African news : breaking news, features, analysis

Thirteen South African soldiers were killed in the Central African Republic as rebels seized the capital over the weekend, President Jacob Zuma has said.

New President Xi Jinping has hailed the strength of China's ties with African nations.

Islamist rebels have attacked Gao in northern Mali, officials say.

Zambia's former President Rupiah Banda has been arrested in connection with a Nigerian oil deal, officials say.

Congolese war crimes suspect Bosco Ntaganda has left Rwanda and is on the way to The Hague in the custody of the International Criminal Court.

A TV advertisement promoting condom use in Kenya has been withdrawn after an outcry by religious leaders, health official Peter Cherutich has said.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has given his backing for the speedy transfer of Congolese war crimes suspect Bosco Ntaganda to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Vladimir Tretchikoff's painting of the Chinese Girl, thought to be the world's most reproduced print, has sold at auction in London for £982,050.

Lawyers for Kenya's President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta have urged the International Criminal Court to drop charges against him.

At least 20 people have been killed in a series of explosions at a bus station in the northern Nigerian city of Kano.

Democratic Republic of Congo war crimes suspect Bosco Ntaganda has handed himself over to the US embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali, the US says.

Zimbabwe's police have defied a court order to release a prominent human rights lawyer detained on Sunday, legal groups have said.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has filed a Supreme Court appeal against Uhuru Kenyatta's narrow victory in the presidential election's first round.

Somalia's Supreme Court has freed a journalist imprisoned for interviewing a woman who alleged she had been raped by security forces.

Zimbabweans start voting in a key referendum on a new constitution, amid simmering political tensions.

At least 28% of South African schoolgirls are HIV positive compared with 4% of boys because "sugar daddies" are exploiting them, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has said.

The brother of former Malawi leader Bingu wa Mutharika and 11 other high-profile figures have been charged with treason for allegedly trying to prevent Joyce Banda succeeding him.