News

A selection of the week’s best photos from across the African continent and beyond:

For Rayno Nel there is something special about the ability to call yourself the strongest man in the world. The 30-year-old South African claimed the prestigious title on his debut in the competition in May – something that shocked many people, including him. “I didn’t go into this year really thinking that this year would […]

A former teacher accused of historical sex abuse charges in Scotland has been arrested in South Africa on a further 90 charges. Iain Wares, 86, has been accused of abuse by scores of former pupils of Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College, where he taught in the 1960s and 70s. They include BBC presenter Nicky Campbell. […]

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 in the West African nation is as notable for the candidates who have been banned from running as for those who are vying for the top job. […]

Nicolas Sarkozy has become the first French ex-president to go to jail, as he starts a five-year sentence for conspiring to fund his election campaign with money from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Not since World War Two Nazi collaborationist leader Philippe Pétain was jailed for treason in 1945 has any French ex-leader gone behind […]

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 millions. The “people’s president”: Raila […]

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 Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as his prime […]

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 unclear how many people were […]

Morocco want to be a “strong contender” at all levels of global football after becoming the first Arab country to win the Under-20 World Cup, having beaten Argentina 2-0 in the final on Sunday. A spokesperson close to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has told BBC Sport Africa the victory proves “the vision worked” […]

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 is on trial on terrorism charges and […]