A sudden and swiftly reversed ban on wigs, hair extensions, and skin-lightening products at an iconic theatre in Senegal's capital, Dakar, has ignited a widespread public backlash - laying bare deep tensions around identity, gender politics, and cultural nationalism in the West African nation.

The internal memo was stamped by the national culture ministry and issued on Monday by Serigne Fall Guèye, director of the Grand Théâtre de Dakar.

He said the move was to "promote Pan-African values" and protect the institution's cultural image.

But critics accused Guèye of policing women's bodies under the guise of cultural pride, and the ban was reversed the following day.

Feminist groups and civil society leaders said the memo reflected broader concerns about gender inequality in Senegal, especially given the low number of women in President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's administration - four out of 25 - and the removal of the Ministry of Women.

Many social media users criticised the ban as sexist, invasive, and paternalistic.

The controversy was further complicated by Serigne Fall Guèye's own political background. Before being appointed to the Grand Théâtre in early 2024, Guèye was a prominent figure in Pastef - the ruling party known for its anti-colonial, pan-Africanist rhetoric.

At the time, he led the party's artistic and cultural commission, championing a return to what he called "authentic African values".

Critics fear that Guèye's personal ideology is now bleeding into what should be a neutral public entity.

"This isn't about wigs or skin," political analyst Fatoumata Ba tells the BBC. "It's about a broader power play - using state institutions to impose a particular version of identity, while silencing or sidelining anyone who doesn't conform."

One of the most widely shared responses came from Henriette Niang Kandé, a feminist analyst and public intellectual, who questioned the logic and intent behind the ban in a viral social media post, saying:

"As for [hair] grafts and wigs, should we remind this director that these are aesthetic choices, sometimes economical, often practical? Are we forbidding men from shaving their heads to hide baldness? From wearing false collars to lengthen their necks?"

Supporters of the now-cancelled ban, though in the minority, argue that the director's intention was rooted in cultural pride, not oppression. Guèye himself defended the memo as part of a broader mission to "restore African dignity and identity", particularly in the arts sector, which he believes has been overly influenced by Eurocentric beauty standards.

Yet critics say such policies reduce cultural pride to physical appearance - while ignoring deeper systemic issues.

"If you truly want to affirm African identity," sociologist Mame Diarra Thiam tells the BBC, "start with language, education, economic justice - not banning weaves and skin [lightening] cream".

By Tuesday, facing mounting pressure, Serigne Fall Guèye was forced to reverse the ban, citing public misunderstanding and reiterating his commitment to the theatre's mission. But the damage had already been done.

It has exposed growing discontent with Pastef founder and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko among the urban youth and progressive civil society, who supported him in the 2024 elections but now feel betrayed by his government's perceived conservatism and centralisation of power.

At its core, the wig and bleaching ban at the Grand Théâtre was not just about aesthetics - it was about who gets to define cultural authenticity, and at what cost.

In a country where skin-lightening products remain popular despite known health risks, and where women's appearance is often subject to moral scrutiny, the debate is far from superficial. It touches on post-colonial identity, gender inequality, economic necessity, and personal freedom.

For now, the ban is gone - but the broader debates it sparked remain very much alive.

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Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

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Burkina Faso's military rulers have disbanded the country's electoral commission calling it a waste of money.

The interior ministry will handle elections in the future, state-run RTB TV reported.

Since seizing power in September 2022, the coup leaders have initiated sweeping reforms, including the postponement of elections which would lead to a return to civilian rule.

A nationwide vote was due last year, but the junta extended the period of transition to democracy until July 2029, allowing leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré to remain in power and free to contest the next presidential election.

The AFP news agency quotes Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo as saying that the electoral commission was "subsidised" with around $870,000 (£650,000) a year.

Abolishing the commission would "reinforce our sovereign control on the electoral process and at the same time limit foreign influences", he added.

• How an al-Qaeda offshoot became one of Africa's deadliest militant groups
• Why Burkina Faso's junta leader has captured hearts around the world
• How 'blood gold' is fuelling conflict in West Africa

After coming to power three years ago amid criticism that the civilian authorities were failing to deal with a growing Islamist insurgency, the military leaders have rejected the assistance of former colonial power France in favour of Russia.

