Africa

Nicolas Negoce,BBC Africa, Abidjan and Chiagozie Nwonwu,BBC Africa Reuters President Alassane Dramane Ouattara is known by his initials “Ado” to his supporters Dancing dominates campaign rallies in Ivory Coast but the pulsing energy and fervour belies concerns about the political landscape in the world’s largest cocoa producer. Saturday’s presidential vote …

Judges in Cameroon have dismissed calls for the partial or total cancellation of the heavily disputed presidential election, saying they will announce the result on Monday. Major cities in the country have been rocked by protests, with opposition supporters alleging that the 12 October poll was marred by irregularities, including …

A senior official of Tanzania’s main opposition party has been arrested amid a crackdown on dissenting voices ahead of next week’s general election. John Heche, deputy chairperson of Chadema, was detained while attempting to attend the treason trial of party leader Tundu Lissu. In a statement, Chadema alleged that the …

Mike Tyson was a hit with fans in Kinshasa after embracing his Congolese roots as part of ongoing celebrations for one of boxing’s most iconic fights. The city hosted the Rumble in the Jungle in October 1974 when Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman to reclaim his title as the heavyweight …

South African authorities have suspended eight pupils linked to a case of alleged bullying that has caused national outrage. A video showing a horrific assault at Milnerton high school in Cape Town last week has been widely shared on social media. Several boys are seen repeatedly hitting a fellow pupil …

Ayo Bello / BBC Aisha Isa is one of many growers escorted by bus and armed by guards As women water vegetables and uproot weeds in a rural corner of north-eastern Nigeria, men in uniform stand guard nearby holding huge rifles. They are Agro Rangers – a special security unit …

Dozens of people have been killed in an oil tanker explosion in Nigeria’s central Niger state after the vehicle skidded off the road and crashed, spilling fuel. Villagers rushed to collect fuel from the overturned tanker which suddenly exploded, setting off a massive fire that engulfed them. About 30 people …

Passengers were forced to jump from carriages in a train crash that killed 15 people in eastern Ethiopia, a local official has told the BBC. The train derailed on Monday night in the town of Shinile, before colliding with a separate, stationary train, local broadcaster Dire TV reported. It is …

As the echo of the 17-gun salute thundered through Nyamira village on Sunday evening, followed by the roar of a military fly-past, a profound silence descended across Kenya. Amid the emotion lay the coffin of a man who never wore the ultimate political crown, yet reigned in the hearts of …

The leaders of Madagascar’s Gen Z movement, whose protests helped topple President Andry Rajoelina, say they disapprove of the prime minister appointed by the country’s new ruler. Col Michael Randrianirina led a coup last week and was sworn in as head of state on Friday. On Monday, he named businessman …

Cameroon’s influential Catholic Church has called for calm, as fears grow that violence could erupt once official results from the presidential election are declared. Opposition candidate and ex-government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared himself the winner of the 12 October election, saying he defeated 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who …

The rise of Moroccan football has been a long-term project for King Mohammed VI and the FRMF. The king first discussed his plan to use football as a tool for social and economic development in 2008, before opening an academy in 2009 and a $65m (£48.5m) training facility near the …

Lynette HorsburghNorth West Getty Images Jomo Kenyatta, who would become the first president of the Republic of Kenya in 1964, was one of many major names who attended the event In October 1945, delegates from across the world descended on a town hall on the outskirts of Manchester city centre …

The Nigerian police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters who had gathered in the capital, Abuja over the continued detention of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. The protesters, led by activist and publisher of the Sahara Reporters news site, Omoyele Sowore, want the immediate release of Kanu, who faces terrorism …

Roncliffe OditBBC Africa, Kisumu Reuters Huge crowds of people gathered at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium to pay their respects to Odinga Tens of thousands of mourners have gathered in the Kenyan city of Kisumu to pay their respects to the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The 80-year-old’s body is now …

Thousands of mourners have attended the state funeral of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a national stadium in the capital, Nairobi. Many carried national flags, portraits of the late leader, and wore T-shirts printed with his image to pay their final respects. Foreign leaders and regional heads of …

Liberia’s Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country’s schools. Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse. The announcement sparked a …

A conservation group linked to Prince Harry and Chad’s government have agreed to sign a new partnership – less than two weeks after the central African country severed ties with the organisation. Chad had terminated its agreement with African Parks on 6 October, accusing it of failing to curb poaching. …

Colonel Michael Randrianirina is sworn in as the new president of Madagascar at a ceremony in the capital. BBC News

Colonel Michael Randrianirina has been sworn in as the new president of Madagascar days after a military takeover on the Indian Ocean nation. He succeeds ousted President Andry Rajoelina, who fled the country and was later impeached following weeks of youth-led protests demanding greater accountability from his government. The ceremony …