Africa in 2005
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The year began with a deal to end 21 years of war in southern Sudan. But these schoolchildren in the southern capital, Rumbek, know a lot of hard work remains to be done. -
Africa's longest-serving leader, Togo's Gnassingbe Eyadema died in February. His son, Faure Gnassingbe, won elections but the opposition cried foul and called street protests. -
Kebbi, in north-western Nigeria, was the place to be in March. Thousands flocked to the Argungu Fishing Festival. The man who caught the biggest fish won a bus and a cash prize. -
The world's worst outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus continued to ravage parts of Angola in April. Officials told residents to stop the ritual washing of dead bodies. -
In May, thousands of Zimbabwean houses were demolished, officially because they lacked permits. This was condemned by the UN, which said 700,000 people were affected. -
Protests at disputed polls also turned ugly in Ethiopia - at least 36 people were killed in June and more than 40 died in November. At least 10,000 people were arrested. -
In July, Kenyan MPs altered a draft constitution, later rejected in a referendum. To help voters, bananas and oranges were used by the "Yes" and "No" campaigns. -
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan visited hunger-hit Niger in August. Hundreds of children died but the Niger government denied the problems were any worse than usual. -
In September, extra Spanish troops were sent to its North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla as hundreds of African migrants stormed the fences. At least five people were killed. -
There has not been much to cheer in Ivory Coast recently, but in October they qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Angola, Ghana and Togo are Africa's other 'World Cup virgins'. -
Women across Africa celebrated when Liberia's Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (centre) became the continent's first elected female head of state. But she has a huge task ahead. -
In December, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye qualified as a presidential candidate, even though he was in prison on treason charges. He was represented by his wife.