Rights groups have since accused the army of targeting civilians in its attempt to quash the militants, as well as suppressing political activity and the freedom of expression.

There are also question marks over the effectiveness of the military operation. In the first half of 2025, jihadist group JNIM said it had carried out over 280 attacks in Burkina Faso – double the number for the same period in 2024, according to data verified by the BBC.

Additional reporting by BBC Monitoring and David Bamford.

You may also be interested in:

• Burkina Faso outcry over 'conscription used to punish junta critics'
• Capt Ibrahim Traoré: From shy schoolboy to military leader
• Why France faces so much anger in West Africa
• Why young Africans are celebrating military takeovers

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

Germany is set to tighten its laws to crack down on gangs smuggling migrants to the UK by the end of the year, Downing Street has said.

The announcement comes alongside a new agreement between the UK and Germany covering areas including migration, business and defence, which will be signed during Friedrich Merz's first official visit to the UK as German chancellor on Thursday.

The changes will make it illegal in Germany to facilitate illegal migration to the UK.

Facilitating people-smuggling is not technically illegal in Germany currently, if it is to a country outside the European Union - which, following Brexit, includes the UK.

Downing Street said the move will make it easier for German authorities to investigate and take action against warehouses and storage facilities used by smugglers to conceal small boats intended for illegal Channel crossings to the UK.

Berlin agreed to tighten its legislation in December under the previous government but the new chancellor is now expected to commit to changing the law by the end of the year.

A BBC investigation last year exposed the significant German connection to small boat crossings, with the country becoming a central location for the storage of boats and engines.

Sir Keir said: "Chancellor Merz's commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome."

The German agreement comes a week after the UK announced a new pilot returns scheme with France, during President Emmanuel Macron's state visit.

Under the "one in, one out" deal, some small boat arrivals would be returned to France in exchange for the UK accepting an equivalent number of asylum seekers with connections to the UK.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to tackle the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats.

More than 21,000 people have made the dangerous journey so far this year - a 56% increase on the same period in 2024.

The Conservatives' shadow home secretary Chris Philp claimed the figures showed " the crisis in the Channel continues to spiral".

"This is just more of the same tired, headline-chasing from Keir Starmer," he said.

"He's scrambling to stay relevant with yet another gimmick, but this latest press release is not a plan but a distraction...

"This government has clearly lost control of our borders and left the country exposed when they cancelled our returns deterrent."

Defence and security is also on the agenda for the visit, with the leaders set to discuss support for Ukraine.

The pair will unveil a new agreement to boost UK defence exports such as Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon jets, through joint export campaigns for co-produced equipment.

Downing Street said the agreement was likely to lead to billions of pounds of additional defence exports in the coming years, boosting the economy and jobs.

A cooperation treaty will also establish a new UK-Germany Business Forum to facilitate investment in the two countries.

A series of commercial investments in the UK are being announced to coincide with the visit, worth more than £200m and creating more than 600 new jobs.

Among the companies involved are defence tech firm STARK, which will create 100 jobs through a new facility in Swindon - marking the the company's first expansion outside of Germany.

Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.

Several people have been injured at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, with some unconfirmed reports that it was hit by Israeli artillery shells.

Catholic Church leaders referred only to it being "struck by a raid" in a statement, but Italy's prime minister blamed Israeli forces.

The Israeli military said it was aware of the reports of damage and casualties at the church, adding that "the circumstances of the incident are under review".

Many displaced Christian families from the small local community have been living in the Roman Catholic church since the war began after their own homes were destroyed. While he was alive, the late Pope Francis called them on a near-daily basis.

The Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem said the Argentine parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was among those injured and denied initial reports of fatalities.

It added that the church had been damaged.

A video and photos shared with the BBC showed the roof was hit, close to the cross, and that windows were broken.

The Latin Patriarchate said it would provide additional details when they were confirmed.

