

Focus on Africa
BBC World Service
Three essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the big topics and news from Africa, the people behind them, plus an African perspective on global stories. Hosted by Audrey Brown. Five days a week, ready by late afternoon, Monday to Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 9, 2025 • 37min
Madagascar: President asks for year to resolve problems
Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has asked for one year to fix the country's challenges, promising that if they persist, he will resign. He said this during a town-hall style meeting at his palace with various groups of government supporters. Many attendees had the opportunity to ask the president questions or simply share their views. We hear analysis.Also, South Africa’s highest court rules that all parents of newborns, will now be entitled to equal parental leave.And renewable energy overtakes coal as the world's leading source of electricity. What's the impact on African countries? Presenter: Karnie Sharp
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke and Tanya Hines
Technical Producer: Frank McWeeny
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Karnie Sharp

Oct 8, 2025 • 28min
Eswatini accepts 10 US deportees
Eswatini accepts 10 more US deportees, despite rights groups in the southern African state mounting legal action to block the plan. We ask what has the Eswatini government got in return?Nigeria's Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaj, resigns after allegations that he forged his academic credentials.And nurses and midwives protest in Ghana for not being paid their salaries for nearly ten monthsPresenter: Nyasha Michelle
Producers: Mark Wilberforce, Patricia Whitehorne, Alfonso Daniels and Bella Hassan
Senior producer: Sunita Nahar
Technical Producer: Nick Randell
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Oct 7, 2025 • 37min
Darfur: Militia leader convicted of war crimes
A Sudanese militia leader has been found guilty of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region more than 20 years ago. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, is the first person to be tried by the International Criminal Court for the atrocities in Darfur. We get analysis.Also, what's Africa's reaction to the appointment of the Anglican church's first female Archbishop of Canterbury?And why are Egyptian children being arrested for online gaming?Presenter: Nyasha Michelle
Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Tanya Hines, Stefania Okereke, Mark Wilberforce and Saleck Zeid in London
Technical Producer: Pat Sissons
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Oct 6, 2025 • 34min
Ghana: Why are children dying in boarding schools?
Nearly a decade ago in Ghana, 15-year-old Kevin Moses died at Achimota High School. In a landmark ruling last year, Ghana’s High Court found the school negligent for Kevin's death. The school has appealed that decision. Between May 2023 and February 2024, six students died while in boarding school. Why are children dying in schools in Ghana? Also, we hear differing views on what caused the recent floods in Sudan. And how Nigeria's Green Falcons could become the first African team to qualify for the Women's Rugby League World Cup?Presenter: Nyasha Michelle
Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Piers Edwards and Stefania Okereke in London
Senior Journalist: Yvette Twagiramariya
Technical Producer: Pat Sissons
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Oct 3, 2025 • 28min
Can Botswana continue to depend on its diamond industry?
In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Waihiga Mwaura, Botswana's President Duma Boko, outlines his plan to reduce his country's reliance on the diamond industry amid falling global demand, and how he is pushing for a 0% tariff deal with the US.Guinea is showing signs of economic progress under the military-led regime. What is driving the country's economic growth?And more than 200 million people worldwide are infected by schistosomiasis - also known as bilharzia - which is a disease caused by parasitic worms. The majority of those affected live in sub-Saharan Africa. How can the disease be prevented?Presenter: Nyasha Michelle
Producers: Sunita Nahar, Mark Wilberforce and Stefania Okereke in London. Makuochi Okafor was in Nairobi
Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne
Technical Producer: Pat Sissons
Editors: Maryam Abdalla, Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Oct 2, 2025 • 28min
Morocco's Gen Z protests rise and spread
Violent clashes, arrests and deaths during Morocco’s GenZ 212 protestsWhy Senegal's fishermen are blaming a BP natural gas project for lack of fishAnd Nigeria's First Lady raises $13million for national library – but why has it taken so long?Presenter : Nyasha Michelle
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Mark Wilberforce, Bella Hassan and Joseph Keen in London. Makuochi Okafor was in Lagos.
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Pat Sissons
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Oct 1, 2025 • 30min
Ex-DRC president sentenced to death
The former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo is sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, treason and backing the Rwandan-supported M23 rebels in eastern Congo. The court has ordered his arrest, but his whereabouts remain unknown We look at the man and his life.Also in the programme: Officials in Namibia have deployed hundreds of soldiers to battle a fire that has ravaged a third of the key nature reserve, Etosha National Park.And we speak to a woman who suffered a heart attack, and we find how such attacks can be prevented.Presenter Nyasha Michelle
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Mark Wilberforce and Ayub Ilia
Senior Producer: Sunita Nahar
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Sep 30, 2025 • 33min
AGOA: US-Africa trade deal set to expire
AGOA: Why is a vital US-Africa trade deal set to expire? And why will women be more affected?Oil workers go on strike at Dangote Refinery in Nigeria following dismissal of hundreds of staff.And professional boxing suspended in Ghana following the death of two boxers in 6 months.Presenter Nyasha Michelle
Producers: Tanya Hines, Joseph Keen ,Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke, Bella Hassan and Patricia Whitehorne in London
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Sep 29, 2025 • 31min
Why is Gen Z protesting in Madagascar?
Authorities in Madagascar impose a curfew in the capital, Antananarivo, after protests over frequent power and water shortages turn violent. As the police continue to patrol the streets, we ask whether the government has improved conditions in the country?Also in the programme: The Island of Seychelles, one of the richest countries in Africa, holds a re-run of the presidential elections after the first secured no outright winner.And two years on from the earthquake in Morocco, what kind of support have survivors received from the government?Presenter: Nyasha Michelle
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan, Jewel Kiriungi, Joseph Keen
Senior Producer: Sunita Nahar
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Sep 26, 2025 • 35min
Who is Malawi's old next President?
Malawi re-elects former President Peter Mutharika. At 85. How did he beat other contenders?What's life like in Bunagana town along Uganda's recently reopened border with rebel held eastern DR CongoNigerian women push for more female MPs. Does reserving seats for women in parliament help ? Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Mark Wilberforce, Nyasha Michelle and Stefania Okereke
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Ricardo McCarthy
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard