Africa

Mace stolen in front of politicians in Nigeria parliament but later found elsewhere in Abuja, ornamental staff formally required for senators to pass new laws but in its absence legislative work proceeded with spare

Swaziland king Mswati III renames country Kingdom of eSwatini to mark 50 years since independence from British rule, change for Africa’s last absolute monarchy noted to possibly mean rewriting country’s constitution

Zimbabwe's government sacks 10,000 nurses who went on strike, cites interest of patients and of saving lives, sacked staff will be replaced by unemployed and retired nurses

Authorities in Ghana capital Accra asks mosques to use mobile text or WhatsApp messages rather than loudspeaker as prayer calls, interviewed Muslims worried about economic implications for imam and that call to prayer is traditionally supposed to reach as far as possible

German aid worker from non-governmental organisation Help abducted by unknown gunmen in Niger near border with Mali, four Nigerien colleagues also kidnapped but later released

Protesters put 16 corpses in front of UN headquarters in Central African Republic's capital Bangui after accusations that organization's soldiers killed 21 civilians during fighting with Muslim militia

At least 257 dead as Algerian military Ilyushin Il-76 plane crashes shortly after taking off from Boufarik airbase outside Algiers, 26 of passengers representatives of West Saharan independence movement Polisario

Zimbabwe to invite EU, US and other countries in West to monitor election in July, ending ban imposed by Robert Mugabe in 2002 after accusations that foreign powers favored opposition

Nigerian President Buhari seeks re-election despite concerns over his health and low energy during recent years, vowed in 2015 to crack down on graft and stamp out Boko Haram insurgency which has not been achieved

Winnie Mandela dies at age 81, was married to South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela for 38 years up until divorce in 1996, infamous for backing practice of necklacing and for involvement in kidnapping and murder of 14-year-old Stompie Seipei in 1988

At least 15 dead and 83 injured when criminals attack civilians and military personnel with suicide bombs and fire arms in Maiduguri in NE Nigeria, it is suspected that Boko Harem is behind this

400 men invade Grace Mugabe's farm Smithfield north of Zimbabwean capital Harare to pan for gold, destroy drip irrigation equipment and refuse to leave when former first lady confronts them

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reelected as Egyptian president with 92% of vote in election where all serious challengers were prohibited from taking part, turnout estimated at 40% at most, well below 47% turnout in 2014

Car bombing in Egyptian Alexandria kills one and injures four while city's security chief who was intended target remains unharmed, explosion comes amid heightened security ahead of Monday's presidential elections

Grace Mugabe suspected to be behind ivory smuggling syndicate in Zimbabwe, Australian nature photographer Adrian Steirn went undercover as buyer to expose scheme, president Mnangagwa orders immediate investigation

African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) created as 44 countries sign agreement in Kigali, Rwanda, has to be approved by national parliaments before taking effect, 10 African countries decline to participate, among them Nigeria

At least 101 out of 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria last month freed, not clear what has happened to remaining nine but reports suggest five died during abduction

Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam announces his candidacy in country’s presidential elections this year, is wanted by International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during 2011 rebellion

Mugabe may lose privilege of being buried at heroes' cemetary if he does not cease engaging in oppositional politics, according to MP and former leader of veterans' movement Joseph Chinotimba

At least 12 dead in central Somalian town of Mahas after villagers backed by Somali army troops fight off al-Shabaab attempt to impose taxes

Former South African president Jacob Zuma to stand trial for corruption in connection with government arms deal

Transport union in South Africa sounds alarm as train is hijacked on weekly basis by frustrated passengers after recurring delays, train conductor threatened with knife or gun and forced to deviate from planned route, spokesperson for union says government knows about problems but does not act since only poor people take the train

Julius Maada Bio gets plurality of votes and faces Samura Kamara of ruling party APC in second round of Sierra Leone presidential election, Bio led country during short period following 1996 military coup

Robert Mugabe poses in photo with brigadier general Ambrose Mutinhiri who after resignation from Zanu-PF aims to challenge Zimbabwe's president Emmerson Mnangagwa in August election, could mean that Mugabe family is behind candidacy according to analyst

Thieving animals rather than corruption allegedly behind disappearance of Nigerian tax money, snake said to have swallowed equivalent of USD 100,000 belonging to exam board for public universities, senator defending colleague accused of misappropriating funds suggests that missing USD 194,600 was stolen by monkeys

Gunmen launch twin attacks in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, against French embassy and army headquarters, eight security personnel killed and 80 people including civilians wounded

Overwhelming majority of South African parliament passes bill to confiscate white-owned land without compensation – time of reconciliation over, now time for justice, says Julius Malema

Security forces kill one activist and wound several others in Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital Kinshasa during church-led demonstrations against President Joseph Kabila, internet shut down across country

At least 27 dead and 20 injured as two car bombs detonate near presidential palace in Somali capital Mogadishu, al-Shabaab terrorist group claims to have carried out attack

111 school girls out of 926 students believed to have been abducted by Boko Haram as terror group attacked Government Girls Secondary School in Dapchi in north eastern Nigeria

