Today is the last day of the general, daily BBC Africa Live page.
Instead we will have live pages covering specific stories, when they will benefit from live coverage.
This will enable us to produce more individual news stories, pieces of analysis and features highlighting the full breadth of life across the continent, which you can find at BBCAfrica.com, external.
The Newsroom
BBC World Service
Image source, ReutersFrance has about 350 troops in Senegal
The Senegalese Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, has raised the possibility of closing French military bases in the country.
Speaking at a conference in the capital, Dakar, Mr Sonko wondered why Senegal still had several French bases, more than 60 years after independence from France.
Mr Sonko questioned the impact of the French military presence on the country's sovereignty.
"I reiterate here the desire of Senegal to have its own control, which is incompatible with the lasting presence of foreign military bases in Senegal," the premier is quoted as saying.
France has about 350 troops in Senegal.
He promised to strengthen ties with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger who have pushed out French troops and turned to Russia for help in fighting jihadist insurgencies.
Mr Sonko, a firebrand politician, was appointed prime minister by his protégé, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was elected president in March.
Image source, African Parks/XWhite rhinos are classified as a near-threatened subspecies
Forty of the 2,000 southern white rhinos that were rescued from the world's largest captive rhino breeding operation in South Africa last year have been rehomed in the wild.
The rhinos were relocated to the Munywana Conservancy, a 30,000-hectare (74,131-acre) reserve in the Zululand region of South Africa's KwaZulu Natal province, the conservation charity African Parks said on Thursday.
They are the first batch of the rescued rhinos to be released in the wild, in a 10-year project to rewild the animals into secure protected areas across Africa.
The project is one of the largest continent-wide rewilding programmes undertaken for any species.
African Parks bought the financially struggling 7,800-hectare (19,000-acre) rhino farm, known as Platinum Rhino, in South Africa's North West province last September, after owner John Hume put it up for sale in April.
Rhinos, the second-largest land mammal, are considered to be under extreme pressure due to poaching.
There are thought to be 18,000 southern white rhino left. They are classified as a near-threatened subspecies.
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BBC Monitoring
The world through its media
Image source, Press AssociationClashes have recently intensified in the battle for control of the city (file photo)
The governor of the western Sudanese region of Darfur, Minni Minnawi, has urged civilians to take up arms to defend themselves and the regional capital, El-Fasher, from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been besieging the city for weeks.
More than 60 people have died and hundreds wounded since the latest clashes began on 10 May, according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders., external
"We declare a general alert to defend the innocent lives and property of citizens in El Fasher," Mr Minnawi posted on X platform on Thursday, external.
He was responding to a similar call by RSF, which he said had “launched a new campaign to mobilise [fighters] from all regions" to invade the city.
The RSF, however, rejected the allegations and instead accused the governor, external of “fomenting discord across Darfur”.
The paramilitary forces and the Sudanese army, backed by Darfur armed groups, have continued to trade blame over the escalating sporadic violent ground clashes in El Fasher.
The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, has warned that the continued violence threatens the lives of over 800,000 civilians.
Sudan’s brutal civil war began in April last year and international efforts to broker a ceasefire between the rival forces have repeatedly failed.
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Image source, Getty ImagesResidents are urged to report any lion spotted near the city (file photo)
The Kenyan wildlife authorities have urged residents of Nairobi's Lang'ata area to be vigilant following reports of three lions spotted nearby.
On Thursday, a team from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was deployed to search for the reported roaming lions near Langata Women's Prison on the outskirts of the city.
But the team was unable to spot the lions after a long night search, the KWS said in a statement, external.
It, however, said the team was still monitoring the situation closely and was on high alert.
"Ensuring the safety of the public is our top priority," it added.
Residents were urged to report any wildlife sightings in the area.
It is not the first time lions are reported to have escaped from the Nairobi National Park, which is feted for being the only game park in the world within a city.
Yusuf Akinpelu
BBC News
Image source, AFPThe military leader secured 61% of the vote
Chad’s constitutional council has upheld the results of the nation's presidential election that declared interim military ruler Mahamat Déby the winner.
It also rejected challenges by two losing candidates in the 6 May elections.
The central African country's electoral body declared Gen Déby winner of the election with 61% of the vote, with his closest rival, Prime Minister Succes Masra, polling at 19%.
Mr Masra had disputed the result, claiming his victory had been "stolen from the people".
Some opposition candidates had also alleged irregularities on polling day.
The exclusion of 10 politicians who were eyeing the top job by the constitutional council had sparked allegations of foul play.
Chad becomes the first of the countries where the military seized power in West and Central Africa in recent years to hold elections and restore civilian rule.
Gen Déby, 40, was installed as interim leader by the Chadian military after his father, Idriss Déby Itno, was killed on the frontline by rebels in April 2021, aged 68.
His victory means the 34-year rule of the Déby family will continue and legitimises his grip on power.
Image source, Getty ImagesMass weddings are fairly common in northern Nigeria
A planned mass wedding of 100 orphans in Nigeria has sparked widespread public outrage over concerns about the welfare of those involved.
The wedding, set for the end of this month, was sponsored by Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, the speaker of the national assembly in the largely Muslim north-western state of Niger.
It involved orphans who had lost family members during attacks by armed gangs.
Critics have expressed concern that some girls may be underage or being forced to comply for financial gain.