A video aired on Arab TV showed Father Gabriel walking unsteadily and checking on a man on a stretcher at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, where those injured are being treated.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel, saying: "The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable."

"No military action can justify such an attitude," she added.

The Vatican has so far not responded to a request for comment.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem condemned the strike, which it called a "flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sites, which are supposed to provide a safe haven in times of war".

It estimated that 600 displaced people were sheltering inside at the time, the majority of whom were children as well as 54 people with special needs.

The Holy Family Church falls within part of Gaza City that the Israeli military has previously told locals to leave.

Israel launched its war in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 others being taken hostage.

Israeli attacks have since killed more than 58,500 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry's figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties.

A nurse who confronted a transgender doctor in a changing room behaved in an "unacceptable" way, an employment tribunal has heard.

Gillian Malone - who is head of nursing at NHS Fife - said nurse Sandie Peggie should have raised concerns about sharing facilities with Dr Beth Upton - a trans woman - in a different way.

Ms Peggie and Dr Upton exchanged words on Christmas Eve 2023 after the nurse told the doctor they should not be in the same changing room at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

Ms Malone said Ms Peggie's comments that Dr Upton was a man constituted unacceptable conduct.

After the exchange, Dr Upton complained to NHS Fife about Ms Peggie's behaviour and the nurse was suspended on 3 January 2024.

Ms Peggie claims her treatment was unlawful under the 2010 Equality Act and brought a case against NHS Fife, which resumed on Wednesday after a five month break in proceedings.

Ms Malone told Ms Peggie's lawyer Naomi Cunningham that it was "unacceptable for any colleague to confront another in that manner", referring to the Christmas Eve incident.

Ms Malone added that the nurse "could have raised the matter but not as a confrontation".

She suggested Ms Peggie should have returned to her line manager and then escalated her concerns from there.

Ms Malone said she understood the incident in the changing room had involved Ms Peggie questioning Dr Upton about her chromosomes and referencing Isla Bryson, a rapist who is also transgender.

'Concerning allegations'

Ms Cunningham questioned whether there was any way Ms Peggie could have raised concerns to Dr Upton's face without being at risk of suspension.

Ms Malone said there was no way the matter could have been resolved in that conversation.

The lawyer added that the "essence" of the matter was Ms Peggie feeling intimidated by the presence of Dr Upton in the changing room.

Ms Malone earlier said she found out about the "concerning allegations" on 2 January, after she returned to work following the Christmas break.

She added the allegations around Ms Peggie's behaviour on Christmas Eve involved offensive and inappropriate questions and use of derogatory terms to Dr Upton.

She told the tribunal the decision to suspend Ms Peggie was made following a risk assessment carried out by Esther Davidson, the nurse's line manager.

However, Ms Malone said she could not recall seeing the risk assessment herself.

Ms Malone also said she disagreed with the decision by Dr Kate Searle to send out an email about the confrontation to more than 20 other consultants on 29 December.

Ms Cunningham said this meant "confidentiality was lost" in the case, given that some of those involved were potential witnesses. Ms Malone agreed it should not have been handled in that way.

On Wednesday, Ms Peggie was cleared of gross misconduct following disciplinary proceedings by the health board.

She was accused of misconduct, failures of patient care and misgendering Dr Upton.

NHS Fife said an internal hearing found there was "insufficient evidence to support a finding of misconduct".

Mark Zuckerberg and Meta have agreed to settle a multibillion dollar lawsuit with shareholders over how the top executives handled repeated privacy violations by Facebook, US media report.

The shareholders were seeking $8bn (£6bn) in damages. It is unclear how much they agreed to settle for.

The settlement was announced on Thursday by a lawyer for the shareholders, just before the trial was about to enter its second day in a Delaware court. Meta declined to comment on the settlement.

A group of Meta shareholders had alleged that Mr Zuckerberg's actions led to the Cambridge Analytica scandal in which the data of millions of Facebook users was leaked and used by a political consulting firm.

The shareholders had asked the judge to order the 11 defendants named in the case to reimburse Meta for more than $8bn in fines and legal costs, which they say Facebook has had to pay in order to resolve claims of users' privacy breaches.

The lawsuit was filed after it was revealed that data from millions of Facebook users was accessed by Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm that worked for President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign.

Among the defendants is Jeffrey Zients, who served as Meta director for two years starting in May 2018, and was also former President Joe Biden's White House chief of staff.

Other defendants include Peter Thiel, co-founder of Palantir Technologies, and Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix.

West Pittston, just outside of the industrial centre of Scranton, Pennsylvania, has a classic smalltown-American look.

There are clapboard houses, a main drag with businesses bearing charming vintage patina and lampposts bearing flags of the town's military veterans.

And MAGA faithful.

On Wednesday, in 85F (30C) weather, they lined the streets outside Don's Machine Shop where JD Vance spoke, touting President Donald Trump's recent legislative victory, what he calls his Big Beautiful Bill.

But a lawn sign nearby as the US vice-president spoke pointed to an additional priority on their minds - a rare backlash against the Trump presidency from his own supporters.

"WHERE IS THE LIST???" the sign read - a reference to the release of the so-called Jeffrey Epstein files, a purported tranche of government documents on the disgraced financier and sex offender.

There is a rumoured "client list" of Epstein's famous friends that has fixated conspiracy theorists.

But the Justice Department recently threw cold water on the theory, releasing a memo saying it found no evidence that a client list exists.

Among those attending the Vance event, some put their faith in Trump.

"When he's ready, he'll let them out," Ed DeLucca, 72, told the BBC, saying he hoped Trump would bring the documents to light.

For Mr DeLucca, the rumoured files would ultimately be delivered much like any other Trump promise, such as closing the border or mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Epstein was charged by federal prosecutors for sex trafficking of minors and other crimes in 2019. He died by suicide in jail later that year, sparking continued rumors and conspiracies about his death and - most recently - about possible "clients" named in government files.

Yet, according to the president and his top law enforcement officials, the documents may not be forthcoming - and some may not exist at all.

That concession has thrown Trump's Make America Great Again movement into chaos, with even staunch supporters calling for the removal of Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino.

The resulting online storm also has threatened to overshadow the budget bill, a major legislative win Trump just clawed from Congress.

• Trump's Epstein strategy could pit him against loyal supporters
• Prosecutor in Diddy and Epstein cases fired by justice department

"We put you in office, you ran on this platform," Steven Taylor, a local truck driver and Trump supporter who was in West Pittson on Wednesday, told CBS News, BBC's US partner. "We didn't ask for it. And now we want it. We demand it."

"There needs to be accountability. There needs to be justice," he said.

But others like Mr DeLucca were more sanguine. "There's a reason for it. They'll come out," he said.

"They got to make peace," he said of the MAGA factions warring over Epstein.

"They can't exist without Pam, or Dan Bongino," he said of the administration. "It's like the Avengers assembled, the Justice League of America."

But voters in the eastern Pennsylvania town, who have slowly and steadily united behind Republicans during the Trump era, may split over whether to accept the president's strategy on Epstein.

Trump has tried to quell the storm, posting on Truth Social that the alleged hidden Epstein files were actually a "hoax" concocted by Democrats.

"Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this [expletive] hook, line, and sinker," he wrote on Wednesday.

• Trump says US attorney general should release any 'credible' information on Epstein

Chrissy Matticks echoed Trump's assessment, pinning the blame for the Epstein debacle on Democrats.

"I don't care. Democrats should have released it when Biden was president," she told BBC on Wednesday. "Democrats are just using it as a political football."

She was far more focused on Trump's performance in passing the budget bill and deporting undocumented immigrants in a sweeping crackdown.

"I'd say, to our MAGA base: Have faith in President Trump."

A fire that tore through a shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut has left dozens dead and injured, state media has reported.

The blaze at the mall, which had reportedly opened five days ago, broke out on Wednesday night and has since been brought under control.

"The number of victims has reached about 50 people," Wasit province governor Mohammed al-Miyahi told Iraqi news agency INA.

Most of the victims in the fire were women and children, he said, adding that legal action would be brought against the shopping centre's owner.

