Focus on Africa

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio has urged regional leaders to forge common understanding and develop strategies to address the challenges posed by Autonomous Weapons Systems. What are autonomous weapons and what sort of threat do they pose to West African countries? Also how the remains of thousands of enslaved Africans on St Helena is reconnecting this island to the rest of the world. A...

There have been heavy clashes between Amhara and Tigray in Ethiopia over disputed territory, according to reports. What's going on and how will it impact the country? Also why did the popular Nigerian preacher, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, spread anti-vaccine messages to his followers? And as the countdown to the Paris Olympics continues, can an African country host the games? Presenter: Richard Kagoe...

The United Nations received financial pledges of just over six hundred million dollars to help with Ethiopia's humanitarian crisis. It fell short of the one billion dollars the UN was seeking. Around 15 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in the country. Is the amount pledged enough and how will the funds be distributed? Also why is gambling on the rise on the continent, attracting youn...

The USAid Mission Director to Liberia Jim Wright has alleged that around 90% of pharmacies in the country are selling stolen medicine, donated by aid organisations. What's going on? Cattle rustling and banditry in northern Kenya is on the increase. What can be done to prevent this from happening? And a group of women accused of booing the Zimbabwean First Lady, Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, have been f...

Chad's interim President Mahamat Idriss Déby has begun campaigning ahead of the country's next presidential election, which is just three weeks away. He faces nine other candidates, including the junta-appointed Prime Minister Succès Masra. President Deby has pledged to strengthen security and guarantee Chad's peace and stability. Will he keep his promises? Also a look at Russia's growing influenc...

France is hosting an international conference on Sudan, one year after war broke out. It says, it's seeking much needed aid and attention. Observers say the Sudan crisis has been pushed out of the global conversation due to other ongoing conflicts. Will the conference make a difference? Why has Mali banned political activity and curtailed media freedoms? And cartoonist and satirist Jim Spire Ssent...

How the Chibok girls are getting on with their lives ten years on from when they were kidnapped Concern over cyber-crime in Zambia following the busting of a syndicate scamming innocent people And why African men are twice as likely to get prostate cancer than white men.

South Africa's electoral commission (IEC) has published final candidate lists for general elections. Former president Jacob Zuma is free to contest in May's poll. Should the governing ANC be worried? We learn about the illicit organ trade in Western Kenya, with some young people selling their kidneys. And why Ivory Coast has announced a ban on begging in the commercial capital Abidjan. Presenter:...

Warring parties in Sudan accused of killing civilians both deliberately and indiscriminately Calls for Tanzanian troops to be withdrawn from the Democratic Republic of Congo after three Tanzanian soldiers were killed there And what Eid Al Fitr celebrations hold for Afro-Palestinians in the Middle East?

Mozambican officials say that disinformation on cholera recently led to a ferry disaster in which more than 90 people died. Why is it still proving to be a challenge to control outbreaks of cholera in southern Africa? What can be done? How lack of basic hygiene in health facilities could be costing Sub-Saharan Africa billions of dollars. Popular Nigerian celebrity Bobrisky pleads guilty to abuse o...

Sierra Leone faces a rampant drugs abuse crisis which President Bio describes as an existential threat to the country Somalia and Turkey sign an agreement to collaborate on oil and gas exploration And we look at how a shortage of condoms is impacting HIV and AIDS cases in South Africa

Sierra Leone faces a rampant drugs abuse crisis which President Bio describes as an existential threat to the country Somalia and Turkey sign an agreement to collaborate on oil and gas exploration And we look at how a shortage of condoms is impacting HIV and AIDS cases in South Africa

An underage girl has been placed under police protection in Ghana after it emerged she had been married to a 63-year-old traditional high priest. There was public outrage after footage of the customary wedding went viral. The office of the priest defended the marriage, saying it was only ceremonial. What's going on? Also we hear a moving conversation between two Rwandans, 30 years after the genoci...

Gabon has opened up, what it calls, an inclusive national dialogue. Catholic Archbishop Jean-Patrick Iba-Ban who is leading the initiatve, said it should heal the wounds inflicted on the people of Gabon by former leaders who were more interested in power than the people they were called upon to lead. We'll hear analysis. Also Ghana's newly appointed health minister tells us how drones have revolut...

South Africa opens a new border authority to curb illegal crossings from neighbouring countries. We hear from the BBC team that visited a town on the border with Zimbabwe. Ghana's new health minister has published a new book on the lessons learnt from the Covid pandemic in his country, and the experience of fear, facts, faith and fortune. And we explore the global potential and profitability of Af...

Somalia's parliament has approved several constitutional changes which the government says are necessary to establish a stable political system. So what are the changes and why is it causing concern? Also why was Stanis Bujakera, a well known journalist in the Democratic Republic of Congo detained? And what's it like being a journalist in the DRC? And a conversation with wheelchair user, Adebola D...

Togo's parliament has voted for a new constitution which resulted in people taking to the streets in protest. The changes mean, parliament now has the power to elect the President for a single six-year term. It all sounds good in theory, so why are critics concerned? Also why does the United States and the United Nations refer to Guinea Bissau as a 'narco-state'? And the cost of cobalt mining in t...

Gambia's parliament is considering a bill, to reverse a ban on Female Genital Mutilation. If passed, Gambia will be the first country in the world to do this. Some Gambians say the ban violates their rights to practice their culture, others disagree. We'll hear from two women who share different views. Also the airspace dispute between Somalia and Somaliland continues. What's behind it? And a conf...

Cryptocurrency platorms are very popular in Nigeria, so why have Nigerian authoraties clamped down on cryptocurrency firms? And what's going on between the firm Binance and the Nigerian government? Also Mauritians once enjoyed a healthy economy but the Mauritian rupee has taken a hit. Why is that and what's been the impact? And how the London based play 'For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide...

Senegal has a new president-elect, 44 year old Bassirou Diomaye Faye. He is currently Africa's youngest democratically elected leader. Who is he and what are his plans for Senegal? Paying a ransom in Nigeria is illegal but out of sheer desperation, many family members still give money to hostage takers. A ransom negotiator tells us how it's done. And why some African countries, like Sudan and Keny...

Uganda's President 79 year old Yoweri Museveni, has promoted his son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to head the military. His promotion comes amid a major cabinet reshuffle in which five ministers were sacked. Mr Museveni has denied speculation that he is grooming him as his successor. What do Ugandans make of it? Also an analysis of the recently approved Rwandan bill that, Rwanda says, will ensure the s...

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo is once more throwing his hat into the ring. He's agreed to run in next year's Presidential election. He disputed the election results, back in the 2010 poll and that led to an outbreak of civil war in 2011. Thousands died or were displaced. What are his chances, this time round? Also a recent internet outage that affected West and Central Africa was caused...

Women have become constant targets of sexual violence in Sudan's conflict between the country's military and their former allies, a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces. We'll hear testimonies from young women and get reaction. Also, why is Ethiopia running out of medicines and what's been the impact? And the founders of Kugali, who produced the animation series IWAJU, tell us how th...

Outgoing president Macky Sall has refused to apologise for the political uncertainty he created when he tried to delay the country's presidential elections. In this special edition on Senegal, we ask if the Senegalese still trust their president? Do they believe in his credibility as leader? Also, ahead of the country's election on Sunday, how engaged are young people in the electoral process?

Yet another kidnapping in Nigeria's Kaduna State, where gunmen abducted around 100 people including women and children, that's according to local authorities. We hear a very brave and harrowing interview from a young woman who was taken by Boko Haram back in 2013, but had a lucky escape. Also Niger's military junta asks remaining US troops to leave the country. Why were they there in the first pla...