South Sudan signs a second oil pipeline deal in a bid to reduce its dependence on Sudan - amid a deepening oil crisis between the former civil war enemies.

Ribadu welcomes Nigeria oil post

Nigeria's ex-corruption chief Nuhu Ribadu says he views his appointment as chair of a new task force to police the oil sector as a national calling.

Cafe in Somalia hit by car bomb

At least 15 people are killed and more than 20 injured when a car bomb planted by Islamist militants explodes near a cafe in Somalia's capital, officials say.

Sudan launches Darfur peace body

Sudan's president launches a body intended to kick-start development and end the fighting in the war-torn western region of Darfur.

Egypt PM dismisses US aid threat

Egypt's prime minister says it will not be persuaded by the potential loss of US aid to end a probe into foreign-funded non-governmental organisations.

Nigeria Islamists claim army raid

Nigeria's militant Islamists say they are behind Tuesday's suicide bombing at the army headquarters in the northern city of Kaduna.

Libya mission 'could be one-off'

British MPs say spending cuts raise concerns over UK's ability to launch another mission on the same scale as the operation in Libya.

Chinese workers released in Sudan

A group of Chinese workers kidnapped by rebels in Sudan last month has been freed and flown to Kenya, officials from both countries say.

'Lone wolf' terror threat warning

The UK could face a growing threat from "lone wolf" terrorists returning from fighting overseas in the next few years, a think-tank warns.

Cousin agent irked by Gers delay

Rangers are waiting to hear whether Gabon captain Daniel Cousin is eligible to re-sign for the Scottish club.

Ghanaians rally to support Gyan

Ghana lend their support to Asamoah Gyan, after his penalty miss against Zambia in the Nations Cup semi-final.

Forest sign Elokobi from Wolves

Nottingham Forest sign Wolves left-back George Elokobi on loan until the end of the season.

Why zebras evolved their stripes

A zebra's unmistakeable stripes may have evolved to make the animals unattractive to blood-sucking flies, say scientists.

SA 'zombie-held singer' charged

South African police charge a man who claimed to be Khulekani "Mqgumeni" Khumalo - a popular dead singer - with fraud.

Nelson Mandela cookbook launched

Nelson Mandela's personal chef launches a cookbook featuring the statesman's favourite meals.

African viewpoint: Nigerian brinkmanship

Can the president?s new-found confidence help save the nation?

African viewpoint: The politics of credit ratings

Should we care that most African nations don't have a credit rating?

Going back to school

Zambian entrepreneur says cash not key to business success

The joys of investing in Somaliland

Somali businessman says profits higher at home than UK

In pictures: Fighting forgotten tropical diseases

The aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is working to combat the tropical disease visceral leishmaniasis (also known as kala azar) in Africa.

In pictures: Combating drought in the Horn of Africa

Images of East Africans learning to cope with drought

Your pictures: Africa, a green continent

From verdant views to sweet oranges in your photos

In pictures: Focus on Africa in 2011

Freedom, flowers and famine - the year in photos

In pictures: Giant guinea fowl art

Giant guinea fowl-inspired artwork takes on power and religion

In pictures: Saving baby Umi

In pictures: Rwanda's poo-powered prisons

Rwanda's bean-eating convicts cook on gas from their own waste

In pictures: Nigerians behind the lens

Photographs of how Nigerians see themselves

Algeria profile

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Algeria

Angola profile

An overview

Benin profile

An overview

Botswana profile

An overview

Burkina Faso profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Burundi profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Cameroon country profile

Provides an overview of Cameroon, including key events and facts about this former French and British colony in Africa

Cape Verde profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Central African Republic profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Chad profile

Provides an overview of Chad, including key events and facts about this African country

Comoros profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Republic of Congo profile

An overview

Democratic Republic of Congo profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Djibouti profile

Provides an overview of Djibouti, including key events and facts.

Egypt profile

Provides an overview of Egypt, including key events and facts.

Equatorial Guinea profile

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea profile

Provides an overview of Eritrea, including key events and facts for this country on the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia profile

Provides an overview of Ethiopia, including key events and facts about this ancient former Christian empire in northeast Africa.