No major celebration as lonely and isolated Robert Mugabe turns 94 despite his birthday being a national holiday in Zimbabwe

Government of Tanzania plans to purchase eleven locomotives abandoned at Dar es Salaam port since mid-last year, who initially bought and imported them remains unknown

80% of male teachers in Zambia have had sexual relations with female students, according to government report

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau once again evades capture by Nigerian forces, terror group estimated to have between 200 and 300 soldiers, has previously been declared defeated by Muhammadu Buhari

Revolutionary sentiments in Tunisia result of high unemployment rather than desire for political freedom, population of Tunis suburbs has increased dramatically since 2011 and experts warn developments may lead to further uprisings

At least 17 dead as rubbish tip collapses in Mozambique's capital Maputo and buries seven houses

Gambia declares moratorium on use of death penalty, first step towards abolition according to president Adama Barrow, capital punishment on decline in Africa where governments executed 22 people in 2016 compared to 43 previous year

20 dead in northern Nigeria as three female suicide bombers attack market in Konduga near Maiduguri where Boko Haram was founded

State of emergency declared in Ethiopia one day after unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, neither previous emergency declaration nor release from jail of thousands of opposition supporters has stopped wave of protests

At least ten Islamist terrorists killed in French air raids in northeast Mali, France has been conducting operations in area for several days

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn says he will resign as soon as successor has been selected, decision comes after years of protests against state corruption

Cyril Ramaphosa elected president of South Africa after vote in parliament

Jacob Zuma resigns from South Africa presidency, effective immediately, after losing support from ANC party

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies in South Africa at age of 65, had been suffering from colon cancer

Four survivors of massacre in St Peter's Lutheran Church in Monrovia during 1990 Liberia civil war bring legal claims against Moses Thomas who is suspected to have ordered attack which killed 600, former colonel in president Samuel Doe's feared special forces now lives in US

ANC asks Jacob Zuma to resign as president of South Africa, party leader Cyril Ramaphosa probable successor, uncertain whether incumbent will leave willingly

16 dead in Egyptian military offensive against Sinai Islamist insurgents, actions taken after attack on local mosque killed 300 people in November 2017

Samuel Ikome Sako named new Ambazonian separatist leader after former leader Sisiku Ayuk Tabe was arrested, declares movement has entered era of individual and communal self-defense

Cameroon imposes week-long night curfew in its English-speaking regions due to concerns of imminent attack by separatists, decision comes as video clips allegedly showing atrocities by Cameroonian soldiers circulate online

Gambia rejoins Commonwealth under new president Adama Barrow, left in 2013 under Yahya Jammeh who ruled country for 22 years

Emergency door opens after landing on Nigeria domestic flight, airline Dana Air denies technical error and blames passengers, government aviation agency opens case to review incident

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai critically ill, suffers from colon cancer and has received treatment in Johannesburg hospital several times since June, conflict within MDC party about who will succeed him

Esmond Bradley-Martin, leading expert in fight against illegal trade in ivory and rhinoceros horn, found murdered in Nairobi home

All 955 trapped miners in Sibanye-Stillwater's Beatrix gold mine in South Africa freed after 32 hours after electricity restored – cases of dehydration and high blood pressure but nothing serious, according to company spokesman

950 miners trapped in Sibanye-Stillwater gold mine in Beatrix, South Africa after storms bring down power lines in area, 60 people rescued so far

Oppositions calls for boycott of Egypt presidential elections after all candidates standing against Abdel Fattah al-Sisi either arrested, prosecuted or pressured to withdraw, oppression in country worse than under Muslim Brotherhood according to opposition leader Mohamed Anwar Sadat

Cape Town water crisis worsens, municipality to limit consumption to 50 litres per person per day, no-one should be showering more than twice a week according to head of provincial government Helen Zille, city hit by worst drought in a century

Zimbabwe key opposition leader Roy Bennett dead at 60 after helicopter crash in mountainous rural area of northern New Mexico, details of why he was in area not immediately available

Equatorial Guinea says last month's alleged coup attempt probably planned on French territory without governmental involvement

New ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa urges "creation of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and equitable society", vows to pursue land expropriation in manner not impeding economic development or agricultural production, wants ANC politicians who seek no benefit for themselves or their families

Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda launch joint military effort against Islamist rebel group ADF, group accused of attack that killed 15 United Nations peacekeepers and wounded another 53 last month

Several H&M stores in South Africa stormed and vandalized in protest against ad with black boy in "coolest monkey in the jungle" hoodie

At least 29 killed and 2 missing as tropical cyclone hits eastern coast of Madagascar with wind speeds of up to 190 km/h, more than 13,000 people displaced

Ambazonia separatist leader arrested by Nigerian police, seeks independence for English-speaking region of Cameroon and has been based in Nigeria since declaration of autonomy in October 2017 which was followed by unrest

20 Nigerians sold as slaves in Libya for USD 735, were forced to do farming before being dumped in desert, according to survivors who describe horrific conditions

Zimbabwe's Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri orders audit of Mugabe's farms in line with country’s one farm per family policy, Mugabe family presumed to own at least 14 farms totalling around 16,000 hectares