Nigeria's Women's Affairs Minister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye condemned the plan and said she would seek a court injunction to stop the ceremony.
Human rights activists in Nigeria have also launched a petition to stop the plan.
Following the public outrage, Speaker Sarkindaji has announced his withdrawal from the ceremony.
But the Imams Forum of Niger say the marriage ceremony should go ahead on 24 May, insisting that the girls are not underage.
The ages of the girls were not immediately known.
Some intended brides, who spoke to the local media, defended the programme.
Mass weddings are fairly common in mostly Muslim parts of northern Nigeria, where religious and cultural norms such as polygamy favour the practice.
Our African proverb of the day:
Quote MessageA powerful friend becomes a powerful enemy."
An Ethiopian proverb sent by Chatim Daniel in Nasir, South Sudan
Officials have arrested a 61-year-old man suspected of keeping him prisoner.
Read MoreA suspected arsonist sprays a mosque with petrol and sets it on fire over a family dispute, police say.
Read MoreNelson Shardey now faces a 10-year wait for "settlement" and a bill running into thousands of pounds.
Read MoreA Kenyan mother's desperate attempts to save her son who is on death row in Saudi Arabia.
Read MoreWe'll be back on Friday morning
That's all from the BBC Africa Live team for now. There will be an automated service here until Friday.
Go to BBCAfrica.com for the latest news and you can also listen to our podcasts: Africa Daily and Focus on Africa.
A reminder of Wednesday's wise words:
Quote MessageOne who hides sickness will not be cured."
Marcus Mlenga, in Blantyre, Malawi
Click here to send us your African proverbs.
And we leave you with this image of a fashionista at Soweto Fashion Week in South Africa.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe will no longer be running the general, daily BBC Africa Live page from next week, 20 May.
Instead we will have live pages covering specific stories, when they will benefit from live coverage.
This will enable us to produce more individual news stories, pieces of analysis and features highlighting the full breadth of life across the continent, which you can find at BBCAfrica.com, external.
President Ramaphosa approves a law that seeks to provide universal health care for all - but not everyone is happy.
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Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service
There are reports of heavy fighting and shelling in the city of El Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region.
Since mid-April the city has been besieged by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Fighting with the Sudanese army escalated on Friday and since then medical workers say more than 50 people have been killed and around 400 wounded.
The UN says the fundamental laws of war and international humanitarian law are being violated every day during the fight for control of El Fasher.
It says appeals for the protection of civilians are being ignored. The city is a refuge for hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting elsewhere.
The iconic trees evolved on Madagascar 21 million years ago and later spread to other countries.
Read MoreNkechi Ogbonna
West Africa business journalist, BBC News
Image source, Getty ImagesGodwin Emefiele, former governor of Nigeria's central bank,
Nigeria's once powerful central bank governor has pleaded not guilty to illegally printing new naira notes.
Godwin Emefiele appeared in court on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja to face charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mr Emefiele has been embroiled in a corruption scandal since last year.
The anti-corruption agency says the embattled bank boss committed wrongdoing when implementing the naira swap policy during former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.
Mr Emefiele, 62, is already standing trial for a 26-count charge on abuse of office and procurement fraud to the tune of 1.6bn naira ($1 million).
He has denied all allegations.
In November 2022, the former central bank governor implemented a redesign of the country’s 200, 500 and 1,000 naira banknotes.
Amidst backlash from some political quarters, the former bank governor said the policy was aimed at mopping up excess cash in circulation, combatting the financing of terrorism and preventing currency counterfeiting, which it alleged had spiked owing to improved photographic technology.
Nigerians had a short window to exchange their old notes for new ones, which caused a months-long scarcity of banknotes.
The dearth of notes caused panic among the population. Street protests and attacks on commercial banks occured in some parts of the country.
Both the old and new banknotes are currently in circulation.
Will Ross & Danai Nesta Kupemba
BBC News
Image source, ReutersCyril Ramaphosa has officially signed the national health bill
South Africa's President Cyril Ramapahosa has signed a controversial bill for universal healthcare into law.
The signing ceremony occurred in Pretoria on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Ramphosa described it as a major step towards a more just society.
Despite the excitement Mr Ramaphosa exuded as he signed the bill, many groups have said they are exploring taking legal action against it.
The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said it was an unaffordable, populist move aimed at preventing the ANC from losing its overall majority.
Build One South Africa, another opposition party, released a statement shortly after the signing, external.
"We cannot allow this new law to go unchallenged," it read.
They accused President Ramaphosa of using the bill to boost his parties chances at the polls on May 29.
Most people in South Africa currently rely on overburdened and run-down publicly funded hospitals.
Those who can afford to pay for healthcare have access to better treatment through their insurance.
The new law will gradually limit the role of private insurance and create a new public health fund.
This bill comes ahead of a tough election season for Mr Ramaphosa's party, the African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power for three decades.
Read more:
Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service
Prosecutors at an international court say the last remaining fugitives wanted over the 1994 genocide in Rwanda have been confirmed dead.
Ryandikayo, a businessman who's known by just the one name, and a former mayor and businessman, Charles Sikubwabo, were accused of instigating and taking part in the massacres of thousands of people from the Tutsi ethnic group.
The prosecutor's office said both men had fled the country but had died in 1998.
The authorities in Rwanda say they are still trying to ensure around 1,000 fugitives are put on trial over the genocide.