Gabon profile

Key facts, figures and dates

The Gambia profile

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about The Gambia.

Ghana profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Guinea profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Guinea-Bissau profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Ivory Coast profile

Provides an overview of Ivory Coast, including key events and facts about this west African country recently plagued by civil war.

Kenya profile

Provides an overview of Kenya, including key events and facts of this East African country.

Lesotho profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Liberia profile

Provides an overview of Liberia, including key events and facts about this West African country

Libya country profile

Provides an overview of Libya, including key events and facts about this major oil producer which was ruled by Colonel Gaddafi for 42 years.

Madagascar profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Malawi country profile

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Malawi

Mali country profile

Concise information about Mali and its people, including figures for area, population, main languages, religions, exports, and more.

Mauritania profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Mauritius country profile - Overview

Provides an overview of Mauritius, including key events and facts about this ethnically diverse Indian Ocean island nation

Morocco country profile - Overview

Provides an overview of Morocco, including key events and facts about this mountainous kingdom at the far end of the Maghreb

Mozambique profile

Provides an overview of Mozambique, including key events and facts about this former Portuguese colony and its recovery from a long civil war in the 1980s.

Namibia profile

Provides an overview of Namibia, including key events and facts about this sparsely populated but stable country on Africa's south-west coast.

Niger profile

Provides an overview of Niger, including key events and facts about this arid state on the southern rim of the Sahara.

Nigeria profile

Provides an overview of Nigeria, including key events and facts about this oil-rich country with multiple ethnic and religious divides.

Rwanda country profile

Provides an overview of Rwanda, including key events and facts about this East African country that is still recovering from the genocide of 1994.

Sao Tome and Principe profile

Provides an overview of Sao Tome and Principe, including key events and facts about this oil-rich island nation - one of Africa's smallest states.

Senegal profile

Provides an overview of Senegal, including key events and facts about this west African country

Seychelles profile

Overview

Sierra Leone profile

An overview

Somalia profile

Provides an overview of Somalia, including key events and facts about this civil war-wracked country on the Horn of Africa.

South Africa profile

Provides an overview of South Africa, including key events and facts about this diverse country on Africa's southern tip.

South Sudan profile

Key facts, figures and dates

Sudan profile

An overview

Swaziland profile

An overview

Tanzania country profile - Overview

Provides an overview of Tanzania, including key facts and events as well as news

Togo profile

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Togo

Tunisia profile

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Tunisia

Uganda profile

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Uganda.

Zambia profile

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Zambia.

Zimbabwe profile

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Zimbabwe.

Ceuta, Melilla profile

An overview

Puntland profile

An overview

Reunion profile

An overview

Somaliland profile

An overview

St Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha profiles

An overview

Western Sahara profile

An overview

Zanzibar profile

An overview

VIDEO: Zuma addresses South Africa

South African President Jacob Zuma has addressed the nation in a live TV speech touching on job creation, education, security and health.

AUDIO: DR Congo rapper on albino attacks

Hip-hop artist N'Kashh from the Democratic Republic of Congo explains why one of his songs is about the recent attacks on albino people.

AUDIO: 'Tough year ahead' for ANC

Southern Africa correspondent Karen Allen takes the political pulse in South Africa with Ferial Haffajee, editor of the City Press newspaper.

VIDEO: Sudan launches Darfur peace body

Sudan's president has launched a body intended to kick-start development in the war-torn western region of Darfur.

'Lifeline' US-Somalia remittances on hold

Somalis suffer as US cuts remittances amid terror fears

Should Libya rebuild Gaddafi hometown of Sirte?

Are residents of Gaddafi home town being punished?

African viewpoint: A year of great leaps forward?

Will Africa find more unity in football and politics in 2012?

Gabon: Surfing hippos, lacking tourists

So why has Gabon failed to become tourist hot-spot?

Making money in war time

Can a restaurant help Liberia move on from conflict?

In pictures: Making charcoal from Liberian rubber trees

Pictures reveal how charcoal keeps Liberia cooking

Slow steps towards restoring Italy-Libya ties

Libya and Italy keen to repair ties damaged by Arab Spring