Africa's top shots: 15-21 November 2019

A selection of photos from across Africa this week:

Fishermen from sea in Abidjan, Ivory Coast - Wednesday 20 November 2019Image copyright
EPA

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Ivorian fishermen return to shore in the main city of Abidjan on Wednesday…

Miss Nappy contestants hold out bowls during the event in Abidjan, Ivory Coast - Saturday 16 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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In the city on Saturday, women take part in a beauty contest known as Miss Nappy. The term “nappy” is used across Francophone Africa as a term for natural hair.

A giant puppet of Amílcar Cabral seen on the streets of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau - Thursday 21 November 2019Image copyright
EPA

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A giant puppet of the late Amílcar Cabral, who led the fight against Portuguese colonial rule in Guinea-Bissau, is out on the streets of the capital amid election campaigning on Thursday…

People clinging on to a billboard during a rally for presidential candidate Idrissa Djalo in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau - Tuesday 19 November 2019Image copyright
EPA

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After weeks of political turmoil, the nation heads to the polls this coming Sunday. There are 12 presidential candidates – all hoping to get more than 50% of the vote.

Voters pose with their identity documents during the Sidama referendum in Hawassa, Ethiopia - Wednesday 20 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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It is all smiles in the Sidama zone of southern Ethiopia on Wednesday during a referendum on whether the people living there should have their own regional state.

Umbrellas seen during an anti-government protest in Algiers, Algeria - Friday 15 November 2019Image copyright
Reuters

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On Friday, demonstrators in Algeria march amid heavy rain in the capital, Algiers, calling for a boycott of the election set for December – eight months after Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned as president.

Supporters of ex-President Omar al-Bashir demonstrating in Khartoum, Sudan - Saturday 16 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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Sudan has also seen the departure of a long-time leader this year. But these women are supporters of Omar al-Bashir, protesting outside a court in the capital, Khartoum, on Saturday where the ex-president is facing trial.

Children releasing red and green balloons in Marrakesh, Morocco - Wednesday 20 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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It is all smiles on Wednesday in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, where children release balloons during events to mark World Children’s Day.

A market woman folding cloth at her stall in Monrovia, Liberia - Tuesday 19 November 2019Image copyright
EPA

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The day before in a market in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, a woman folds African print cloth, known as “lappas”, the European Pressphoto Agency reports.

Egyptian actress Menna Shalaby (L) receives an award for excellence from Tunisian actress Hend Sabry (R) in Cairo, Egypt - Wednesday 20 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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It is all glitz and glamour at the Cairo International Film Festival on Wednesday, where Egyptian actress Menna Shalaby (L) receives an award for excellence from Tunisian actress Hend Sabry.

A woman in a pink head scarf with reflective sunglasses dances at the Dunes Electronique music festival in Ong Jmal, Tunisia - Saturday 16 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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A woman dances on Saturday at the Dunes Electronique music festival held in Ong Jmal in south-western Tunisia…

People around a fire at the Dunes Electronique music festival in Ong Jmal, Tunisia - Saturday 16 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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It is a two-day festival in the Sahara desert, which was had a three-year hiatus because of jihadist violence in the region…

Men dancing at the Dunes Electronique music festival in Ong Jmal, Tunisia - Saturday 16 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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It takes place on a former Star Wars film set, where US director George Lucas created the desert planet of Tatooine.

Police officers watch supporters of Zimbabwe's Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) gathering outside the party's headquarters in the capital, HarareImage copyright
EPA

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Police officers watch supporters of Zimbabwe’s Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) gathering outside the party’s headquarters in the capital, Harare, on Thursday…

A riot police officer attacks a woman in Harare, Zimbabwe - Wednesday 20 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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The opposition party supporters had come to listen to a speech by their leader, but officers forcefully dispersed the crowd.

Farmer use oxen to plough a field in Chishawasha, Zimbabwe - Tuesday 19 November 2019Image copyright
EPA

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A day earlier in Chishawasha, near Harare, Zimbabwean farmers start to prepare fields for the planting of maize.

Foreign nationals seeking refugee inside the Methodist Church in Cape Town, South Africa - Friday 15 November 2019Image copyright
AFP

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Migrants in South Africa take refuge in the Methodist Church in Cape Town on Friday. They want to be removed to another country because of recent xenophobic violence.

Cyclists seen in Johannesburg riding over the Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg, South Africa - Sunday 17 November 2019Image copyright
EPA

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And cyclists ride over the Mandela Bridge in South Africa’s main city of Johannesburg on Sunday during a 94.7km (58.8-mile) race known as the 947 Cycle Challenge.

Pictures from AFP, EPA and Reuters

source: bbc.com