British journalist Mark Doyle, widely regarded as one of the foremost foreign correspondents of his generation, has died aged 67 after a short illness.

Doyle was best known for his reporting on conflicts across Africa during the 1990s and 2000s. He joined the BBC in 1986 after a period living in Africa, and was appointed East Africa correspondent in 1993.

He came to international prominence the following year, covering the Rwandan genocide — one of the defining news stories of the decade.

From 1997 to 2002, Doyle served as West Africa correspondent, reporting on Sierra Leone's brutal civil war and the aftermath of the conflict in Liberia.

BBC foreign editor Paul Danahar paid tribute following the news of his death, describing Doyle as a "legendary figure" and a "brilliant, brave, empathetic reporter."

Fellow correspondent Fergal Keane, who worked alongside Doyle in Rwanda in 1994, recalled the depth of his colleague's commitment. "He stayed longer than any of us," Keane said. "Those who were in that awful place at that awful time will know what Mark Doyle gave for the cause of truth and for the BBC."

Sir David Richards, who commanded British forces deployed to halt Sierra Leone's civil war in 2000, also praised Doyle's contribution. Sir David said Doyle's reporting helped persuade the UK government to mount a robust military intervention. "Hence the saving of thousands of Sierra Leonean lives that would otherwise have been at huge risk," he said.

In 2004, Doyle was awarded first prize at the UN Correspondents Association/UN Foundation Awards for his coverage of post-war Liberia.

He later became BBC World Affairs correspondent before retiring from the broadcaster in 2015.