Focus on Africa

Two essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the news from Africa. Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna.

World Service,1052 episodes

Episodes

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South Africa’s township parents 'forced' to seek former white-only schools
South Africa's education system forces children on long commutes for better education
16 Jun 2025,29 mins
Are South African troops ‘stuck’ in DRC?
The first group of South African troops deployed to DRC is returning home
13 Jun 2025,30 mins
Why has Ghana’s nurse strike escalated?
Ghanaian nurses escalate strike action after government fails to implement agreement
12 Jun 2025,30 mins
Kenyan blogger dies in police custody
Who was Albert Ojwang, the Kenyan blogger who died in police custody?
11 Jun 2025,35 mins
Russia's Wagner Group leaves Mali
Russia says the paramilitary group Wagner has accomplished its mission in Mali
10 Jun 2025,33 mins
Uganda: World Bank lifts loan ban
The World Bank says it's lifting a ban on loans to Uganda
09 Jun 2025,27 mins
How is Africa affected by the US travel ban?
Mixed reactions from seven African countries whose nationals are on USA travel ban list
06 Jun 2025,32 mins
Lesotho: Why are mothers against 'bluetoothing'?
Drug users in Lesotho are ingesting using a method with a high risk of spreading HIV
05 Jun 2025,34 mins
Dozens killed in twin Mali attacks
Twin attacks on an army base in Timbuktu and central Mali leave dozens of soldiers dead
04 Jun 2025,31 mins
Africa to benefit most from Bill Gates fortune
Bill Gates says he plans to give most of his billion dollar fortune to Africa
03 Jun 2025,32 mins
Nigerian flooding kills at least 200 people
At least 200 people in central Nigeria known to have died following flash floods
02 Jun 2025,29 mins
Joshlin Smith: South Africa's human trafficking problem
The case of the missing 6-year-old Joshlin Smith exposes human trafficking in South Africa
30 May 2025,31 mins
US halts international student visa applications
US embassies to stop appointments for student visas. How is Africa affected?
29 May 2025,26 mins
African leaders attend Russia's Security Summit
Over forty African countries attend Russia's International Security Summit in Moscow
28 May 2025,34 mins
Uganda suspends German military co-operation
Ugandan army recently announced the suspension of military cooperation with Germany
27 May 2025,28 mins
Can the UN bridge the political divide in Libya?
The United Nations has warned that the unrest in Libya could ‘spiral out of control’
26 May 2025,30 mins
South Africa releases crime stats
South Africa crime: who suffers most from the extremely high rates of violence?
23 May 2025,34 mins
President Trump confronts President Ramaphosa
US President Donald Trump confronts South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa
22 May 2025,31 mins
Djibouti launches a crackdown on migrants
Djibouti has launched a large-scale crackdown on undocumented migrants and refugees
21 May 2025,29 mins
South Sudan: A country constantly in crisis
Why peace in South Sudan remains fragile
20 May 2025,32 mins
Child sex abuse uncovered in South Africa's illegal mines
A BBC investigation finds evidence of child sex abuse in South Africa's illegal mines
19 May 2025,26 mins
Why is Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré 'popular'
Why has Burkina Faso's junta leader captured hearts and minds around the world?
16 May 2025,37 mins
Mali’s junta dissolves all political parties
Mali's military junta dissolves all political parties and cracks down on dissent
15 May 2025,27 mins
Ethiopia: Why are health workers striking?
Health workers in Ethiopia demand better pay, working conditions and more benefits
14 May 2025,27 mins
More than 100 dead in Congo floods
Over 100 people dead after flooding in area near Lake Tanganyika in eastern DR Congo
13 May 2025,31 mins
Zambia: US cuts aid over 'thefts'
The US threatens to cut supplies of crucial medicines to Zambia over systemic theft
12 May 2025,34 mins
What do African youth want from Pope Leo XIV
Africa's Catholic population is growing fast, what do youth want from the new leader?
09 May 2025,32 mins
Women and the Catholic Church
A Congolese thelogian says more women should lead the Catholic Church
08 May 2025,36 mins
People smuggling between Eritrea and Kenya
What methods are used by people smugglers via a new route to beat police patrols?
07 May 2025,30 mins
Port Sudan: Explosions in Sudan's de facto capital
Multiple explosions have been heard in Sudan's de facto capital, Port Sudan
06 May 2025,33 mins