Introduction

Niger and Gabon are the latest countries in Africa's Sahel to experience military coups. But that’s not the only issue that is facing the area.

Beverly Ochieng from BBC Monitoring in Nairobi explains why several countries in the region are among the worst on the Global Terrorism Index from the Institute for Economics & Peace. And we look at which militant groups operate in the region, why France has faced hostility and backlash in a number of countries, and how the Wagner Group — a group of soldiers-for-hire from Russia — are exploiting existing tensions to gain a foothold in the region.

We also hear more about a new and cheaper malaria vaccine that can be produced on a massive scale. BBC Health & Science correspondent James Gallagher explains why people are hopeful this might save hundreds of thousands of lives.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks