Bissau military kills politicians
A presidential candidate and a former defence minister are shot dead by soldiers in Guinea-Bissau on suspicion of plotting a coup.

'Dozens dead' in Somalia fighting
At least 36 people die in fighting in Somalia between pro-government fighters and Islamist hardliners, reports say.

Aid for starving Zimbabwe inmates
The Red Cross says it has begun delivering food to prisoners in Zimbabwe, amid horrific reports of jail conditions.

Liberia aid workers 'stole $1m'
World Vision in Liberia says only 9% of its food aid reached beneficiaries, as three workers are charged with fraud.

WHO backs anti-diarrhoea vaccine
The World Health Organization says a jab which can prevent a diarrhoea and vomiting virus should be given to all children.

Deal to end crisis in Mauritania
Mauritania's junta and the opposition sign a deal to end a political crisis following last year's coup.

Tsvangirai: Mugabe acrimony over
Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai tells the BBC the "acrimony is over" between him and President Robert Mugabe.

Canada decides on Sudan 'suspect'
A Canadian court orders the government to allow the return of an al-Qaeda suspect, who has spent the last six years in Sudan.

Obama reaches out to Muslim world
President Barack Obama calls for a new beginning in US relations with the Muslim world in a keynote speech in Egypt.

Tickled apes yield clues to the evolution of laughter
Research carried out by tickling apes and infants suggests laughter evolved in a common ancestor of great apes and humans.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Live: 2010 World Cup qualifying
The latest scores from the final round of African qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Gabon, Zambia, Burkina all win
Zambia, Burkina Faso and Gabon all win their second games in the final round of 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
South Africa edge past Poland
World Cup hosts South Africa continued their preparations to host the Confederations Cup with a 1-0 win over Poland in a friendly.

Death trap
Why did 76 people die in a South African gold mine?

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Irish downturn
Recession fear for Benin footballer

Seized by pirates
The inside story of an attack - and a ransom drop-off

Oil earnings
Ghana wants its offshore wealth to benefit its people

E-mail from hell
Mogadishu resident tells of mayhem devouring capital

Ethiopia admits Somalia presence
Ethiopia says it has "reconnaissance missions" in Somalia but denies it is re-deploying its troops there.

Algerian named in Briton killing
An alleged Algerian militant is a suspect in the killing of a British citizen in Mali, officials say.

Fury at Guinea 'burn thief' idea
A top member of Guinea's military government is criticised after he calls for thieves to be burnt alive.

Kenya anger as US cancels flights
Kenya protests to the US over its abrupt move to cancel new commercial flights, apparently amid security concerns.

Zuma promises half a million jobs
New South African President Jacob Zuma promises to create half a million jobs this year.

Al-Qaeda 'kills British hostage'
The British government says it believes a UK citizen has been killed by al-Qaeda in North Africa.

Viewpoint: What's in a name?
An African journalist wonders: What's in a name?

Egypt pigs meet cruel fate
Shock at the methods of Egypt's pig slaughter

Living in fear in Rainbow Nation
One year on, South Africa's xenophobia is alive and kicking

Ethnic divide on Kenyan campus
Behind the glossy image of Kenyan student politics

Nigeria retakes control of Nitel
The Nigerian government takes back control of the country's former telecoms monopoly Nitel, citing a lack of investment and unpaid debts.

Bharti restarts MTN merger talks
India's Bharti Airtel resumes talks with South Africa's MTN aimed at forming the world's third largest mobile phone firm.