Focus on Africa

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.

World Service,683 episodes

Episodes

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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
Is press freedom declining in the Seychelles?
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says press freedom in Seychelles has declined
05 May 2025,30 mins
Ivory Coast: Why opposition leader removed from electoral list?
Why Ivory Coast's main opposition leader Tidjane Thiam is removed from electoral list
02 May 2025,34 mins
Why does insurgency persist in Nigeria?
Nigeria appoints a new commander to fight insurgency after renewed deadly attacks
01 May 2025,31 mins
Tension on Guinea and Sierra Leone border
Guinean troops fire shots in the disputed town of Yenga on the border with Sierra Leone
30 Apr 2025,26 mins
Why is gender violence "widespread" in Namibia?
Why are cases of gender-based violence spiking in Namibia and what can be done?
29 Apr 2025,34 mins
BBC Investigation reveals who shot at Kenyan protestors
A BBC investigation exposes who shot protestors in Kenya last year
28 Apr 2025,26 mins
Why did South Africa reverse a VAT increase?
South Africa drops plan to raise value-added tax after government stability threatened
25 Apr 2025,33 mins
'Ethiopians are one shock away from catastrophe'
The United Nations says lack of funding will halt urgently needed food aid in Ethiopia
24 Apr 2025,29 mins
A cocktail of long jail terms for Tunisian opposition leaders
A Tunisian court recently gave some opposition leaders very long prison sentences
23 Apr 2025,28 mins
Haiti: A growing challenge for Kenyan officers?
UN special representative to Haiti stresses urgent need for international intervention
22 Apr 2025,27 mins
What was Pope Francis's relationship with Africa?
African leaders pay their tributes after the Vatican announces the death of Pope Francis
21 Apr 2025,29 mins
Humanitarians working in Sudan speak
Humanitarians providing help in Sudan speak on why it is the world's biggest crisis
18 Apr 2025,37 mins
Sudan’s rebel forces declare rival government
The paramilitary RSF says it has formed a rival government in areas under its control
17 Apr 2025,32 mins
Kidnappings increase in South Africa
An American pastor who was kidnapped in South Africa has been rescued
16 Apr 2025,32 mins
Will Africa benefit from rising gold prices?
The price of gold has risen after uncertainty caused by the global trade war.
15 Apr 2025,33 mins
RSF takeover Zamzam camp in Darfur
More than 100 civilians have been killed in a series of attacks in western Darfur
14 Apr 2025,32 mins
Rwanda asks UK to extradite genocide suspects
Can six Rwanda genocide suspects be extradited from UK to face justice?
11 Apr 2025,32 mins
Former Gambian soldier trialled in the US
A former Gambian soldier is on trial in the United States
10 Apr 2025,30 mins
Can Tanzania benefit from US-China tariff wars ?
As US-China tariff war escalates Tanzania explores better trading practice and partners
09 Apr 2025,29 mins
US cancels visas for South Sudanese nationals
South Sudan has criticised the revoking of US visas for all its nationals
08 Apr 2025,25 mins
Who is Trump's envoy to Africa?
USA and the DR Congo are on the path towards a minerals deal says Trump's Africa envoy
07 Apr 2025,28 mins
How will new US tariffs affect Lesotho?
President Trump imposes a 50% tariff on Lesotho, one of the highest rates on a country
04 Apr 2025,32 mins
Will Trump's tariffs hurt Africa?
Several African countries hit with high rates of reciprocal tariffs from the US
03 Apr 2025,28 mins