War in the Democratic Republic of the Congo drew in the armies of numerous African states; the fighting and associated famine and disease caused millions of deaths.
The African Union was formally launched in Durban, replacing the Organisation of African Unity.
Following a 2011 referendum, South Sudan seceded from Sudan and became the newest UN-recognised country.
The largest Ebola outbreak in history, centred on Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, killed more than 11,000 people.
Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first Black president and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in Johannesburg at the age of 95.