Yoweri Museveni has been president longer than most Ugandans have been alive, but the ageing leader shows no sign of retiring as he seeks yet again to extend his rule.

More than 1 200 civilians have been killed in fighting in the Beni region of eastern DR Congo since late October 2019, the Lucha civil society group said.

Malawi's transport minister and another senior cabinet member died from Covid-19 on Tuesday, the government said.

Uganda banned social media and messaging apps on Tuesday, two days ahead of a presidential election pitting Yoweri Museveni, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, against opposition frontrunner Bobi Wine, a popular singer.

The International Monetary Fund's executive board announced Monday it had approved the disbursement of $487.5 million to Angola, which is suffering from low oil prices due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Zambia's presidency on Sunday announced the sacking of the country's health minister, arrested for alleged graft last year but cleared of charges.

Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine said soldiers raided his home on Tuesday and arrested his security guards, two days before an election.

Move is part of new measures to stop traditional funeral rites believed to be increasing the spread of the coronavirus.

West African envoys landed in Mali for talks on the country's transition to civilian rule, amid concerns over the slow pace of reforms and the army's role in government.

Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono, has vowed to "fight" for freedom of expression in a fiery statement penned from his prison cell.

More than 18 million people registered to take part in high-stakes vote after campaigning marred by deadly violence.

Facebook has shut a slew of accounts belonging to Ugandan government officials accused of seeking to manipulate public debate ahead of elections on Thursday.

Gold sales to Zimbabwe's sole buyer and exporter of bullion Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) fell 31% to 19 tonnes last year after lower deliveries from small-scale miners, official data showed on Monday.

Ahmed Ouyahia tells state prosecutors he sold 60 gold bars received as gifts from Gulf donors.

Zimbabwe police have re-arrested award-winning journalist and government critic Hopewell Chin'ono, as well as one of his defenders, for allegedly posting false information on social media, prosecutors and lawyers said.

In Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, the main funeral parlours and cemeteries are overrun and the city’s biggest hospital is in a shambles, while the Beitbridge border with South Africa is a mess.

Rebels attacked two towns in the Central African Republic on Saturday as French warplanes flew over in an apparent attempt to deter an advance on the capital after a disputed election.

Law enforcement officers in The Gambia have discovered nearly three tonnes of cocaine in a salt shipment from Ecuador, its drugs agency has said.

Nurses at one of Zimbabwe's busiest hospitals have gone on strike, complaining of shortages of personal protective equipment.

Zimbabwean journalist and government critic Hopewell Chin'ono was arrested on Friday on charges of communicating false information, his third arrest inside six months, his lawyer said.