Somalia is making real progress in trying to end more than two decades of conflict according to David Cameron. Andrew Harding reports from Mogadishu.

Fifty-five people have been killed in a raid by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in Nigeria's north-eastern Borno state, the military says.

Zimbabwe's authorities ignore a court ruling to free an activist accused of calling President Robert Mugabe a "limping donkey" at an election rally, his lawyer says.

Did oil-boom town strike it rich?

BBC Somali's Farhan Jimale outlines what people need to know about Somalia, as an international conference takes place with the governments of the UK and Somalia in London on 7 May.

South Africa's FA will complain over TP Mazembe's "ill treatment" of Orlando Pirates in their Champions League tie.

Libya's Defence Minister Mohammed al-Barghathi resigns in protest against a siege by gunmen on the ministries of justice and foreign affairs.

Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour and Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho are named the recipients of this year's Polar Music Prize.

David Cameron and the Somali president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, are co-hosting a conference in London on the future of Somalia.

Cameroon international Stephane Mbia denies using Twitter to try to engineer a move from relegated English Premier League club QPR.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the "toughest" place in the world to be mother and Finland is the best, according to Save the Children charity.

A Nigerian warplane involved in operations against militant Islamists in Mali crashes in Niger, killing the two pilots, the army says.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron is to host an international conference in London to help Somalia end more than two decades of conflict.

After the revolution unemployment and the budget deficit soar

The bank worker who doubles as a South African spiritual healer

The model of the Chinese Girl print tells her story