A selection of the best photos from the African continent and beyond.
Image source, Luis Tato/AFP
Students shelter from the sun during celebrations on Tuesday to mark Kenya's 60 years of independence in the capital, Nairobi.
Image source, Simon Maina/AFP
A designer parasol is on display during a show on Saturday in Nairobi for Africa Fashion Week.
Image source, Carmen Abd Ali/AFP
On the same day, models wait backstage at a hotel in Senegal's capital during a show for Dakar Fashion Week...
Image source, Cem Ozdel/Getty Images
Another model at the event is pictured backstage with a juxtaposition of ear accessories.
Image source, Ziad Ahmed/Getty Images
Barbie fans should be impressed with the ink used across Egypt to stain fingers during its three-day election. Here a woman in Cairo dips in on Tuesday after voting.
Image source, Abdel Hadi Ramahi/Reuters
The day before, ambulances and lorries with aid are pictured at Egypt's Rafah crossing waiting to enter the Gaza Strip.
Image source, Fadel Senna/AFP
A woman takes part in a pro-Palestinian protest in Morocco's capital, Rabat, on Sunday calling for an end to Israeli attacks in Gaza.
Image source, Ahmet Emin Donmez/Getty Images
On Tuesday, people queue to buy petrol in Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé - where many garages have shut because of a chronic shortage. The government blames bad weather for delaying imports by sea.
Image source, Legnan Koula/EPA
The next day, a man walks past the ruins of a hotel in Ivory Coast's beach resort of Grand Bassam that was abandoned after it was damaged by high tides in August.
Image source, Issfou Djibo/EPA
A supporter of Niger's junta takes part in a protest in Niamey on Saturday against regional sanctions imposed after July's coup with a sign that reads in part: "Down with the traitors of the nation".
Image source, Vining Ogu/Reuters
On the same day in Nigeria, a dog - dressed in an Igbo chieftaincy outfit - has his cap adjusted at the Lagos Dog Carnival.
Image source, Miguel Medina/AFP
Girls see the funny side as they are photographed on Friday during the visit by France's prime minister to Mayotte, the French island that is part of the Comoros archipelago.
Image source, Nipah Dennis/AFP
This is one of many billboards of a masked face that have popped up in Ghana's capital, Accra. Pictured on Wednesday, it is suspected to be a teaser for a new entrant to the political scene.
Image source, Guerchom Ndebo/AFP
South Sudanese soldiers are seen on a plane in Goma as they leave the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday after serving in a regional force that has been kicked out.
Image source, Esa Alexander/Reuters
South African police clash with residents of an informal settlement in Cape Town during a clampdown on illegal electricity connections on Tuesday.
Image source, Roberta Ciuccio/AFP
Ballet dancers perform the Nutcracker on Friday at the zoo in the South African city of Johannesburg…
It is part of Joburg Zoo's Festival of Lights put on every Christmas.
Image source, Rajesh Jantilal/AFP
The festive spirit is on display at a marine park in South Africa's coastal city of Durban, where swimming Santas greet guests on Thursday.
Image source, Aaron Ufumeli/EPA
And a vendor arranges Christmas trees for sale on Tuesday along a street in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare.
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