Africa’s week in pictures: 12-18 May 2023

A selection of the best photos from across Africa and beyond this week.

Pastor Mackenzie’s Kenyan cult: The mother who fled Shakahola forest to save her children

A mother-of-five tells the BBC how she escaped a Kenyan starvation cult to save her children.

Mamelodi Sundowns: Guardiola fan Mokwena on ‘Pep-lite’ nickname

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena has been likened to Manchester City's Pep Guardiola for his style on and off the pitch.

Ghana IMF loan: Will $3bn solve the economic crisis?

Ghanaians are desperate for help but the intervention may not deal with problems in the long term.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Gabon president prompts Chelsea star’s international return

Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says "father-like" Gabon president prompted his decision to end international retirement.

Nigeria ambush: Four killed in attack on US convoy in Anambra

Washington says no US citizens were in the convoy attacked in the south-eastern Anambra state.

Sudan’s Darfur fighting: Why an accountant took up arms

Sudan's western region of Darfur has seen some of the worst fighting recently, including ethnic attacks.

Eight in 10 South African children struggle to read by age of 10

Eight in 10 students have issues with literacy, the lowest performance in a study of 57 countries.

Why Somalia’s once-banned boxing thrives in the former warzone

Somalia's only official boxing club offers a haven for a group of young people in Mogadishu.

Hilda Baci: I cooked for 100 hours to put Nigeria on the map

Nigerians cheer on chef Hilda Baci, who looks set to be a Guinness World Record holder.