Videos on INA's news channel show flames ripping through several floors of a multi-storey building as firefighters try to douse them.

Other clips circulating on social media appear to show a small number of people on the roof during the fire, as well as the burned out insides of the centre.

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Several people have been injured at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, with some unconfirmed reports that it was hit by Israeli artillery shells.

Catholic Church leaders referred only to it being "struck by a raid" in a statement, but Italy's prime minister blamed Israeli forces.

The Israeli military said it was aware of the reports of damage and casualties at the church, adding that "the circumstances of the incident are under review".

Many displaced Christian families from the small local community have been living in the Roman Catholic church since the war began after their own homes were destroyed. While he was alive, the late Pope Francis called them on a near-daily basis.

The Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem said the Argentine parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was among those injured and denied initial reports of fatalities.

It added that the church had been damaged.

A video and photos shared with the BBC showed the roof was hit, close to the cross, and that windows were broken.

The Latin Patriarchate said it would provide additional details when they were confirmed.

A video aired on Arab TV showed Father Gabriel walking unsteadily and checking on a man on a stretcher at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, where those injured are being treated.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel, saying: "The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable."

"No military action can justify such an attitude," she added.

The Vatican has so far not responded to a request for comment.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem condemned the strike, which it called a "flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sites, which are supposed to provide a safe haven in times of war".

It estimated that 600 displaced people were sheltering inside at the time, the majority of whom were children as well as 54 people with special needs.

The Holy Family Church falls within part of Gaza City that the Israeli military has previously told locals to leave.

Israel launched its war in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 others being taken hostage.

Israeli attacks have since killed more than 58,500 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry's figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties.

Germany is set to tighten its laws to crack down on gangs smuggling migrants to the UK by the end of the year, Downing Street has said.

The announcement comes alongside a new agreement between the UK and Germany covering areas including migration, business and defence, which will be signed during Friedrich Merz's first official visit to the UK as German chancellor on Thursday.

The changes will make it illegal in Germany to facilitate illegal migration to the UK.

Facilitating people-smuggling is not technically illegal in Germany currently, if it is to a country outside the European Union - which, following Brexit, includes the UK.

Downing Street said the move will make it easier for German authorities to investigate and take action against warehouses and storage facilities used by smugglers to conceal small boats intended for illegal Channel crossings to the UK.

Berlin agreed to tighten its legislation in December under the previous government but the new chancellor is now expected to commit to changing the law by the end of the year.

A BBC investigation last year exposed the significant German connection to small boat crossings, with the country becoming a central location for the storage of boats and engines.

Sir Keir said: "Chancellor Merz's commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome."

The German agreement comes a week after the UK announced a new pilot returns scheme with France, during President Emmanuel Macron's state visit.

Under the "one in, one out" deal, some small boat arrivals would be returned to France in exchange for the UK accepting an equivalent number of asylum seekers with connections to the UK.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to tackle the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats.

More than 21,000 people have made the dangerous journey so far this year - a 56% increase on the same period in 2024.

The Conservatives' shadow home secretary Chris Philp claimed the figures showed " the crisis in the Channel continues to spiral".

"This is just more of the same tired, headline-chasing from Keir Starmer," he said.

"He's scrambling to stay relevant with yet another gimmick, but this latest press release is not a plan but a distraction...

"This government has clearly lost control of our borders and left the country exposed when they cancelled our returns deterrent."

Defence and security is also on the agenda for the visit, with the leaders set to discuss support for Ukraine.

The pair will unveil a new agreement to boost UK defence exports such as Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon jets, through joint export campaigns for co-produced equipment.

Downing Street said the agreement was likely to lead to billions of pounds of additional defence exports in the coming years, boosting the economy and jobs.

A cooperation treaty will also establish a new UK-Germany Business Forum to facilitate investment in the two countries.

A series of commercial investments in the UK are being announced to coincide with the visit, worth more than £200m and creating more than 600 new jobs.

Among the companies involved are defence tech firm STARK, which will create 100 jobs through a new facility in Swindon - marking the the company's first expansion outside of Germany.

Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.