Somalia turns back Ethiopian plane headed for Somaliland
Somalia has turned away a plane transporting officials from Ethiopia to the self-declared republic of Somaliland in a major escalation of the diplomatic row between the countries.
Somalia's information minister told the BBC the plane...
Mine landslide kills 22 people in Tanzania
Twenty-two people have died following a landslide at an illegal mine in northern Tanzania, officials said.
The incident occurred at Ng'alita mine in Bariadi district, Simiyu region on Saturday, district commissioner Simon Simalenga said.
It occurred...
Tutu statue wrapped in Palestinian scarf goes on display
A statue of the late South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu wearing a Palestinian scarf has been unveiled in Cape Town to symbolise his support for the Palestinian cause.
The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation...
African Episcopal Conferences reject blessings for same-sex marriage
African Episcopal Conferences say they strongly uphold the traditional doctrine on marriage within the Catholic Church, in a consolidated response to the declaration of Fiducia Supplicans by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the...
Somalia conflict: UN helicopter and passengers seized by al-Shabab
The Somali armed Islamist group al-Shabab has seized a United Nations helicopter, along with about eight people, both passengers and crew, local sources have told the BBC.
The helicopter landed in territory held by the...
Nigeria minister suspended over personal bank account
Nigeria's president has suspended a minister over the alleged diversion of more than 585 million naira ($640,000; £500,000) of public money into a personal bank account.
Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Betta Edu was...
Ministers barred from Congo poll for fraud, violence
Three ministers and four governors have been disqualified from last month's election in the Democratic Republic of Congo, because of fraud and violence.
They are among 82 candidates excluded from the legislative, provincial and local...
Hamas command in north Gaza destroyed, Israel says
The Israeli army says it has "completed the dismantling" of Hamas's command structure in the northern Gaza Strip.
Army spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters that Palestinian militants are now operating in the area only sporadically...
Indian navy boards ship attacked by pirates off Somali coast
Indian navy commandos have boarded a ship hijacked by pirates off Somalia's coast, officials say.
Crew members had sent a distress signal to a UK marine agency saying five to six armed people had seized...
Oscar Pistorius released on parole 11 years after killing Reeva Steenkamp
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been freed on parole from a South African jail, nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Officials confirmed Pistorius was "at home" on Friday morning, having served half of...