Focus on Africa

The United States said it was pulling the plug on millions of dollars' worth of aid to Zambia's health sector after the country failed to tackle 'systematic' theft of much needed medicines. The US Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gozales' said that the "difficult" decision was made after repeated warnings to the Zambian government, to safeguard vital drugs meant for the country's most vulnerable pati...

The Roman Catholic Church has a new leader, Pope Leo XIV. What do youth from the world's youngest Catholic population want? Why did billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates decide to close his foundation in 2045? And how are parts of Zimbabwe's capital tackling an infestation of bed bugs Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Richard Kagoe and Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Tom Kavanagh in London and Bl...

Sister Ngalula is the only African woman to be appointed to the Vatican’s International Theological Commission. She previously spoke to the late Pope Francis about the need for more female leadership in the church. She says, although many roles in the Catholic clergy are technically open to women, fear among cardinals and bishops is blocking their participation. We hear from Sister Josée Ngalula....

An investigation into a new dangerous people smuggling route through Northern Kenya. Why are large and ongoing protests continuing in Morocco?  And food fraud: what is it? And why is it dangerous? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Amie Liebowitz, Stefania Okereke and Tom Kavanagh in London with Blessing Adegroba in Lagos Technical producer: Jonathan Greer Senior Producer:  Paul Bakibinga Editors:...

Multiple explosions have been heard in Sudan's de facto capital, Port Sudan, for a third day in a row. Prior to the attacks the city had avoided bombardment and was regarded as one of the safest places in the war-ravaged nation. We hear analysis. Also, how and why Togo remains Africa's longest ruling political dynasties. And what is financial abuse and how to spot it? Presenter: Audrey Brown Techn...

Seychelles has long featured high in world press freedom rankings, but has the expulsion of a newspaper editor dented that image? We have a response from the government As a Ugandan UN judge is jailed for forcing her maid to work as a slave-does she have support back home? And we meet Princess Oluwayemisi Oki - the woman behind a movement of female tricycle riders in Nigeria's Ondo state Presenter...

Ivory Coast's main opposition leader Tidjane Thiam has been struck off the electoral list. The judiciary has declared he is ineligible to run in October's presidential election due to his citizenship. Tidjane Thiam also held French citizenship which he renounced in order to run for the presidency. A court this week argued, that the former Credit Suisse boss forfeited his Ivorian nationality when h...

Nigeria has appointed Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar as its 15th commander in its fight against militant jihadist insurgency. Why is it proving difficult to tackle? Why are healthcare workers in Mozambique on strike again? And plans to make refugee camps in Kenya self-sufficient after cuts in global aid Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Bella Hassan, Yvette Twagiramariya and Frenny Jowi Tec...

Guinean troops have fired shots in the disputed town of Yenga, which is on the border with Sierra Leone. What's behind this unprecedented development? Also why are farmworkers in Kenya occupying tea plantations owned by multinational companies? And why we should be eating more fermented foods.. Presenter: Audrey Brown Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Producers: Tom Kavanagh in London and Blessi...

Why is gender based violence at a pandemic level in Namibia. How can it be reduced? We meet Botswana's Bitcoin Lady who is educating people on cryptocurrency And we meet the artist who has designed more than 2000 album covers Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Richard Kagoe, Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lom...

In June last year, dozens of young Kenyans were killed and others wounded during days of anti -government demonstrations. The protestors wanted to occupy Kenya's parliament, to urge lawmakers not to pass a finance bill. Security forces protecting the premises opened fire at demonstrators, and at least three people were killed. No one has been held responsible for their deaths. An investigation by...

South Africa's finance minister drops plan to increase value-added tax (VAT), in a major climbdown to prevent the collapse of the coalition government. 10,000 illegal settlers reportedly removed from Ghana's largest forest reserve. And why is Uganda’s treasured shea butter becoming harder to harvest ? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagira...

