Focus on Africa

Where do you get your financial advice from? A report says Gen Z are nearly five times more likely to turn to social media than people in their 40s. On TikTok, the hashtag FinTok has over four billion views, with trends like girl math, loud budgeting and cash stuffing going viral. But are 'finfluencers' empowering the youth or exposing them to financial harm? We hear from 23-year-old Achiever Omoo...

Authorities in Kenya have assured the public that the country has enough fuel supply in the wake of global supply shortages caused by US-Israel Iran war. Kenya is among the African countries where buyers have been reporting a fuel shortage alongside South Africa, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We look at the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on Africa's oil supply. Also - we spe...

Have you ever wondered what life is like for Africans in the US who are threatened with deportation? Africans from Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Cameroon recently won a temporary reprieve in an ongoing legal battle with the Trump administration, which wants to terminate their Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS allows migrants at risk in their home countries to stay in the US. We speak to t...

The Ozoro fertility festival, a long-standing tradition in Delta state, southern Nigeria, has come under scrutiny after several videos online appeared to show men chasing after and sexually harassing women. Local police told local news channels that no formal report of rape had been made in connection with the festival. Witnesses, gender activists and local residents say that women were warned not...

A Tunis court has jailed 66-year-old Saadia Mosbah, who leads a migrant rights and anti-racism group called Mnemty, which is a civil society organisation addressing issues linked to racism in Tunisia. Her sentencing comes nearly two years after her arrest in May 2024. Tunisian authorities under President Kais Saied have intensified a crackdown on dissent with courts upholding convictions against a...

The Brazilian Butt Lift surgery is one of the fastest growing cosmetic surgeries in the world, but it is also one of the most dangerous. The risk of death from having a BBL is at least 10 times higher than many other procedures – that’s according to the UK’s National Health Service.  In several countries in Africa, the demand for BBLs is on the rise, but there are still challenges around regulatio...

At least 23 people were killed and over 100 injured in multiple explosions in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria, a long-time insurgency hotspot. We examine the effect of the attack on traumatised residents and how they are coping. In response, the Nigerian Army says its troops killed three senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders and more than 80 other militants in a major opera...

We examine the continent’s reaction after Senegal’s 1‑0 AFCON final win from 18 January was overturned, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) instead awarding Morocco a 3‑0 victory. CAF's disciplinary committee ruled that Senegal’s walk-off protest amounted to a forfeit following Morocco’s challenge to the initial decision. Senegal has now appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport....

Thousands of white South Africans abroad, including in the US, are returning home despite President Donald Trump alleging that they’re being targeted, a claim the South African government denies. At least 12,000 have checked their citizenship status in preparation for a permanent return. A South African relocation agency has reported a 70% surge in inquiries over the past six months. We explore wh...

The BBC’s Africa Eye embeds with Puntland forces in Somalia’s northeastern Al-Miskaad mountains as they fight Islamic State (IS) militants. Nearly a decade after its defeat in the Middle East, IS has spread across Africa. Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland has become a key hub, with the UN estimating that IS in Somalia was comprised of up to 800 fighters last year. Over half of these mil...

The Israeli military has carried out waves of airstrikes across Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, after Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah launched about 200 rockets into northern Israel. At least 687 people, including 98 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since then and 800,000 others have been displaced, according to Lebanese authorities. Caught up in this conflict are...

During a parliamentary session, legislators in Senegal voted on a bill that was introduced last month by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, doubling the penalty for same sex relationships that are already a crime in the West African country. People convicted under the new law will now serve prison sentences of between 5 and 10 years and face fines of up to 17,600 USD. We also look at why snakebite anti...

In this episode, we explore two important stories from Africa. First, Algeria’s parliament has passed a revised law criminalising French colonial rule. The amendments remove earlier demands for an official apology and reparations after the Senate requested the changes. The law still includes demands for compensation for victims of French nuclear tests in Algeria. We then turn to Tourette syndrome,...

In this episode, we look at the impact of the ongoing US–Israel war with Iran on neighbouring Middle Eastern countries. Africans in the region are caught in the crossfire, some have been evacuated by their governments, while others remain stranded. We speak to a young Ghanaian still in Bahrain and a Ugandan who has just returned home. We also explore Lesotho’s annual three-day Moshoeshoe Walk, whe...

In recognition of International Women’s Month, we speak to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization. We discuss women representation in leadership, the impact of the latest Middle East conflict on African economies and the shifting balance of global trade and Africa’s place in it. And, we also look at LGBTQ rights on the continent. In much of A...

As the US and Israel continue to strike Iran and Lebanon, and Iran targets Tel Aviv and US assets across the Gulf, we look at how Iran's African community has been affected. We hear from Priscilla Kounkou-Hoveyda, a film maker and the founder of the Collective for Black Iranians, which brings together the voices of Black and Afro-Iranians. Priscilla grew up in Iran to an Iranian mother and Congole...

As the US-Israel war with Iran escalates, its global effects are becoming increasingly apparent, particularly in the petroleum products supply chain. The situation follows the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route between Iran and Oman that handles the transit of more than 20 million barrels of crude oil daily. We take a closer look at how African countries are responding and how...

On this episode, we examine the future of the US-brokered peace deal after Washington sanctioned Rwanda’s defence forces and senior military officials over the eastern DR Congo conflict. Kigali calls the move is unfair and accuses the DRC of failing to meet its own commitments. Meanwhile, Ethiopia has opened its first unmanned police station in Addis Ababa, letting citizens report crimes digitally...

At least 24 African countries have signed controversial bilateral health agreements with the United States under Donald Trump’s new aid strategy, while others, including Zimbabwe, have rejected it. Supporters say it gives governments more control over their health systems, but critics question accountability, data protection and continued US influence. We unpack what the deal means and why it’s di...

As the US-Israel conflict with Iran intensifies, concerns grow over its effects on Africa, including the security and economic impacts. Thousands of Africans working or traveling in Gulf cities like Dubai, UAE, and Doha, Qatar, are already facing disruptions, with some reportedly stranded at airports. Meanwhile, several African countries have called for urgent de-escalation to prevent the crisis f...

Around the world, one in six people will experience infertility in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organisation. In Africa, there is still a lot of stigma that surrounds infertility, but now, more people are starting to speak out about their struggles on social media. Focus on Africa podcast host, Nkechi Ogbonna, sat down for a chat with Matshepo Segole, from Johannesburg, South Afri...

The president of Israel Isaac Herzog has just concluded an official state visit in Ethiopia. We look at the historic ties between the two countries, and what the visit means for the horn of Africa region. Also, a report by the Alliance for Malaria Prevention warns that progress made in containing the disease could be stalling due to global aid funding cuts. The report predicts that a reduction of...

In this episode, we look at what the release of lawyer Ahmed Souab means for freedom of expression and the people of Tunisia. The Tunisian lawyer and critic of he current government, has been serving a five-year sentence after warning that judicial independence in Tunisia was collapsing. His detention sparked anger among political and civil groups who saw it as part of a wider crackdown on dissent...

In this episode, we examine how Spain’s plan to offer over 500,000 migrants legal status will affect African migrants in the country. Following an announcement by Spain's government, several in support of the proposal say it’s practical and crucial for Spain’s economy, while critics warn it could encourage irregular migration. We speak to a young Nigerian man in the queue for documentation. And we...

For the second week, Gabon has suspended social media platforms like Whatsapp, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram - in a move it says is aimed at curbing the spread of false information and cyberbullying. What does this mean for the youth, as well as the right to access information in the country? And what does it take for an African athlete to make it to the Winter Olympics? We speak to 24-year-old...