Focus on Africa

BBC

Three essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the news from Africa. Hosted by Audrey Brown. Five days a week, ready by late afternoon, Monday to Friday.

  • 31 minutes 57 seconds
    Sudanese women suffer sexual violence in Libya

    The UN refugee agency says more than 200,000 Sudanese have arrived in Libya since the start of the war. Women are amongts those hoping to find a better life there. Instead, the women say they have faced abuse and raped. Five women have told the BBC they were tortured and sexually abused in "rape rooms", and worse, that children have not been spared.

    Also, why are children not going to school in Nigeria? The country has some of the largest numbers of children out of school in the world. Why is that?

    And is smoking tobacco really in decline in South Africa? It was amongst the first countries in the world to heavily tax tobacco and introduce controls to rein in smoking in the early 90s.

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Nyasha Michella and Yvette Twagiramariya Technical Producer: Craig Kingham Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

    24 January 2025, 2:35 pm
  • 32 minutes 10 seconds
    Mobile tariff hike approved in Nigeria.

    Nigeria's telecoms regulator has approved a tariff hike by operators-customers are groaning.   A year after ground-breaking malaria vaccination campaigns were launched in Africa-we assess the progress.   And why is Benin granting citizenship to descendants of the victims of the transatlantic slave trade?   Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Blessing Aderogba. Yvette Twagiramariya and Blessing Hassan Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

    23 January 2025, 2:54 pm
  • 29 minutes 51 seconds
    Can Mozambique’s political leaders unite the country?

    Can Mozambique’s newly sworn in President Daniel Chapo and the main opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, put their differences aside for the benefit of the country’s future?

    The United Nations estimates that more than 50m children globally do not have birth certificates – and most of those children live in Africa. Why does having a birth certificate matter?

    And a special memorial has been unveiled in South Africa to remember the black soldiers who took part in the first World War.

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Alfonso Daniels, Nyasha Michelle and Victor Sylver in London. Frenny Jowi was in Nairobi Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

    22 January 2025, 4:05 pm
  • 35 minutes 8 seconds
    Nigeria approves Shell's exit from Niger Delta

    Nigeria approves Shell's watershed exit from oil-rich Niger Delta-but activists are not pleased.

    Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan receives an early nomination for being the ruling party's presidential candidate.

    And why are some African countries moving towards banning wigs in court?

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan and Sunita Nahar in London, Charles Gitonga in Nairobi and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

    21 January 2025, 3:14 pm
  • 29 minutes 50 seconds
    The tragic story of Samantha Pendo

    Why has the case against the Kenyan police officers allegedly involved in the death of six-month old Samantha Pendo been delayed yet again? Seven years on, her parents are still seeking justice after a court hearing into the case was adjourned for the third time.

    What happens to stolen funds and assets when they are recovered and repatriated to the country where they were taken from?

    And as President Trump begins his second term in office, will he make it a mission to end wars in Africa?

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Stephania Okereke, Nyasha Michelle and Kaine Pieri in London. Charles Gitonga was in Nairobi Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

    20 January 2025, 2:49 pm
  • 31 minutes 59 seconds
    Why Mali seized gold from a mining giant.

    Canadian mining giant Barrick halted its operations in Mali after the government seized gold stocks worth $245 million.

    What's the story behind the Nigerian words added to the Oxford English dictionary ?

    And what the death of the warlord turned politician Prince Yormie Johnson means for Liberia.

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Victor Sylver, Blessing Aderogba, Rob Wilson, and Nyasha Michelle in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer:Craig Kingham Editors : Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

    17 January 2025, 2:34 pm
  • 31 minutes 42 seconds
    What next for Mozambique?

    Mozambique’s new president, Daniel Chapo, has been sworn in, after winning a violently disputed election held in October last year. Many people have been killed in clashes with the police and the opposition is still calling for protests. So what next for Mozambique under President Daniel Chapo?

    How will the China-based online giant Temu, now operating in Nigeria, affect similar local companies?

    Also in the podcast, we hear from the Kenyan woman who spent eight years in a Malaysian prison – more than three of them on death row – after being convicted for trafficking drugs, but was released when an appeals court accepted she was an ‘innocent carrier’.

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Stephania Okereke, and Sunita Nahar in London. Frenny Jowi was in Nairobi Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

    16 January 2025, 3:50 pm
  • 29 minutes 42 seconds
    Bodies retrieved from South African mine

    Dozens of survivors and dead pulled from an abandoned South African gold mine

    How Russia is expanding its partnership in Africa's nuclear sector

    And ice hockey gains popularity in Kenya.

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Victor Sylver, Nyasha Michelle, Priya Sippy and Sunita Nahar Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi .

    15 January 2025, 2:52 pm
  • 29 minutes 57 seconds
    Kenyan court rules suicide criminalisation unconstitutional

    Kenya's high court has struck down a law that criminalised the act of attempting suicide. We hear from one of the petitioners who brought the challenge, on why the judge's ruling is important.

    Also in the podcast, we revisit the dumpsite in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, that collapsed and killed more than 30 people last August. How is the city managing its waste problem?

    And a shop owner tells us about the devastating impact of a fire at one of the biggest open air markets in Ghana, and efforts to rebuild the area.

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Sunita Nahar in London. Frenny Jowi was in Nairobi Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

    14 January 2025, 4:37 pm
  • 33 minutes 10 seconds
    MSF suspends activities in Khartoum hospital.

    Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) pulls out of the largest free hospital in Sudan’s capital Khartoum.

    Fears over a cargo of explosive fertiliser in a harbour in Ivory Coast

    And who are the Baye Fall muslims in Senegal?

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Amie Liebovitz and Nyasha Michelle in London and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Producer : Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

    13 January 2025, 2:24 pm
  • 27 minutes 14 seconds
    Who is behind the border attack in Benin?

    Benin forces have suffered heavy losses in an attack which the military chief described as 'a heavy blow'. The assault happened at one of Benin's most well-equipped military positions. So who was behind the attack and what does it tell us about Benin's security preparedness?

    Also in the podcast, after São Tomé and Príncipe's president fired the prime minister accusing him of failing in his job, are political tensions on the verge of being ignited in the central African island nation?

    And why is the South African government not able to provide better reliable water and sanitation? We hear from the deputy minister responsible for Water and Sanitation.

    Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Amie Liebowitz and Sunita Nahar in London Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Frank McWeeny Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

    10 January 2025, 3:15 pm
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