South Africa's high school pass rate rose slightly in 2012, results showed Wednesday, but science and mathematics scores point to problems still haunting the education system in Africa's economic powerhouse.

The Kora Awards, dubbed "Africa's Grammys", will take place Sunday in Abidjan, organisers said, after confusion about when the event would happen and when its star -- US rapper Chris Brown -- would arrive in Ivory Coast.

The Kora Awards, dubbed "Africa's Grammys", have been postponed until Monday because Chris Brown, the US rapper headlining the event, missed his flight, organisers said.

The government of the Central African Republic and the rebel coalition Seleka have agreed to talks without pre-conditions, Guy-Pierre Garcia, the deputy secretary general of the Economic Community of Central African States, said Friday.

Mali's government on Friday hailed UN Security Council approval for an African-led military force to reconquer the north from Islamist militants as a sign that the world would not abandon the country.

The UN Security Council unanimously approved sending an African-led military force to help reconquer northern Mali from Islamist militants.

The UN Security Council unanimously approved sending an African-led military force to help reconquer northern Mali from Islamist militants.

The UN Security Council is expected to vote Thursday on plans for an African-led military intervention to chase out Islamist groups controlling northern Mali, an operation some analysts warn is doomed to fail.

The UN Security Council could vote Thursday on a resolution allowing the deployment of an African force in Mali to prepare an offensive against Al-Qaeda linked militants, diplomats said.

South African president Jacob Zuma scored a thumping victory in the ANC's leadership contest Tuesday, opening the way for him to lead Africa's largest economy until 2019.

Mali's new Prime Minister Diango Cissoko started drawing up a new unity government Wednesday that could bring the consensus needed to launch a foreign military intervention in the Islamist-occupied north.

Mali's new Prime Minister Diango Cissoko started drawing up a new unity government Wednesday that could bring the consensus needed to launch a foreign military intervention in the Islamist-occupied north.

Ivory Coast Foreign Minister Charles Koffi Diby urged the UN Security Council on Monday to approve "in the coming days," an international force to confront extremist groups in northern Mali.

Around 1,000 people marched on Saturday through the streets of Bamako to demand a swift international intervention to reclaim northern Mali, which armed Islamist groups have been occupying for eight months.

Ghana voted in a high-stakes presidential election on Friday which is expected to be close, with the emerging country seeking to live up to its promise as a beacon of democracy in turbulent West Africa.

The United States has raised strong doubts that a planned African-led intervention force will be tough enough to tackle Al-Qaeda linked militants in Mali, diplomats said.

Ghana voted in a high-stakes presidential election on Friday which is expected to be close, with the emerging country seeking to live up to its promise as a beacon of democracy in turbulent West Africa.

Ghana began voting in a high-stakes presidential election on Friday which is expected to be close, with the emerging country seeking to live up to its promise as a beacon of democracy in turbulent West Africa.

The United States has raised strong doubts that a planned African-led intervention force will be tough enough to tackle Al-Qaeda linked militants in Mali, diplomats said.

Mali on Wednesday appealed to the UN Security Council to urgently approve an international force against Islamist militants and rebels who have taken over the north of the country.