imprisonment, persecution, enforced disappearance and cruel treatment at detention centres run by the then-ruling regime.

Mr Adam is the de-facto leader of the Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic (FPRC) - a rebel group that emerged out of the mainly Muslim Seleka alliance in 2014.

The warrant was originally issued under seal in January 2019 but ICC judges had now ordered it to be unsealed, the court said.

Two former Central African warlords, Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona and Alfred Yekatom, who led anti-Balaka militias, are currently on trial at the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The mayor of Uganda's capital, Kampala, on Thursday traded barbs with the government spokesperson on live TV before the debate turned confrontational and the talk show stopped prematurely.

Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, of the opposition FDC party, and government spokesman Ofwono Opondo were among four panellists at the show debating about a just-concluded by-election.

The debate got heated and clips shared on Twitter , externalcaught Mr Opondo telling the mayor "I can push you out of here".

Mr Opondo later stood over the mayor amid an exchange of angry words before the programme was taken off-air.

The NBS station said all panellists left the studio safely and apologised to viewers.

Mayor Lukwago tweeted that the experience was "horrible" and despicable".

"My only prayer is that I get out of this place safely," he added.

Image source, AFP

The US says it "shares concerns" that Tunisia’s new constitution could weaken democracy and erode respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It comes after the approval of a new Tunisian constitution that gives sweeping powers to the president in the 25 July referendum marked by low voter participation.

The referendum, which delivered a yes vote of 94.6% with a turnout of 30.5% - was boycotted by opposition parties.

The US State Department has urged an “inclusive and transparent process” in future that would involve Tunisians who did not participate or opposed the referendum.

In a statement, external, it said Tunisia had “experienced an alarming erosion of democratic norms over the past year” and reversed gains made since the popular uprising of 2011.

“Since July 25, 2021, the suspension of constitutional governance, consolidation of executive power, and weakening of independent institutions have raised deep questions about Tunisia’s democratic path, both in Tunisia and internationally,” it said.

President Kais Saied dismissed parliament a year ago and has been ruling largely by decree.

Emmanuel Igunza
BBC News, Nairobi

Image source, AFP

A UN base has been petrol-bombed in Beni, east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, amid worsening protests against the UN.

At least two other peacekeeping bases were also targeted on Thursday.

Casualty figures were not immediately clear.

At least 19 people including three UN peacekeepers have died in the violent clashes following anti-UN protests that started on Monday.

Demonstrators have been accusing the UN of not protecting civilians against armed groups operating in the east.

A UN spokesman says the protesters have been joined by Mai Mai militia groups, formed ostensibly to protect villagers.

More than 100 different armed groups operate in the east, including the Allied Democratic Front that is affiliated to the Islamic State group.

A recent wave of attacks has killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands.

Our proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

The BBC visits the heartland of Deputy President William Ruto as he vies for the presidency.

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

That's all for now from the BBC Africa Live team, but we'll be back on Friday morning, Nairobi time.

Until then you can find the latest updates on the BBC News website, or listen to our podcast Africa Today.

A reminder of our wise words of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with a painting by South African artist Nelson Makamo. An exhibition of his work has just opened in London:

Students have been targeted for mass kidnapping in other parts of the country in recent years.

Peter Jegwa
Lilongwe, Malawi

Malawian rights activist Sylvester Namiwa who disappeared on the eve of Thursday's nationwide protests, has resurfaced on the outskirts of the capital, Lilongwe.

His disappearance had overshadowed the demonstrations against the rising cost of living.

The protest organisers had alleged that Mr Namiwa was abducted.

The activist is the head of Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (CDEDI), one of the civil society groups that called for the protests.

It is not clear exactly what happened to Mr Namiwa. But according to his CDEDI colleague, Edwin Mauluka, he asked a passerby for a phone which he used to call someone to pick him up and take him to hospital.

Speaking outside hospital, Mr Namiwa told reporters that he would "not be intimidated".

Ahmed Rouaba
BBC News

Algeria, Nigeria, and Niger have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a gas pipeline across the Sahara.

Algerian Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab told reporters after the ceremony "that the three countries will continue talks to undertake the project as soon as possible".

The pipeline linking Nigeria to Algeria through Niger would have the capacity to supply 30 billion cubic metres of gas to Europe, in desperate need to diversify its gas supply in light of Russian action following the invasion of Ukraine.

The cost to build the 4,000km (2,500 mile-) pipeline is estimated at $13bn (£10.7bn).

An earlier agreement had been signed in 2009 for the construction of the pipeline but discussions then stalled.

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

The UN has urged Poland to end double standards in the way it treats migrants.

It says Warsaw welcomes Ukrainians but routinely locks up people from the Middle East or Africa who enter the country illegally from Belarus.

The special rapporteur for migrants’ rights, Felipe Gonzalez, said migrants and asylum seekers entering Poland illegally were often locked in foreigner centres without the right to leave while their asylum application was processed.

Mr Gonzalez said children and other vulnerable individuals should not be locked up merely due to their migration status.

According to the UN, 1.25 million Ukrainian refugees have registered for temporary protection in Poland. Many are being housed in private homes.

Read more:

• Ukraine war: What next for the African students who fled?

Ashleigh Plumptre helped Nigeria qualify for the 2023 Women's World Cup, but has not had much time to reflect on her achievements.

