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Kylian Mbappe, captain of France’s national football team and Paris Saint-Germain striker, is spending his first full day in Cameroon after getting an enthusiastic airport welcome on Thursday.

He is being accompanied by his father, Wilfred Mbappe, who was born in Cameroon's largest city, Douala.

One fan told the BBC's Newsday programme about his excitement:

Anthony Irungu
BBC News, Nairobi

Image source, AFP

Kenya police fired teargas at the motorcade of opposition leader Raila Odinga as he led his supporters to central business district of the capital, Nairobi, to protest against the high cost of living.

Mr Odinga had previously addressed his supporters at the historic Kamukunji grounds in the city, where he launched a campaign to gather signatures in support of his efforts to pressure the government into lowering the prices of essential goods such as petrol.

The opposition is aiming to collect 10 million signatures within a week.

"We've had enough talk. It's time for action," Mr Odinga declared to his supporters.

Earlier, protests erupted in Mombasa, Kisumu, Kisii, and Meru, resulting in clashes between demonstrators and the police.

Several individuals, including a former county governor, were arrested for their involvement in the demonstrations.

The protests were triggered by President William Ruto signing controversial tax measures into law, which had been approved by MPs two weeks earlier.

Among the new measures was an nicrease in the value-added tax on fuel products from 8% to 16%.

Teklemariam Bekit
BBC News Tigrinya

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The highest decision-making body of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church - the Holy Synod - has issued an apology to the people of Tigray in connection with the devastating war that unfolded in the Tigray region.

In a statement released on Thursday, the synod expressed regret for not ensuring the safety of church leaders and followers during the conflict.

Criticism has been directed towards the church from bishops, priests and worshippers in Tigray for not condemning the war, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives.

Earlier this year, Tigray bishops had even announced their intention to establish an independent church outside the synod and appoint their own bishops.

Since the conclusion of the war in late 2022, the Holy Synod has been actively seeking reconciliation with the Orthodox leaders in Tigray.

A statement from the synod read that it had "officially apologised for the failure to promptly deliver humanitarian assistance in accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod after the war ended and peace was restored".

A member of the Tigray executive committee of bishops told the BBC that "forgiveness is a fundamental principle and process within the church. While we cannot view this as a significant step forward, it does mark a positive beginning".

He criticised the apology as a tactical move that fell short of acknowledging the magnitude of the injustices committed.

The bishop clarified that the church recognises His Holiness Abune Matthias as their patriarch and has no intentions of appointing any other patriarch.

Image source, Casey Crafford

Fourteen giraffes have been transported 1,300km (800 miles) from central Namibia to be reintroduced into the Iona National Park in neighbouring Angola - where they had been absent for decades, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) says.

The GCF, which sponsored the move, described restoring the species to the park as "a huge success for conservation and giraffe in the wild".

Image source, GCF

"The reintroduction of giraffe to Iona National Park is a remarkable milestone in Angola's conservation journey. This significant endeavour demonstrates our commitment to preserving our country's natural heritage," said Environment Minister Abias Huongo.

GCF says that recent efforts to protect giraffes have seen their population "start to rebound" after 35 years of decline "due to habitat loss, poaching, and other human-induced factors".

Nichola Mandil
BBC News, Juba

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Peter Van der Auweraert, has released $8m (£6.3m) from the humanitarian fund to provide life-saving assistance to the 150,000 people in the country who have fled the conflict in Sudan.

The number of arrivals is projected to increase as the crisis continues, the UN's humanitarian affairs office (Ocha) has said.

Onward transportation of South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees from transit sites remains a significant challenge due to the combination of poor road infrastructure and insecurity in some areas. There are also the additional logistical challenges posed by the onset of the rainy season, Ocha added.

“Many people who fled the conflict in Sudan are arriving across the border with nothing. Many reported that they were subjected to violence and exploitation, such as extortion and looting, as they fled to South Sudan. They need urgent support to reach safety and rebuild their lives,” Mr Van der Auweraert said.

The fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now in its third month, has displaced nearly three million people, according to estimates by humanitarian agencies.

The largest number of refugees have gone to Chad and Egypt.

Read more on those who fled to South Sudan:

• 'How I saved my red guitar from Khartoum war zone'
• The Eritrean refugees caught between two crises

Anthony Irungu
BBC News, Nairobi

There has been a heavy police presence around Kenya's capital, Nairobi, and other major towns as opposition supporters were expected to hold demonstrations to protest against the high cost of living.

