Under the plan, the state pension will continue to rise each year in line with inflation or by 2.5% - but the annual earnings link will be dropped.

Described as a calm character, Promise Okoro's goat loves fried rice and has become celebrated locally.

The electoral commission said violence had "resulted in the theft of marked ballot papers".

It paves the way for the release of Succès Masra from prison where he had been sentenced to 20 years.

France is yet to comment on Yann Vezilier's pardon and previously called the accusations "unfounded".

Some see them as sinister or hunt them for ritual use but these birds play a vital role in nature's cycle.

Cameroon's president has been absent for two months while his team denies rumours about his health.

Foul play is ruled out in the record number of elephant deaths for decades in this area of southern Kenya.

The child stars tell the BBC of their excitement entertaining their biggest crowd yet at the World Cup final.

Mohammed Tahir has yet to comment on allegations he led a multi-million-dollar ring using torture to get money.

A 6,000km pipeline running along the Atlantic coast of 13 countries is to be built starting in 2028.

Eleven people, including children, died in the fire that also injured 19 others.

Production will stop for two years at the mine which employs more than 4,000 people.

Climate change, poor rainfall, deforestation, overgrazing and crop pests are to blame, say experts.

"I feel happy and elated… I feel joy," the head of the local teachers' union tells the BBC.

He is accused of using romance scams to defraud $8m, with the alleged profits flaunted on Instagram.

Many in Ghana feared his presence would lead to mass protests, and officials say it is postponed for now.

Upstarts Cape Verde make history twice with their World Cup debut then reaching the knockout stages.

It relates to a 17-year-old girl - four men including her father and husband face years in jail if convicted.

Edgar Lungu's family and the Zambian government remain in dispute 12 months after he died.

Aden Duale defied a High Court order to stop building work on a controversial US-funded facility.

Some victims said they chose not to speak out because they feared staff would cut off access to aid.

He follows the late great Papa Wemba in becoming a knight of the National Order of the Leopard.

As speaker, Sonko could use his position to challenge the policies of the president, his one-time ally.

Some speculate that El Malick Ndiaye stepped down so that ousted-PM Ousmane Sonko can take his place.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, which have devastated Mussa town in Borno state.

The blockade comes days after Mali's defence minister was assassinated in a series of nationwide attacks.

The group had said it would choose a new leader with the same title as Sarah Mullally, the first female head of the Church.

Seven men from Ghana were

Giving some newborns in Guinea-Bissau an established hepatitis B treatment but not others is

Madagascar's disaster management says roads are inaccessible with trees uprooted, power poles down and ninety percent of roofs ripped off.

Nairobi says it has shut down illegal recruiters and will urge Moscow to sign a deal banning conscription.

Regional powers Ecowas had previously warned junta head Horta N'Tam against such a long wait for elections.

Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba is accused by Burkina Faso of trying to kill current President Ibrahim Traoré.

The defence minister orders an inquiry into reports the military flouted orders to expel Iran from naval drills.

At least 19 people are now believed to have died in recent weeks in northern South Africa during floods.

The election is a rematch between Bobi Wine and Yoweri Museveni, who has been president for 40 years.

At least 13 people, including eight children, have been killed in the strike in el-Obeid city, medics say.

The peace-loving pachyderm and lager promoter was an icon of successful conservation, say officials.

At least 13 people are missing after armed men stormed a church, an official tells the BBC.

At least 70 homes have been inundated in Safi's old city centre, officials say.

Adonay Berhane, Wongelawit Gebre Endrias and four others are accused by police of undermining public morality.

Plotters misjudged the national mood and Benin's neighbours learnt from past errors, says analyst Paul Melly.

Anicet Ekane's lawyer says the family was given little explanation -