Snapshots

Holding back the tears: A man mourns the death of Botswana's former vice-president Mompati Merafhe in Gaborone, capital of Botswana, on Jan 13. Koone Boikaego / Xinhua

Paperless education: South Africa's Deputy-President Cyril Ramaphosa promotes the launch of paperless education in Boitumeleng Secondary School in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Jan 14. Siyabulela Duda / Xinhua

Goal in sight: Cameroon's Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo celebrates his goal during a group match against Mali in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, on Jan 20. The match ended in a 1-1 tie. Li Jing / Xinhua

It's early days yet: Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria (right) of the People's Democratic Party embraces All Progressive Congress presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari at a general elections workshop on non-violence measures in Abuja, Nigeria, on Jan 14. Dare Sholarin / Xinhua

Making his vote count: Hakainde Hichilema, opposition leader of Zambia's United Party for National Development, casts his ballot at a polling station at Kabulonga Boys Secondary School in the nation's capital Lusaka on Jan 20. Zambia held presidential election on Jan 20. Peng Lijun / Xinhua

Well-deserved: Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner Caleb Mwangangi (second from right) celebrates after receiving the Sportsman of the Year Award during the 11th edition of the Sports Personality of the Year Awards in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on Jan 16. Allan Muturi / Xinhua

Tall task: A group of Chinese medical workers arrive in Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone, on Jan 14 to provide assistance at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, located some 30 kilometers from the capital. The team will be in charge of mobile medical laboratories aided by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the hospital's Ebola Observation and Treatment Center. Huang Hao / Xinhua