African news : breaking news, features, analysis

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has assented to a bribery bill that will punish severely public and private sector bribery.

A wayward family man who went missing during the Christmas weekend has been taught a painful lesson by his enraged wife.

More than 20 Nigerian "Chibok girls" who were released by the Islamist group Boko Haram in October have rejoined their families for Christmas.

A female French aid worker has been kidnapped in Mali's restive north, the French foreign ministry has confirmed.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari says the army has seized one of Boko Haram's last bases in northeastern Borno state.

Nigeria's government has denied reports that "plastic rice" was being sold in the country, days after the customs service said 2.5 tonnes of the contraband had been confiscated.

Health Minister Isaac Adewole tweeted that tests by the food safety agency found "no evidence" of plastic material.

A parliament session in Kenya has descended into chaos, with rival MPs trading punches.

Opposition lawmakers tried to block discussions on the introduction of manual vote-counting for next year's presidential election.

Gunfire erupted in several areas in the capital Kinshasa, as Congo's long-serving president, Joseph Kabila appeared set to stay on despite the expiration of his mandate.

Zimbabwe's governing Zanu-PF party has confirmed President Robert Mugabe as its candidate for the 2018 elections. 

One of Mozambique's richest women, Valentina Guebuza, has been shot dead by her husband in a case of domestic violence, police say.

Zofino Muiuane was arrested after Mrs Guebuza was killed at their home in the capital, Maputo, police said.

Nigeria's victorious women's football team have protested outside parliament in Abuja over unpaid win bonuses.

Their protest coincided with President Muhammadu Buhari's arrival at the National Assembly to present next year's budget.

Officials have opened an inquiry into how a church in the Nigerian city of Uyo collapsed during services Saturday, killing as many as 50 worshipers.

It was unclear Sunday how many people were injured in the sudden collapse at the Reigners Bible Church. Rescue workers have recovered bodies and injured people from the rubble, said Aniekeme Finbarr, a media liaison for Gov. Udom Emmanuel of the state of Akwa Ibom.

One of Africa's longest serving presidents, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, is expected to announce his successor tomorrow, reports South Africa's News 24 news site.

Property developer Adama Barrow says his shock win of the Gambian election heralds new hope for the country.

Rival militias are battling one another in Tripoli in the heaviest fighting in the Libyan capital for two years.

A Ugandan king has been charged with murder following violent clashes in which more than 80 people died last week. The BBC's Patience Atuhaire visited the western town of Kasese and explains how the situation got to this point.

The Gambia's president of 22 years Yahya Jammeh will be replaced by a property developer, Adama Barrow, after losing the general election.

The Gambia has banned the internet and international phone calls as presidential elections are held in the West African state.