In a stark warning, the head of the UN's food aid agency in Ethiopia said millions in the country are "one shock away from falling into a catastrophe". Zlatan Milišić's statement came as he announced that because of a lack of funding the World Food Programme was "being forced to halt treatment" for more than half a million malnourished women and children, starting from next month. How did Ethiopia...

Why were Tunisian opposition figures jailed on terror and conspiracy charges ? Are new cybersecurity laws in Zambia really aimed at quashing political dissent ? And Pope Francis remembered by someone who knew him Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers:  Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Tom Kavanagh, Victor Sylver, Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan in London Technical Producer: Philip Bull Senior Prod...

Haiti is facing a ‘point of no return’, says the UN's special envoy to the country, María Isabel Salvador. She also said that Member States must increase support to Haiti’s security forces, particularly the Multinational Security Support Mission, "not as a matter of choice but of necessity”. What does this mean for Kenyan officers on the ground? Also, Amnesty International says Ethiopia's so-calle...

Pope Francis visited Africa multiple times and the continent has one of the fastest growing Catholic populations in the world. As tributes pour in after the announcement of his death, we hear from our Global Religion reporter on what his legacy will be in Africa. What's behind the deadly clashes between nomads and farmers in Nigeria's Benue and Plateau states? And why hearing loss is becoming a si...

Sudan is facing the largest humanitarian crisis globally. As the country’s civil war enters its third year, the United Nations and Non-Governmental organisations say it civilians are continuing to pay the price, due to inaction. Humanitarians, some in the country, share their experiences. Also, what is the International Parliamentary group known as IPAC, and is China pressurising foreign politicia...

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have declared the formation of a rival government in areas under their control, will that change the course of the civil war that is now entering its third year? Will former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila who is planning to return to country, help to find a solution to the conflict with M23 rebels? Why are Kenyan ant...

An American pastor who was kidnapped by armed men during a church service in South Africa last week has been rescued following a "high-intensity shoot-out". Police say three people were killed. Josh Sullivan was found unharmed in the township in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province. Why is South Africa facing a rise in kidnappings? Also, why are women still dying during pregnancy and childbirth i...

Will African gold producers benefit from a surge in prices this year? There's been a price hike after the start of a global trade war An inquest into the apartheid-era death of Nobel laureate Albert Luthuli reopens nearly 60 years later People displaced by the Uganda oil pipeline complain that they ‘received inadequate compensation’ Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Focus on Africa Frenny Jowi, C...

The UN says more than 100 civilians, among them at least 20 children and a medical team, have been killed in a series of attacks in Sudan's western Darfur region. The attacks, on the city of el-Fasher and two nearby camps, Zamzam and Abu Shouk, have been blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). They say they've taken control of Zamzam, but denied reports of atrocities. Also, what's i...

More than 30 years after the genocide in Rwanda, the country has asked Britain to extradite six suspects on UK soil. Can the suspects face trial in UK for the alleged crimes? As Gabon seeks to transition to a democratic system, could the coup’s mastermind General Brice Oligui Nguema win a presidential election? And why migratory birds that flock to Uganda maybe endangered. Presenter : Audrey Brown...

A former Gambian soldier, Michael Sang Correa, is standing trial in a US federal court in Denver, Colorado. Correa faces charges of torture and conspiracy to commit torture. Who is he and why is he being trialled in a US court? Also, what to do about the widespread use of artificial intelligence among university students in South Africa? And as Ghana's Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey steps into her role...

With US-China tariff wars escalating- how could Tanzania benefit? Is South Sudan on the verge of a return to civil war? And why a TV dating show in Ethiopia is causing controversy. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers:  Frenny Jowi in Nairobi, Tom Kavanagh, Nyasha Michelle and Patricia Whitehorne in London and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga...

The US this week announced that it would revoke the visas of all South Sudanese passport holders. This was in reaction, to the refusal by immigration authorities at Juba international airport to accept a deported individual. Who is the man at the heart of the dispute and what options does South Sudan have? Also, why campaigners in South Africa are concerned over the use of hazardous pesticides and...