Hanna Temauri
BBC News, Addis Ababa

Ethiopia's government said talks should begin with the Tigrayan forces without any pre-conditions to end the 21-month civil war in northern Ethiopia.

The security advisor to the prime minister, Redwan Hussien, said in a tweet on Thursday that the "government is ready to talks anytime, anywhere".

The government has also allowed diplomats from the US, the EU, the UK and the UN to travel to Tigray, Mr Redwan said.

Most of Tigray has been largely cut off for more than a year.

Mr Redwan also added that the African Union should lead the negotiation process and can "solicit logistical support from any source".

The Tigarayan forces have not commented on this latest statement but their leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, this week said that communication and electricity services should resume before any negotiation begins.

Read more on the civil war:

• Ethiopia's Tigray war: The short, medium and long story

Ishaq Khalid
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, Hanifa Abubakar's family

A high court in the northern Nigerian city of Kano has sentenced a primary school owner and his friend to death by hanging for the kidnapping and subsequent killing of a five-year-old pupil.

Abdulmalik Tanko and his friend Hashimu Isiyaku were found guilty on Thursday.

A woman, said to be Mr Tanko’s ex-girlfriend, has been sentenced to two years in prison for complicity in the kidnapping.

The convicts had pleaded guilty and asked for leniency during the passing of the sentence.

Death penalties are rarely carried out in Nigeria and those convicted tend to stay in prison indefinitely.

The two men abducted the girl in December 2021 and her body was discovered in January this year.

The kidnapping of Hanifa Abubakar sparked outrage across Nigeria.

Tanko had demanded a ransom of $14,600 (£12,000) from the victim’s parents.

He was arrested by the police and he then led detectives to a location where they had buried the girl’s body.

In recent years, Nigeria has been grappling with a widespread kidnapping crisis.

But the kidnapping of students have usually been carried out by armed groups.

Nearly 1,500 students had been abducted by gangs since December 2020. Most of the victims have been released reportedly after ransom payments.

Jose Tembe
BBC News, Maputo

Mozambique's former Labour Minister Maria Helena Taipo has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for corruption charges, involving the diversion of more than $1.7m (£1.4m) from government funds.

Other government officials were sentenced alongside her.

The defendants were charged with the crimes of embezzlement, breach of trust, abuse of power, economic participation in business and forgery of documents.

The crimes were committed between 2014 and 2015.

The money that was stolen was used to, among other things, purchase 50 bicycles, the construction of a house, parties and end-of-the-year hampers.

Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service Newsroom

The licensing rights for 30 oil and gas blocks in the Democratic Republic of Congo have gone up for auction, opening parts of the world's second-biggest rainforest to drilling that could release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.

President Felix Tshisekedi presided over the launch of bidding at a ceremony in the capital Kinshasa.

He said the process showed a desire to benefit from the country's resources.

The Congolese government says it needs to access revenues to improve living standards in one of the world's poorest countries.

It accuses richer governments - which have powered their development with fossil fuels - of hypocrisy.

Activists have described the move as an environmental catastrophe.

Image source, Reuters

The running mate of leading Kenyan presidential candidate William Ruto has lost $1.7m (£1.4m) after a court ruled that the money held in four accounts at a local bank came from proceeds of corruption.

Justice Esther Maina ruled that Rigathi Gachagua received the money from government agencies but there was no evidence that he had supplied anything.

In a response on Twitter, external, Mr Gachagua said the judgement "did not come as a surprise" and was "meant to undermine my candidature in the coming elections".

"The judge was biased against us from the word go and threw caution to the wind by conducting a sham trial," he said.

He added:" I have instructed my lawyers to immediately file an appeal... to stay the orders and set aside the judgement."

The lawsuit was initiated by the Assets Recovery Agency - a state body mandated to confiscate proceeds of crime.

Kenyans will be electing a new president on 9 August.

Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are the two leading candidates.

Read more about the election:

• Kenya Election 2022: A basic guide to the vote

Ghana will take on Switzerland in a friendly in the United Arab Emirates in the build-up to the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Ameyu Etana
BBC Afaan Oromoo

Image source, Getty Images

Victorious Ethiopian athletes have received a heroes' welcome in the capital, Addis Ababa, after their performance at the recent World Athletics Championship, where the country came second on the medals table.

Ethiopia finished behind hosts the US, bagging a total of 10 medals - including four golds, a first for the country in the history of the championships.

On Thursday morning, the team was received in Addis Ababa by thousands of cheering supporters.

Image source, Getty Images

The team also visited the presidential palace where they met President Sahle-Work Zewde and other notable athletes.

Head of Ethiopia’s athletics body Derartu Tulu has been praised for her leadership during the championship.

Image source, Getty Images

She said she was proud of the athletes' performance, but warned coaches to expect a stiffer challenge in the next competition.

Deratu also asked the federal authorities and officials in the northern Tigray region - which has witnessed conflict since late 2020 - to try and find a way for the athletes to meet their parents.

"Athletes from Tigray still did not get the opportunity to meet their families," she told attendees at the palace.

Three gold medallists, Letesenbet Gidey, Gotytom Gebreslase and Guday Tsegay, are from the Tigray region.

The region has effectively been cut off since the conflict began.

Image source, Getty Images