African news : breaking news, features, analysis

The army takeover in Burkina Faso after President Blaise Compaore's resignation has prompted protests in the capital and international condemnation.

Boko Haram has denied claims by Nigeria's government that it has agreed to a ceasefire and will release more than 200 abducted schoolgirls.

A split has emerged within Burkina Faso's armed forces over who is leading the country following the resignation of President Blaise Compaore after 27 years in power.

Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore has announced his resignation, following violent protests at his attempt to extend his 27-year rule.

At least eight people have died in an explosion at a major bus station in Gombe state in north-eastern Nigeria, witnesses have told the BBC.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has followed with grave attention the events unfolding in Burkina Faso and the tension surrounding the process leading to the consideration of a draft bill on constitutional amendment.

Two South African peacekeepers were wounded when gunmen opened fire on their patrol in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

ABUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan Thursday stormed the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where he collected the expression of interest and nomination forms of the party to vie for the 2015 presidential election.

YOLA —Few hours after the commercial nerve centre and the second biggest town in Adamawa State fell into the hands of Islamic sect, Boko Haram, the insurgents, yesterday, overran Vimtim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore has imposed a state of emergency to end violent protests against his 27-year rule.

Zambian Vice-President Guy Scott has been named acting leader following the death of President Michael Sata.

Zambian President Michael Sata has died after receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, family sources and Zambian media say.

Residents of Onimaba, Lagos have been living in fear since last week Thursday when a letter purportedly written by armed robbers circulated their streets.

Niger has seen more than 1,300 cases of cholera since the beginning of the year, with 51 people dying of the disease, the United Nations has said.

For six months the world has waited for news of the fate of more than 200 girls abducted by Nigerian militant group Boko Haram.

Boko Haram gunmen kidnapped at least 30 boys and girls from a village in northeast Nigeria during the weekend.

The Mali government has confirmed the first case of Ebola in the country.

It said a two-year-old girl had tested positive for the haemorrhagic virus. She recently returned from the neighbouring Guinea.

A member of Tunisia's security forces has been killed in a shootout with an armed group at its hideout in a town near the capital.