Focus on Africa

Who is Massad Boulos the man steering the US and the DR Congo towards a mineral deal? What's Uganda's role in the DR Congo crisis? And are African youth more resilient than their western peers? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi, Blessing Aderogba in Lagos with Tom Kavanagh and Amie Leibowitz in London. Technical Producer: Philip Bull Senior Producer: Pau...

We take a closer look at the impact of the newly imposed US tariffs and hear from Lesotho - at 50% it is one of the hardest hit countries. Does the small landlocked country have a backup plan for its industries? Algeria says it shot down a military drone near the border with Mali, while Mali says one of its unmanned aircraft crashed. The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Algeria and...

Are benefits from the African Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa)  dead in the water after steep US tariffs on Africa are announced? Senegal's parliament approves revisions to a controversial amnesty law And raising awareness of autism in Somali culture Presenter : Audrey Brown Producers: Daniel Dadzie,  Bella Hassan, Ash Mohamed and Yvette Twagiramariya Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Senior P...

The president of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, will soon be stepping down from the role after serving the maximum two terms. In an interview with podcast host Audrey Brown, he reflects on the achievements and challenges of the past 10 years in office. A new study reveals the pitfalls and barriers limiting women entrepreneurs from growing their businesses online - so how can these...

Somalia offers the US full control over the airbase and port of Berbera in Somaliland The juntas in West Africa impose tariffs on imported goods from Ecowas countries - what effect will this have. Can music cheer up Sierra Leone - reportedly one of the most unhappy places on the globe? Rapper Drizilik thinks so. Presenter: Wahiga Mwaura Producers: Bella Hassan, Daniel Dadzie and Yvette Twagiramari...

A BBC investigation has found the UK visa system is being undermined by scammers who are swindling migrants out of thousands of pounds, by promising them jobs in Britain which often do not exist. We hear more from the BBC Africa Eye reporter. Why is Kenya risking the wrath of Serbia, considered to be an ally, by recognising Kosovo and its claim to independence from Serbia? And why is Ghana's Chief...

The UN warns that tensions and use of forbidden weapons are pushing South Sudan to the brink of another civil war Why is the army in the DR Congo unable to defend its citizens and territory? As Uganda's high court rules that names of landmarks and roads in the capital should be 'decolonised'- one lawyer begs to disagree Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Sunita Nahar, Patrici...

Sudan's army has chased out the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces from the capital city, Khartoum - but how significant is this development, and could it signal a major breakthough in the two year war? We hear from Mohanad Hashim, who is from the capital and has been following the war since it began. He has just returned from a trip there. Why has Burkina Faso’s military rulers disbanded the count...

Burundi's president alleges that Rwanda plans to attack his country. Why are relations poor between the two nations? How crypto mining is bringing power to rural Zambia. And can animation be a tool for political and social change ? Views from an award-winning Ghanaian animator-Francis Yushau Brown Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Daniel Dadzie Senior Produc...

A Sudanese commander accuses Chad of allowing the United Arab Emirates to use Chadian airports to supply weapons to rebels in Sudan. But where's the evidence? Also in the programme: Eritrea kicked out USAID in 2005. Two decades on, what impact has it had? And the Kenyan woman who defied tradition and paid her own dowry. Presenter : Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi and Stefania Okreke Senior Pro...

A vibrant river reportedly ‘died' overnight in Zambia after an acidic waste spill at a Chinese-owned mine How the Sudan crisis is affecting gum arabic production And can AI help African farmers produce more? Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Amie Liebowitz and Bella Hassan. Senior Producer : Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Editors: Andre Lombard and Ali...

Kenya and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will discuss a new lending programme and abandon the current one, as the country struggles to get its economy back on track. Kenya needs continued financial support from the fund to keep up with debt repayments that have accumulated as a result of heavy government spending in recent years. What does a fall out with the IMF mean for Kenya? Also, why w...

Why are Al Shabab jihadists intensifying attacks near Somalia's capital Mogadishu ? Lessons for Africa from the covid pandemic 5 years on. We meet the inspiring mother-daughter duo gearing up for the Safari Rally in Kenya. Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers : Alfonso Daniels, Khadra Salad, Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke and Bella Hassan in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technica...

The Democratic Republic of Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame have called for an "immediate ceasefire" in eastern DR Congo, following talks in Qatar. It's the first time the two leaders have met since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels stepped up an offensive in the region, where authorities say seven thousand people have been killed since January. Will the ceasefire...

Angola recently refused entry to opposition leaders from across Africa. Why is South Africa's ambassador to the United States 'no longer welcome’? And Nigeria is projected to witness an obesity explosion in the next 30 years-why? Presenter : Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi, Yvette Twagiramariya and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Editors: Andre...

Ethiopia and Eritrea could be headed towards war, according to regional experts and officials. The warnings stem from fresh instability in Ethiopia's Tigray region, where a civil war from 2020-2022 resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. What's behind the recent tension? Also, why is there a rise in the number of women being imprisoned? And we consider the legacy of the internationally acclai...

France's far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, is visiting Chad this weekend where she will meet President Mahamat Déby. It's her second visit following a meeting with Déby's late father, President Idriss Déby, in 2017. Why is the French opposition leader back in Chad? Also, why do some African parents choose to send their children back home to Africa for school? And the blind football coach in Tanzani...

Last week Nigerian lawmakers suspended senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after she alleged being sexually harassed by the senate president, Godswill Akpabio. He strongly denies the allegations. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has now made an impassioned plea at the UN, calling for better treatment of women in politics. What's it like for women in politics in Nigeria? Also what's the controver...

South Sudan’s unity government, led by President Salva Kiir with former rebel leader, Riek Machar as First Vice President, is facing mounting tensions, and clashes between forces allied to the president and first vice president are threatening a fragile power-sharing agreement. Could the young nation be heading towards a new civil war? For the first time in 17 years, Libya is calling on foreign co...

Sudan is taking the United Arab Emirates to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of supporting Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Khartoum argues the UAE is "complicit in the genocide" through military, financial and political backing for the RSF. The UAE has strongly rejected Sudan's allegations, calling the case a "cynical publicity stunt" and saying it will seek an immediate...

Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo has started a dialogue with opposition parties on ending post-electoral tensions and reaching a political compromise. But his main political opponent was not included. Can there be a compromise deal without the participation of Venancio Mondlane? Why do so many African women die of breast cancer? It is now one of the top causes of cancer deaths on the continent....

Calls for a ceasefire in Sudan during the month of Ramadan have been ignored. As the war approaches the three -year mark, those observing Ramadan in the country say, this year is the toughest yet. Also, the BBC's International correspondent Orla Guerin returns to DR Congo and tells us what's changed from the time she first reported from the country, more than 20 years ago And African authors on ho...

The Ecowas countries are aiming to roll out a regional single currency - the Eco - in 2027. But past launch dates have come and gone, so will they meet the new target date and will a single currency work? Malawi's agriculture minister refutes the claim that a global decline in tobacco use is affecting farmers in the country. But is his government also helping tobacco farmers to diversify? And Sout...

French Prime Minister François Bayrou recently announced that his government will be "re-examining" a 1968 migration pact which has historically made it easier for Algerians to settle in France. The announcement came after years of diplomatic friction, which seems to be escalating. What's going on? Also, Tanzania reverses the trend on maternal and newborn deaths. What are they doing differently? A...

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has withdrawn its mediation team from Guinea Bissau. Its mission was to help reach a political consensus on the elections, which were postponed by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. So will voting, pushed back to later this year, still go ahead? A BBC investigation finds that young women in Kenya are being lured into sexual exploitation on TikTok...