Focus on Africa

At least 38 people have died and scores more have been injured in a fire which tore through a prison in Burundi. At least 600 women and girls have been kidnapped and enslaved in the last three years by militants in Mozambique northern province of Cabo Delgado, a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) says. US Senator Chris Coons says he advised Ethiopia's PM Abiy Ahmed against waging war on TPLF in Ti...

Nigeria's High Commissioner to the UK has branded as "travel apartheid" the UK's decision to put the West African state on its red list, meaning travellers have to pay to isolate in a quarantine hotel. More than 180,000 people have signed petitions demanding justice after the death of a 12-year-old boarding school pupil in Nigeria.

The new coronavirus variant Omicron has now become dominant in South Africa and is driving a sharp increase in new infections, health officials say. The United Nations says Botswana has taken a significant step towards eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it has detected the Omicron variant in travellers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria last week. With three days to go to the presidential election in Gambia, We'll hear why people in ex president Jammeh's ancestral home support him.

Thousands of people are taking part in a protest in Sudan's capital Khartoum, against the country's military leaders. The Ugandan army has launched joint air and artillery strikes against the rebel group the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Those who bear the greatest responsibility for the crimes committed during the presidency of Yahya Jammeh in The Gambia should be prosecuted, according to head of a commission that has been looking into the events that took place during his 22-year rule. Campaigns against gender-based violence have made some gains, but the pandemic has put progress at risk, says Zebib Kavuma, UN Women Deputy Regio...

The COP26 climate summit in Glasgow is entering its final day, amid growing fears that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C is unlikely to be met. The US, UK and Norway, along with the European Union have criticised the move by Sudan's Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to name a new ruling council with himself as the leader and excluding civilian members of the previous council. The United States'...

FW de Klerk, the former president of South Africa and the last white person to lead the country, has died at the age of 85. We speak to Joseph Boakai, Liberia's former vice president. Does he have what it takes to win power from George Weah? A Sudanese a court has ordered the three main telecommunications providers to restore internet access in the country.

Guinea's military junta leader, Colonel Doumbouya holds meetings with religious and political groups ahead of announcing a transitional government. Plus an accountability group warns that the internet and phone blackout In Nigeria’s Zamfara state aimed at thwarting the activities of bandits, is also harming families and businesses. And DJ Edu catches up with popular Angolan singer Anna Joyce who h...

Col Mamady Doumbouya, who led the coup which ousted Guinea's President Alpha Condé, has begun to consolidate the takeover with the installation of army officers at the top of the country's eight regions and various administrative districts. Plus two Ugandan MPs are charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the mysterious killings in Masaka in the Central Region. And DJ Rita Ray g...

Zambia's new president has told the BBC that he has inherited an "empty" treasury, while "horrifying" amounts of money had been stolen. Nurses in The Gambia have started a three-day nationwide strike over non-payment of allowances approved in May.

Gunmen in Nigeria have freed a number of pupils who were kidnapped from an Islamic school in May, according to their head teacher. Why are women's and girl's reproductive rights under siege despite Kenya's new Constitution? We hear from an initiative in Somalia that could bring peace in the country through poetry.

Appeal Court judges in Kenya have upheld an earlier decision by a lower court blocking a government-backed plan to make fundamental changes to the country's constitution, calling the project "unconstitutional and unlawful." Authorities in Uganda have suspended the work of at least 50 local NGOs for various reasons including failure to register. Kenya has launched its first-ever national wildlife c...

Uganda will take in 2,000 Afghan refugees fleeing the crisis in their country. Refugees Minister Esther Anyakun told the BBC that President Yoweri Museveni agreed to take in the refugees at the request of the Americans. Kenya's Public Prosecutor orders the arrest of six Police officers linked to the death of two brothers. A Zimbabwean-led initiative aiming to put more girls in school has attracted...

Burkina Faso’s former president Blaise Compaore faces a military trial, accused of involvement in the killing of his predecessor Thomas Sankara. Plus, more than 40 people have died after their boat got into trouble between Yemen and Djibouti. And we meet the children’s author from Sierra Leone who wants to decolonise the alphabet.

Millions of Somalis face severe food shortages and hunger by the end of the year due to low rainfall and destructive locusts. Eritrean authorities release dozens of prisoners jailed for practising their Christian faith. And Uganda and Tanzania sign a long awaited oil pipeline deal.

Tanzania’s new President Samia Suluhu Hassan has outlined a shift in government policy in the areas of media freedom, Covid-19 response and foreign policy. Sudan has declared a state of emergency in west Darfur following deadly tribal clashes. And why Zimbabwe's once famed education system has become a pale shadow of its former self.

The Covid-19 crisis has been the big story of 2020 but how has Africa handled the pandemic, and amid the serious set backs have there also been some digital and technical gains? What opportunities will the African Continental Free Trade Area bring after it comes into effect in January 2021? How can Africa take charge of its own climate change policies? And is the continent ready for the fourth Ind...

From a prestigious award for standing up for science, to breaking barriers to become the highest ranking woman in the Nigerian police force, and the ultra-viral internet dance challenge, Jerusalema – in this special Christmas edition of the podcast we look back at the inspiring stories that made us all think, smile and laugh in an otherwise difficult year.

At least 15 top Kenyan government officials and businesspeople face prosecution in connection for alleged theft of tens of millions of dollars meant for Covid-19 supplies. Zambia’s credit rating has been downgraded over mounting debt crisis. We also meet the man responsible for carrying on the tradition of the talking drum.

The United States has imposed sanctions on the country's former First Lady Zineb Jammeh accusing her of corruption during her husband Yahya Jammeh's rule. The US treasury suspects her of helping the former president transfer money illegally, and controlling his assets abroad. Talks have continued between Mali's military junta and opposition parties to try break a deadlock over a proposed transitio...

Cameroon army launch operation dubbed "Bamenda Clean." It aims to restore order to the capital of the Northwest Region which the army claims has been the target of attacks by what it calls "terrorists and criminals". Zimbabwe bans mining operations in the country's national parks following an outcry over proposed mining activities in Hwange National Park by two Chinese companies. South Africa intr...

Uganda’s Deputy Labour Minister, Mwesigwa Rukutana was today charged of attempted murder following a shooting incident during NRM party primary elections at the weekend. Protesters in South Africa force the closure of Clicks chain stores because of an advert deemed to be racist. Zimbabwe journalist Hopewell Chin’ono narrates his arrest and prison ordeal.

African presidents are among world leaders calling for a free Covid-19 vaccine that should be made available worldwide. The European Union pledges 480 million Euros to help revive Sudan's struggling economy. Our Resident Presidents tell us why health experts aren’t their cup of tea.

Burundi has ordered four key staff members of the World Health Organisation to leave the country. Clashes in Sudan’s South Kordofan region leave at least 26 dead. Our listeners share their experiences of life under lockdown.