Military authorities in coup-prone Guinea-Bissau have scheduled presidential and legislative elections for 6 December, despite calls for a swifter transition to civilian rule. Transitional President Horta N’Tam signed a decree on Wednesday after meeting members of the National Transitional Council,…

Benin’s president has appeared on television to reassure citizens of the West African nation that the situation was now “totally under control” following an attempted coup earlier in the day. “I would like to commend the sense of duty demonstrated…

Left-wing Cameroonian opposition figure Anicet Ekane has died in detention, five weeks after he was arrested, his lawyers and party have announced. Ekane, 74, was among the leaders of an opposition coalition who endorsed Issa Tchiroma Bakary in October’s presidential…

​​Senegal’s prime minister and Nigeria’s former president have both said they believe the ousting of Guinea-Bissau’s president this week was staged. Umaro Embaló’s apparent removal by the military on Wednesday came a day before authorities were due to announce election…

Warning: This story contains descriptions of torture and physical violence. Some readers may find it distressing. A shopkeeper has told the BBC how Russian mercenaries fighting jihadists in Mali carried out the cold-blooded murder of two men in front of…

Cameroonian opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who is contesting the outcome of the presidential election, has fled to The Gambia for his safety, The Gambian government has said. Tchiroma Bakary has insisted he is the legitimate winner of the 12…