Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service newsroom

Image source, EPA

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that the end to crippling power cuts in the country was "within reach".

He was delivering his annual state of the nation address ahead of elections this year, but offered no timetable for his promise.

South Africa has been hit by regular blackouts after years of under-investment in the sector by the state energy company, Eskom.

The lack of power has damaged industrial output.

Mr Ramaphosa also promised to increase the production of renewable energy and create thousands of jobs in the green economy.

There's been growing dissatisfaction among the electorate with the governing ANC, for failing to deliver on previous promises to fight poverty and corruption.

Image source, AFP

The king of Ghana's traditional Asante kingdom - known as the Asantehene - has received seven royal artefacts that were looted from the kingdom nearly 150 years ago.

The items were were repatriated from the Fowler Museum, based at the University of California in the US, and handed over to King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II during a ceremony on Thursday.

They include a gold necklace, an ornamental chair, two gold stool ornaments and two bracelets.

An elephant tail whisk, which is "a ceremonial piece that is held by someone of incredibly high status" was also returned, Erica P Jones, the senior curator of African arts at Fowler Museum told Art Magazine.

The items have been hosted at Fowler Museum since 1965, but were looted by British forces from the Asantehene's Manhyia Palace in the city of Kumasi, southern Ghana, in 1874.

The return of the items comes less than two weeks after the UK's British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum loaned back 32 items that had been looted from the kingdom, mostly in the 19th Century.

Read more on the Ghana's looted artefacts:

• UK to loan back Ghana's looted 'crown jewels'
• Ghanaian ruler pushes British Museum to return gold

Image source, Getty Images

Malawi has removed visa restrictions for travellers from 79 countries in an effort to boost tourism and trade in the country.

The Homeland Security Minister Ken Zikhałe, in a gazette notice on Wednesday, amended the immigration regulations - effectively lifting visa barriers for citizens from the UK, China, Russia, Germany, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, France and others.

Nationals from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) are also exempt from visa requirements.

This excludes countries that impose visa requirements on Malawian citizens.

The changes also include exemptions for certain groups such as diplomats and government officials, and countries that have mutual exchange agreements for multiple-entry visas with Malawi.

The validity of multiple entry visas in Malawi is now up to 12 months, according to the new visa regulations.

“This monumental decision isn’t just about visas; it’s about unleashing the untapped potential of our beloved Malawi and inviting the world to experience its wonders first-hand," Tourism Minister Vera Kamtukule told local media.

The British embassy in Malawi urged its nationals to take advantage of the relaxed visa restrictions to visit a range of popular tourist attractions in the southern African country.

Malawi joins Kenya and Rwanda in opening up their countries for African travellers.

Read more on Kenya's recently introduced visa-free policy:

• Kenya ETA: President Ruto's vision of visa-free entry proves tricky for some
• Visa on arrival free-of-charge for Africans entering Rwanda

Our African proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

A selection of the best photos from the African continent and beyond.

Squad unity has been a factor in Ivory Coast's run from 2023 Africa Cup of Nations no-hopers to possible victors.

Trade unions have warned that the 15% tax on domestic users will worsen the cost-of-living crisis.

Watch the best goals from the Africa Cup of Nations 2023, featuring ex-Manchester United player Bebe's 40-yard free-kick for Cape Verde.

A total of 13 bodies have been recovered, while 27 people are still missing, an official says.

South Africa's Tyla beat Nigerian superstars at the Grammys - but their footballers get revenge.

Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong says lifting the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations trophy would be an "amazing" moment.

Kelvin Kangethe allegedly killed his girlfriend in the US last October before flying to Kenya.

Sebastien Haller scores the winner as 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast beat DR Congo to set up a final against Nigeria.

Stanley Nwabali saves two penalties to help Nigeria reach the Afcon 2023 final following a dramatic 1-1 draw with South Africa.

Nigeria are denied an late second and surely match-sealing goal by VAR who instead award opponents South Africa a penalty which they score and set up extra-time in Bouake.

That's all from the BBC Africa Live team for now. Until we're back, there'll be an automated service her, or you can get the latest news on or website, bbc.com/africa. Or listen to our podcasts - Africa Daily and Focus on Africa.

Our African proverb of the day:

And we leave you with a photo of a performer entertaining delegates at a mining conference in Cape Town, South Africa:

Image source, Reuters

Madagascar should abolish plans to introduce a new law which allows for the chemical and surgical castration of people convicted of raping minors as it was "cruel, inhuman and degrading", rights group Amnesty International has said.

Last month, President Andry Rajoelina proposed the amendments to the penal code - that include chemical and surgical castration as punishment for individuals found guilty of rape against minors.

These changes have since been agreed by MPs and will now be reviewed by the Supreme Constitutional Court before being signed into law.

In a statement, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty's regional director for east and southern Africa, said:

Thursday 8 February 2024: This post has been updated to clarify that the bill has yet to be signed into law.

Paul Njie
BBC News, Yaoundé

A local administrator who was kidnapped by suspected separatists in Cameroon’s conflict-hit North-West region has regained his freedom, the regional governor has said.

Nicholas Nkongho Manchang and his aides were ambushed on Tuesday in a village in Ndu, as they headed for the installation ceremony of another senior administrator.

Governor Adolphe Lele l’Afrique said on Wednesday that the government official was “freed” in a “swift military operation” ordered by President Paul Biya.

But in a video making the rounds on social media, Mr Nkongho can be heard saying he escaped captivity and trekked for several hours. The other members of his convoy are still being held captive.

Cameroon’s two Anglophone regions, the North-West and South-West, have been mired in conflict since 2017, as fighting continues between government forces and separatists seeking a breakaway state.

Kidnapping of government officials and civilians by separatists is common, with rights groups also faulting Cameroon’s security forces for human rights abuses.

Guinea-Bissau will not extend the deal of long-serving coach Baciro Cande after their exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Alan Kasujja
BBC Africa Daily podcast

It is not every day you get to chat to a billionaire. But as the presenter of the Africa Daily podcast I get to speak to some really amazing people with brilliant minds.

And so I found myself recently in the gleaming London offices of Mo Ibrahim, the Sudanese-born businessman.

When he comes into the room he is relaxed and smiling and introduces himself as a retiree, but when he chats he is funny and feisty and clearly not taking life easy - and he ends up telling me off sternly when I suggest that maybe there are times when corruption is not a bad thing, that it oils wheels and makes things happen.

No - he is very clear: corruption is always bad.

And of course I had to ask the question we all want to ask a billionaire: how much cash have you got in your pocket? About £200 ($250) he said - and a credit card.

Listen to the full interview here