Protests have been reported in several places including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, where police have used teargas to disperse crowds.

Local media say that several businesses have been vandalised by demonstrators in Kisumu.

Confrontations between police and demonstrators have been reported in several parts of Nairobi, and a busy highway leading to the city had been blocked in the morning.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga is scheduled to speak at a major political rally in the capital later.

He is expected to announce the resumption of weekly nationwide protests.

The authorities have allowed the rally to go ahead but cautioned against protesters going into Nairobi's city centre.

Mr Odinga is expected to initiate a campaign to gather signatures in support of his efforts to compel the government to decrease the prices of crucial goods such as petrol.

The protest comes after President William Ruto signed controversial tax increases - including one on on fuel - into law .

Jose Tembe
BBC News, Maputo

Image source, Reuters

Mozambique officials in South Africa say at least 10 of their nationals may be among the 17 fatalities after Wednesday night's gas leak in an informal settlement in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

At least four of those being treated in hospital after the incident in the densely populated Angelo shanty town are also thought to be from Mozambique.

Toxic gases are often used by illegal gold miners - known locally as zama zamas - to extract gold from soil stolen from abandoned mine shafts.

It is thought that this could be the source of the leak.

A large number of Mozambican migrants live in South Africa having gone there for work - both in the formal and informal sector, including mining.

On Thursday, a Mozambican woman living in South Africa told the BBC that her husband had died in the gas leak.

Speaking through tears, she added that she was concerned about how she would get her husband's body home to Mozambique as she was unemployed and he worked part-time jobs as a handyman.

Image source, AFP

Food distribution from international aid agencies working in Ethiopia must be resumed as “malnutrition rates surge”, medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says.

USAid and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) froze aid to the northern region of Tigray and then to the rest of the country last month after discovering that food shipments were being diverted and sold at local markets.

Tigray suffered from dire shortages of food, fuel, cash and medicines during a brutal two-year conflict between forces loyal to Ethiopia's government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front.

In a statement, MSF says that more than 20 million people in Ethiopia rely heavily on food aid and “even before the suspension came into effect our medical teams were witnessing alarmingly high rates of global acute malnutrition”.

“We already see that the food shortage is pushing vulnerable communities into harmful coping mechanisms, including selling assets as substitutes for food, begging, and child labour,” MSF medical coordinator Samreen Hussain said.

“This situation will only worsen with a protracted suspension of food aid.”

Thomas Naadi
BBC News, Accra

Image source, AFP

Opposition MPs in Ghana boycotted parliament on Thursday in solidarity with their leader in parliament and a newly elected MP, who are both standing trial on separate charges.

The largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, said this was the start of actions they were taking "to end the on-going persecution" of the MPs.

The absence of the MPs, who make up half of Ghana’s parliament, compelled the speaker to adjourn proceedings as most of the issues being considered were on questions raised by opposition MPs.

The minority leader Cassiel Ato Forson is accused of causing the financial loss of €2.3m ($2.5m; £1.9m) linked to the purchase of 200 ambulances, an allegation he has denied.

The new MP, James Quayson, is undergoing trial on charges of forgery and perjury.

He has called the handling of the criminal case against him as an act of intimidation and the trial has been described as politically motivated.

The Supreme Court nullified his election for failing to renounce his dual Ghana and Canadian citizenship when he filed a nomination to run as an MP in the 2020 election.

He has been been ordered by a high court judge to appear in court every day, a directive now being challenged at the court of appeal.

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

The leaders of South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed nearly 40 trade agreements including one to revive a hydroelectric scheme.

The Grand Inga Dam project is a series of seven proposed hydroelectric power stations across the Congo river.

If built as planned, it would be the largest of its kind in the world.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the agreements with his counterpart Felix Tshisekedi in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.

South Africa is experiencing a massive electricity crisis with frequent power cuts.

Chris Ewokor
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, Getty Images

The Nigerian health authorities have announced an outbreak of diphtheria in the capital, Abuja, after the death of a four-year-old child.

The highly contagious infection can cause breathing difficulties and heart problems that can be fatal, particularly in children.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said there had been multiple outbreaks across the country since late last year, with almost 800 confirmed cases and at least 80 deaths.

It said the vast majority of cases were among people who had not been vaccinated - despite diphtheria being covered by the country's routine childhood immunisation programme.

The NCDC has urged the public to remain vigilant and ensure that people with symptoms to report early to health facilities for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Our proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

Nzembi Mosukulu says her business has allowed her to "buy food and educate my children".

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

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

In the meantime you can get more from BBCAfrica.com and listen to the new BBC Focus on Africa podcast.

A reminder of our wise words of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this photo of a model walking the runway in Paris showcasing the designs of Cameroonian designer Imane Ayissi.

Image source, Getty Images

Priya Sippy
BBC News

Image source, AFP

Kylian Mbappe, captain of France’s national football team and striker for Paris Saint-Germain, has arrived in Cameroon, external.

He is being accompanied by his father, Wilfred Mbappe, who was born in Cameroon's largest city, Douala. It is Mbappe’s first visit to the country since becoming a global star.

During his three-day visit, he is set to play a match against a second division team owned by former star tennis player Yannick Noah.

A local journalist described his visit as "the talk of the town".

BBC Focus on Africa

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Exiled Ugandan writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who was allegedly tortured for his writing, has told the BBC that he has no plans to give up writing, even until his "last breath".

He also wants to return home despite the threats he faces, the 35-year-old said in an interview with Focus on Africa.

Rukirabashaija added he is "only interested in making sure Uganda is a better place" and that writing has helped him cope with his pain.

The writer is best known for The Greedy Barbarian, a satirical novel which describes high-level corruption in a fictional country, and Banana Republic: Where Writing is Treasonous, an account of the torture he says he was subjected to while in detention in 2020.

Rukirabashaija was arrested again in 2021 after the second book infuriated authorities. Both novels were seen as an attack on President Yoweri Museveni, 77, who has been in power in Uganda since 1986.

He was detained a further time after ridiculing President Museveni’s son, Muhoozi, on Twitter.

Once released, his passport was confiscated but he escaped through a secret route and sought refuge in Europe in 2022.

Image source, AFP

Rukirabashaija was told by several medical practitioners that he needed urgent care abroad, which was the main reason he left. Suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, he fears the ordeal he has been through has already affected his children mentally as well.

However, that has not stopped him dreaming of returning home.

He argues that even though he will never "forgive someone who almost murdered [him]", exile isn’t for him and he does not want to be labelled a “coward”.

Listen to the full interview on this episode of Focus on Africa.

BBC World Service

Indian officials have signed an agreement with Tanzania to start a global campus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Zanzibar.

It will be the first overseas branch of the IIT Madras campus.

The institute is expected to start in October this year with 50 graduate and 20 Masters students.

Indian Foreign Minister SubrahmanyamJaishankar described the move as a historic step.

The IIT, which has several campuses across India, is among the top academic institutions in the country.

Priya Sippy
BBC News

Image source, Courtesy of Simi Nwogugu

Simi Nwogugu, the CEO of NGO Junior Achievement Africa (JA Africa), has received the Africa Education Medal recognising her work to improve youth education.

The NGO currently reaches more than 300,000 young people annually with entrepreneurial skills that prepare them for the future of work, it says.

The Africa Education Medal, which was founded by the T4 Education organisation and the HP technology company in collaboration with Microsoft, is considered a prestigious education accolade.

“I am so honoured to receive this accolade, but it is not just about me. This award is for all the fantastic staff at JA Africa, and for all the inspirational young people they have worked with, helping to pave the way to a brighter future for our continent’s young,” Nwogugu told the BBC.

Several of the Junior Achievement Africa alumni have gone on to have successful careers in business.

The NGO currently has a presence in 16 sub-Saharan African countries according to its website.

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa's former Minister in the Presidency and anti-apartheid veteran Essop Pahad has died at the age of 84, according to a statement from President Cyril Ramaphosa's office.

"We mourn the passing of a veteran of our struggle," President Ramaphosa said, citing Mr Pahad's contribution to South African democracy.

"Security crackdowns, banning and exile shaped Essop Pahad’s contribution over decades to our struggle and, as Parliamentary Counsellor to President Thabo Mbeki and Minister in the Presidency, to the early design and impact of our democratic state."

Mr Pahad is described as "a thinker and strategist" who first started his political revolutionary journey 65 years ago, when he became a member of the Transvaal Indian Congress, which fought against white-minority rule.

He later joined the ANC, the party of President Ramaphosa, and was arrested and then exiled in the 1960s for his activism.

However, he continued his political activities for the then-banned ANC.

He returned to South Africa in 1990 - the same year the country's ban on the ANC was lifted and the start of the decade that saw the lifting of apartheid and introduction of a democratic government.

Mr Pahad later served as Minister in the Presidency while former President Thabo Mbeki was in office from 1999 to 2008.