Africa’s week in pictures: 11-19 October 2023
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A selection of the best photos from the African continent and beyond.
![A worshipper sings and prays during a church service at the New Jerusalem Deliverance Ministry at the Fredrick Island community in Monrovia, Liberia - Wednesday 11 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/F64A/production/_131405036_01_gettyimages-1719479739_afp.jpg)
A day after Tuesday’s elections in Liberia, a man sings during a church service in the capital, Monrovia.
![Young men play football on the ground floor of an unfinished building in Clara Town, Monrovia, Liberia - Friday 6 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11D5A/production/_131405037_02_gettyimages-1712278230_afp976.jpg)
Footballers in Monrovia’s Clara Town play a game on Friday on the ground floor of an unfinished building.
![People in Kenya's Samburu region take part in a traditional dance, ahead of the Traditional Maralal Camel Race - Friday 6 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1446A/production/_131405038_03_gettyimages-1709064304_976.jpg)
On the same day, people in Kenya’s Samburu region take part in a traditional dance.
![People in traditional dress - one holding a camera - come to a racing area to attend the Maralal International Camel Derby, Yare, Samburu, Kenya - Saturday 7 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/16B7A/production/_131405039_04_gettyimages-1711986329_976.jpg)
Communities gather for the three days of cultural events – the main being the Maralal International Camel Derby, held on Saturday.
![A woman taking part in the Maralal International Camel Derby, Yare, Samburu, Kenya - Saturday 7 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/0FD2/production/_131405040_05_gettyimages-1711998044_976.jpg)
Competitors take part in the 10km (six-mile) race, which attracts thousands of visitors, including local and foreign tourists.
![South African cricketer Temba Bavuma signs autographs in Lucknow, India - Monday 10 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/36E2/production/_131405041_06_gettyimages-1727508838_976.jpg)
South African cricketer Temba Bavuma signs autographs for girls taking part in a cricket clinic in the Indian city of Lucknow on Monday on the side-lines of the World Cup.
![A chef makes couscous at the International Couscous Festival in Algiers, Algeria - Monday 10 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5DF2/production/_131405042_07_gettyimages-1719304064_976.jpg)
On the same day, a chef shows off a special technique at the International Couscous Festival in Algeria’s capital, Algiers.
![Ethiopia women in traditional dress in Bishoftu, Ethiopia - Sunday 8 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/AA1E/production/_131405534_efdbffac-b9da-4eed-a0d8-146b9ccbd627.jpg)
Sunday sees celebrations of Ethiopia’s annual Irreecha thanksgiving festival – celebrated by the country’s Oromo community.
![People and boats at Hora Arsad during the Ireecha festival in Bishoftu, Ethiopia - Sunday 8 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/D12E/production/_131405535_09_gettyimages-1712313726_afp976.jpg)
People, in traditional costumes, gather at Hora Arsadi, a sacred lake near the town of Bishoftu in the Oromia region.
![Irreecha festival participants putting grass in the lake and sprinkling themselves with water in Bishoftu, Ethiopia - Sunday 8 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11F4E/production/_131405537_10_gettyimages-1712314206_afp976.jpg)
In one Irreecha tradition, festival-goers immerse grass in the lake and sprinkle themselves with water to mark the end of the rains and the start of spring.
![Pro-Palestinian protest in Rabat, Morocco - Saturday 7 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1465E/production/_131405538_11_gettyimages-1712269220_976.jpg)
On Saturday, people in Morocco’s capital, Rabat, stage a protest in support of Palestinians after Israel launched air strikes on Gaza following a deadly attack by Hamas militants earlier in the day.
![A cyclist with a Palestinian flag in Mogadishu, Somalia - Thursday 12 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/16D6E/production/_131405539_12_somali_reuters9776.jpg)
On Thursday, a man cycles through Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, holding a Palestinian flag to express support for Gaza’s residents.
![A cyclist rides past a mural symbolising freedom and peace between Israel and Palestinians in Cape Town, South Africa - Wednesday 11 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11C6/production/_131405540_13_sa_reuters976.jpg)
The day before a cyclist in South Africa’s city of Cape Town rides past a mural urging freedom and peace between Israel and Palestinians.
![A police officer tries to remove an Israeli flag from a man in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa - Wednesday 11 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/38D6/production/_131405541_14_gettyimages-1719478798-afp976.jpg)
On the same day in Johannesburg, a police officer tries to wrest an Israeli flag from a man at a pro-Palestinian protest outside the US embassy.
![Jean sellers in Kampala, Uganda - Saturday 7 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5FE6/production/_131405542_15_gettyimages-1715406356_afp976.jpg)
Jean sellers are pictured at a market in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, on Saturday – a few days after a ban on imported second-hand clothes came into effect.
![Gendarmes fire tear during clashes with demonstrators in Antananarivo, Madagascar - Saturday 7 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/AD48/production/_131406344_16_gettyimages-1712249812_afp976.jpg)
On the same day, officers in Madagascar fire tear gas to disperse an opposition gathering in the capital, Antananarivo.
![Former Madagascar president and member of the opposition Marc Ravalomanana (R) and opposition figure Roland Ratsiraka (L) hold cauliflowers during a march in Antananarivo, Madagascar - Saturday 7 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/D458/production/_131406345_17_gettyimages-1712240351_afp976.jpg)
Opposition politicians, including ex-President Marc Ravalomanana (R), were marching holding cauliflowers that have come to symbolise police repression ahead of elections next month.
![A gay pride participant holding a rainbow flag and riding a horse in Gaborone, Botswana - Saturday 7 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/FB68/production/_131406346_18_gettyimages-1711558951_afp976.jpg)
On Saturday, someone takes part on horseback in the annual Pride March in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone. The country decriminalised homosexuality in a landmark decision in 2019.
![Two Muslim women taking part in an anti-LGBTQ march in Nairobi, Kenya - Friday 6 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/12278/production/_131406347_19_reuterskenya_976.jpg)
A day earlier, in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, women take part in an anti-LGBTQ march after a recent court ruling allowed gay and lesbian organisations to register in the country.
![A man blowing recycled glass in Kajiado, Kenya - Friday 6 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/14988/production/_131406348_20_gettyimages-1709171435_afp976.jpg)
On the same down in southern Kenya, glass is moulded at a studio in Kajiado that specialises in recycling.
![A sunset in Alexandria, Egypt - Sunday 8 October 2023](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/17098/production/_131406349_21_egypt_reuters976.jpg)
And women in the Egyptian city of Alexandria watch Sunday’s sunset over the Mediterranean.