Focus on Africa

Malawi's government is demanding billions in unpaid taxes and royalties from a US-based gemstone company for rubies exported over the last 10 years. The companies deny the claims The tale of the child bride social media sensation in South Sudan. And a couple share their painful experience with infertility Presenter Audrey Brown Producers: Susan Gachuhi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Stefania Oker...

Piracy off the coast in Somalia, had cost the global economy around 7 billion US dollars just over a decade ago. Since then, international security patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean shipping lane all but eliminated piracy. But in recent months, there’s been a resurgence off the coast of the autonomous region of Puntland. Why is that? Also, what's behind the fire at the parliamentary bui...

An underfunded and undermanned contingent of 400 Kenyan police are on a mission to quell gangs in Haiti. How are they coping? More Somali migrants stranded in Libya return home. And Algerian Kamel Daoud was recently awarded a top French prize for his novel Houris- why is it banned in Algeria? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Amie Liebowitz in London and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Senior Produce...

Over a thousand Sierra Leoneans were recently arrested on the streets of Conakry in Guinea and deported. Sierra Leoneans reciprocated with their own deportation of Guineans. This all resulted in a diplomatic spat between the two countries. We'll get the details. Also is Kenya really increasing state surveillance of its citizens? We'll hear government response to these claims And a fresh start for...

The World Health Organization recently published its first-ever report on drowning prevention. The rates are highest in Africa-with Uganda one of the highest And a Ghanaian shares his close encounter with jihadists in Burkina Faso Are there academies in Nigeria where people are taught online scamming? Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producers: Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi, Blessing Aderogba in Lagos and A...

Residents of Mayotte have spoken of "apocalyptic scenes" caused by the worst storm in 90 years to hit the French Indian Ocean territory. Twenty people have been confirmed dead, but local authorities say that number could rise into thousands. We'll look at the impact. Also a look at the painful legacy of landmines in Africa and why campaigns to end their use is always welcome And the life and times...

Ethiopian authorities have reportedly deported hundreds of Eritreans. Many Eritreans there are refugees who fled forced military conscription and government oppression We hear about the lives of Syrians who fled war at home for a new life in Somalia Why did China give the least developed countries it has diplomatic ties with tariff free access.? Presenter Charles Gitonga Producers: Sunita Nahar an...

Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to end their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa's plans to build a port in the breakaway republic of Somaliland following talks in Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the "historic agreement", which he said would eventually ensure landlocked Ethiopia's access to the sea. How significant is this? Also what's keeping protestors on the streets of Moza...

Zambia's constitutional court says former President Lungu is ineligible for re-election.  He alleges political interference We'll look at Operation Serengeti, a multinational attempt to stamp out cybercrime Plus, a BBC investigation into how influencers are spreading disinformation on women's health on TikTok Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Victor Sylver and Yvette Twagiramariya in London and C...

Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso, is visiting Libya, in his capacity as chairman of the African Union's committee on the Libyan crisis. His aim is to get the country's rival governments, led by Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah in the west and Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the east, to the reconciliation table. Does the AU have any influence in Libya? Also why are young women in Kenya opting for...

After two previous attempts, John Mahama is set to make comeback as Ghana's president. He was the country’s leader from 2012-2016. Ghana’s economy is struggling and corruption endemic. Political  analyst  Nansata Yakubu explains the huge expectations on a Mahama presidency  over the next four years. The menstrual health taboos facing African women athletes And the flaw with Africa’s big infrastruc...

The BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet has recently returned from Sudan. It's her second visit to the country since April 2023, when the war broke out between the government army and the paramilitary group, the RSF. Lyse says, the humanitarian sitaution in the country is far worse now than it's ever been. She met and spoke to people displaced by the conflict, including women and c...

Namibia has elected its first female president, who is she, and what cultural and political obstacles will she need to overcome? How the rape of a woman in Mauritania has sparked national protests and reflection As surrogacy becomes common in Nigeria, there is a new bill to regulate the practice. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers :Bella Hassan, Sunita Nahar and Rob Wilson in London.  Blessing Ader...

