Nigeria charges six people with treason over Independence Day coup plot
Allegations of a coup plot first surfaced in October 2025 when an Independence Day parade was cancelled.
Africa
Arrests in Nigeria after abduction of local monarch ‘held for ransom’
The kidnappers raided his palace on Saturday and are believed to be holding him in a forest.
South Africa’s police boss charged in connection with controversial health contract
Fannie Masemola is accused of failing in his duties to provide proper oversight in his role.
Black beauty queen who represented South Africa at Miss World during apartheid dies aged 76
At the 1972 Miss World contest, Cynthia Shange was one of two contestants from South Africa – one black and one white.
More than 200 rescued from IS-linked group in DR Congo
The youngest of those freed from an Allied Democratic Forces camp is a girl aged just 14, Uganda’s army says.
Nigerian wins global prize for trying to save bats in a country that shuns them
Ecologist Iroro Tanshi is one of six winners of the international Goldman Environmental Prize.
Iranian woman arrested in US for allegedly trafficking arms to Sudan
Shamim Mafi is accused of brokering the sales of arms to Sudan’s defence ministry on behalf of Iran.
‘They told me he was dead’: Children born near Kenyan army base learn truth about UK soldier dads
A DNA and legal project has identified the fathers of 20 children born near a military base in Kenya.
‘The weapons were loud, but there was always music’: Sudanese band play on through the war
One of Sudan’s most popular bands, Aswat Almadina, recall being in the studio when the war broke out three years ago.
Millions listen to Ethiopian star’s song criticising government
The country’s biggest musician Teddy Afro laments a lack of unity in the country on his new track.
Zimbabwe’s iconic stone birds were taken by colonialists. Finally, they’re all back home
For centuries the prized sculptures, central to national identity, have been kept outside Zimbabwe’s borders.
Thousands celebrate open-air Mass with Pope Leo in Cameroon – in pictures
Pope Leo XIV is on his third day in Cameroon before he heads to Angola on Saturday.
Mugabe’s son pleads guilty to pointing a gun in South Africa
Bellarmine Mugabe was arrested in February following the shooting of a 23-year-old man at his home in Johannesburg.
‘I was tortured and lost my hand’ – one student’s struggle to get an education in Nigeria
The BBC speaks to a student who pushed for his toe print to be taken to verify his identity.
Six African athletes blocked from transfers to Turkey
World Athletics rejects the applications of 11 elite athletes to switch their nationality to Turkey as the requests were “part of a coordinated recruitment strategy” by the country’s government “to attract overseas athletes through lucrative contracts”.
Blunt-speaking Pope tells Cameroon to root out corruption to find peace
The pontiff was unusually forthright in his address at the presidential palace.
South African opposition figure Malema sentenced to five years in prison
Malema is appealing against the decision to prevent him from being taken to prison on Thursday.
Nigeria drops terrorism financing charges against ex-justice minister
Abubakar Malami was seen as one of the most influential ministers under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Chinese national given one year in prison for smuggling ants out of Kenya
Zhang Kequn was arrested in March while trying to travel to China with more than 2,000 live ants.
Nigerian with ‘natural explosiveness’ aiming for NFL spot
Hailed for his impressive physical attributes, Nigerian Uar Bernard is hoping to be drafted by an NFL side this month.
South Africa names apartheid-era politician as new ambassador to the US
Roelf Meyer played a key role as a negotiator during talks to end white-minority rule in South Africa.