Chad denies involvement in alleged coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea late December, says its 60 arrested citizens are mercenaries "and should be treated as such"

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa rules out forming coalition government after visiting colon cancer battling opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, claims there currently is no need

Tanzania fines five TV stations for airing Legal Human Rights Centre evaluation of ward by-election exposing human rights violations and power abuse, regulatory authority chairman says broadcasting threatened peace and jeopardised public safety

Ghana's Catholic church calls on government to take immediate measures against foreign agents aquiring land in country as livelihoods of peasant farmers are undermined, a third of Ghana's crop land acquired by foreign countries according to 2010 numbers

Tanzania threatens to close down churches that mix religion and politics after church leader used Christmas sermon to accuse President John Magufuli of quietly turning country into one-state rule

At least seven killed by security forces, several injured and 123 arrested during Sunday’s anti-government protests in Democratic Republic of Congo, according to UN who condemns the use of force against peaceful demonstrators as well as the violent suppression of fundamental rights and freedoms

Democratic Republic of Congo orders internet and SMS services cut across country ahead of planned anti-government Catholic demonstrations, says demonstrations banned and gatherings of more than five people to be dispersed

General Constantino Chiwenga named vice president of Zimbabwe, described as force behind President Mnangagwa's ousting of Mugabe

Kilometers of gas queues in Nigeria inspire free market where the product is sold for twice as much as the state's official gas price, the government blames the crisis on greedy private players

George Weah wins Liberian presidential election with more than 60% of votes, former footballer only African to have won Ballon d'Or

White farmer returns to farm stolen at gun point by Mugabe regime riot police, met by scores of black Zimbabweans jubilant at sign that new president Mnangagwa makes good on vow to stop illegal land seizures and restore property rights

Zimbabwe's new agriculture minister Perrance Shiri orders illegal farm occupiers to vacate land immediately, emotive issue in country after violent invasion of white-owned farms in 2000 by Mugabe supporters which triggered broader slump that saw GDP almost halve between 2000 and 2008

14 UN peacekeepers killed and 53 injured after assault on base in North Kivu province in Congo-Kinshasa, rebel group ADF suspected to be behind attack

At least 50 killed as suicide bomber blows himself up at mosque in northeastern Nigerian town of Mubi, attack blamed on Boko Haram

Robert Mugabe resigns as president of Zimbabwe, letter of resignation read by speaker of the parliament followed by wild celebrations

Uganda police force opens its health facilities to public to ease pressure that is mounting following doctors strike

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe holds talks with army after being put under house arrest, Grace Mugabe is possibly also in family compound, Zanu-PF youth wing leader makes televised apology for criticising head of military

Army tanks seen heading for Harare and military blocking major roads in to the city, according to local media and eyewitnesses, follows rising tensions between the military and Mugabe's Zanu-PF

Zimbabwe's sacked Vice President Mnangagwa blocked from leaving country after trying to cross border to Mozambique wearing sunglasses and simple clothing

Zimbabwean Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa fired by Robert Mugabe after accusations of disloyalty, president appears to back wife Grace in upcoming power struggle

Red Cross workers suspected of having embezzled in total USD six million meant to combat Ebola outbreak in West Africa

Mugabe expected to appoint female deputy of his party Zanu-PF after amendment to party's constitution, creates opportunity for wife Grace to disadvantage of Vice President Mnangagwa

Robert Mugabe wants to resume executions in Zimbabwe where death penalty has not been in use since country’s last hangman retired in 2005, cabinet divided on issue

Zimbabwean War Vets association beg exiled white Rhodesians return, their talent needed for rebuilding the ravaged country, says chairman Chris Mutsvangwa

WHO rescinds appointment of Robert Mugabe as goodwill ambassador after widespread criticism

At least 231 killed, 275 injured in bombing in Somalia's capital Mogadishu

Nigerian court sentences 45 Boko Haram members to between three and 31 years in jail, first convictions in mass trials held behind closed doors with more than 1,600 suspected terrorists

Outbreak of plague in Madagascar continues as 449 cases and 48 deaths have been reported, majority of infections pulmonary plague

More than 100 hippos found dead in Namibia last week, cause is unknown but experts suspect anthrax, 1,300 hippos lived in country before outbreak

Robert Mugabe rearranges government, competitor and vice president Mnangagwa demoted as spy chief Happyton Bonyoungwe takes control of justice department and next year's elections, finance minister Chinamasa replaced by loyal Ignatius Chombo and becomes minster of cyber security

At least 17 killed in independence protests in Anglophone Cameroon according to Amnesty International, internet blocked and electricity cut in area

Six dead and hundreds arrested in western Cameroon as Ambazonia activists declare independence on anniversary of Cameroon's 1961 independence, government says move carries no legal weight

Cameroon orders three days complete lockdown of Anglophone region to stop planned anti-government protests – gatherings larger than four people banned, bus stations, eateries and shops to shut

Brawl in Uganda's parliament as MPs debate presidential age limit, issue controversial as current 75-year limit disqualifies long-standing president Museveni from standing for fourth term in 2021 elections