Ghanaians are preparing to vote in their presidential election this Saturday. The election is being contested between vice-president Mahamudu Bawumia and former president John Mahama. What are the key issues voters will be focusing on? Also, Sierra Leone's desire to return to being a rice exporter, instead of importing the country's most favourite food And French President Macron's pivot towards a...

Nigeria air strikes: Tudunbiri village continues to mourn dozens of deaths and cope with injuries one year later on We look at the impact of mercury poisoning caused by illegal mining in southwestern Ghana And how easy is it for you to travel to another African country? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan and Amie Liebowitz in London., Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Senior Producer: Paul...

US President Biden is in Angola for what is likely to be the final foreign trip of his presidency. It’s his first visit to Sub- Saharan Africa and it's part of a promise the president made, during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in 2022, to travel to the continent. But, it comes almost at the end of his tenure, so what does the president's trip to Angola say about the US Africa policy? Also, we'll he...

Negotiators in the South Korean city of Busan are trying to reach the first ever a global treaty on plastic. How stress from climate change is leading to increased violence against women. And a film maker’s odyssey to preserve the legacy of a local Ugandan photographer. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson, Nour Abida and Nyasha Michelle in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Produ...

There are now 35 million people internally displaced across the continent, that's according to a recent report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. That's a threefold increase since 2009, when African governments signed a landmark deal legally binding countries to try and tackle the causes of displacement. So why is there an increase? Also, we'll hear from Leila Soueif, the Egyptian mot...

Militant Islamists involved in another deadly attack in Nigeria’s Borno State. Why is the army still battling these insurgencies? South Africa opposition parties seek to revive impeachment proceedings against President Ramaphosa Why does President Felix Tshisekedi want to change the Congolese constitution? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson, Nyasha Michelle, Sunita Nahar and Frenny Jowi...

Namibians will head to the polls on Wednesday in what is expected to be the most competitive election yet for the ruling SWAPO party, which has governed the country since independence. We'll get analysis and hear from young voters. Also young Nigerians caught up in the gold rush in rebel controlled areas in Mali. But do they know that the sale of gold is funding something sinister? And why the gra...

A court in Zimbabwe recently convicted dozens of opposition politicians belonging to the Citizens Coalition for Change party for holding an illegal gathering. Is the party facing a clamp down from Zanu-PF? How the church is trying to navigate governance challenges for Kenya and Africa Plus, lessons the South African city of Cape Town learned about water security from the 2018 drought Presenter Cha...

Mali has appointed its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as prime minister a day after firing its previous leader, Choguel Kokalla Maïga and his government. This came after rare criticism by Maïga of the junta.  What's really behind the reshuffle? Also did you know that Ethiopia is a major hub for bitcoin mining? And how the world of sport is doing its bit for the climate crisis! Presenter: Charles G...

South Africa takes over the G20 presidency from Brazil for a year. Will Africa benefit from this? How organised crime benefits from trafficking electronic waste to Ghana. And Somalia's Finance Minister on the benefits of debt forgiveness. Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Bella Hassan, Amie Liebowitz, Joseph Keen and Paul Bakibinga in London. Technical Producer: Phi...

Russia vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution which called for a ceasefire in Sudan.  It was proposed by the UK and Sierra Leone, calling on both sides to immediately halt hostilities and start talks aimed at agreeing a national ceasefire.  Why did Russia veto it?   Also, the online trend that has Nigerians furiously tapping their phones   And the Ghanaian-British musician Fuze ODG explains...

Was India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nigeria about lobbying for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council? Why are some young TikTokers in Uganda being jailed? And why thousands of indigenous, sacred  baobab trees are under threat in the Limpopo region of South Africa. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers : Sunita Nahar, Susan Gachuhi and Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca...