
Focus on Africa
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.
Latest episodes

Apr 7, 2025 • 28min
Who is Trump's envoy to Africa?
Who is Massad Boulos the man steering the US and the DR Congo towards a mineral deal?What's Uganda's role in the DR Congo crisis?And are African youth more resilient than their western peers?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Frenny Jowi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi, Blessing Aderogba in Lagos with Tom Kavanagh and Amie Leibowitz in London.
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Apr 4, 2025 • 32min
How will new US tariffs affect Lesotho?
We take a closer look at the impact of the newly imposed US tariffs and hear from Lesotho - at 50% it is one of the hardest hit countries. Does the small landlocked country have a backup plan for its industries?Algeria says it shot down a military drone near the border with Mali, while Mali says one of its unmanned aircraft crashed. The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Algeria and its southern neighbour. So why have the two countries grown apart? And why are so few wildlife safaris owned and run by black people on the continent? We hear from one Ugandan man who went from being a tour guide, to setting up his own successful safari business.Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Sunita Nahar, Amie Liebowitz and Yvette Twagiramariya
Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne
Technical Producer: Pat Sissons
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Apr 3, 2025 • 28min
Will Trump's tariffs hurt Africa?
Are benefits from the African Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa) dead in the water after steep US tariffs on Africa are announced?
Senegal's parliament approves revisions to a controversial amnesty law
And raising awareness of autism in Somali culture Presenter : Audrey Brown
Producers: Daniel Dadzie, Bella Hassan, Ash Mohamed and Yvette Twagiramariya
Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris
Senior Producer : Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Apr 2, 2025 • 35min
A conversation with AfDB president, Akinwumi Adesina
The president of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, will soon be stepping down from the role after serving the maximum two terms. In an interview with podcast host Audrey Brown, he reflects on the achievements and challenges of the past 10 years in office.A new study reveals the pitfalls and barriers limiting women entrepreneurs from growing their businesses online - so how can these issues be addressed?And some of Britain's prestigious boarding schools are setting up campuses in Nigeria. Who will benefit?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Sunita Nahar, Tom Kavanagh and Amie Liebowitz here in London. Frenny Jowie in Nairobi
Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne
Technical Producer: Jonny Hall
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Apr 1, 2025 • 25min
Somalia offers US control of port
Somalia offers the US full control over the airbase and port of Berbera in SomalilandThe juntas in West Africa impose tariffs on imported goods from Ecowas countries - what effect will this have.Can music cheer up Sierra Leone - reportedly one of the most unhappy places on the globe? Rapper Drizilik thinks so.Presenter: Wahiga Mwaura
Producers: Bella Hassan, Daniel Dadzie and Yvette Twagiramariya
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Mar 31, 2025 • 28min
Stranded: Exposing the UK’s immigration scammers
A BBC investigation has found the UK visa system is being undermined by scammers who are swindling migrants out of thousands of pounds, by promising them jobs in Britain which often do not exist. We hear more from the BBC Africa Eye reporter.Why is Kenya risking the wrath of Serbia, considered to be an ally, by recognising Kosovo and its claim to independence from Serbia?And why is Ghana's Chief Justice facing renewed efforts to remove her from office?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Sunita Nahar, Amie Liebowitz and Nyasha Michelle in London. Daniel Dadzie in Accra, and Frenny Jowi in Nairobi
Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Mar 28, 2025 • 36min
Is South Sudan edging back to civil war?
The UN warns that tensions and use of forbidden weapons are pushing South Sudan to the brink of another civil warWhy is the army in the DR Congo unable to defend its citizens and territory?As Uganda's high court rules that names of landmarks and roads in the capital should be 'decolonised'- one lawyer begs to disagreePresenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Sunita Nahar, Patricia Whitehorne and Bella Hassan
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Mar 27, 2025 • 30min
Sudan's army retake Khartoum
Sudan's army has chased out the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces from the capital city, Khartoum - but how significant is this development, and could it signal a major breakthough in the two year war? We hear from Mohanad Hashim, who is from the capital and has been following the war since it began. He has just returned from a trip there. Why has Burkina Faso’s military rulers disbanded the country’s main journalists’ association and detained its leaders?And could Africa lead the way in pioneering plant-based vaccines? We hear from a leading immunologist on how she and her team are developing plant-based immunisation technology.Presenter: Audrey Brown
Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer
Producers: Stefania Okereke, Amie Liebowitz and Elizabeth Kazibure in London. Daniel Dadzie in Accra
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Mar 26, 2025 • 32min
Is Rwanda planning to attack Burundi ?
Burundi's president alleges that Rwanda plans to attack his country. Why are relations poor between the two nations?How crypto mining is bringing power to rural Zambia.And can animation be a tool for political and social change ? Views from an award-winning Ghanaian animator-Francis Yushau BrownPresenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Daniel Dadzie
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Jonny Hall
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Mar 25, 2025 • 27min
Is Chad aiding Sudanese rebels?
A Sudanese commander accuses Chad of allowing the United Arab Emirates to use Chadian airports to supply weapons to rebels in Sudan. But where's the evidence?Also in the programme: Eritrea kicked out USAID in 2005. Two decades on, what impact has it had?And the Kenyan woman who defied tradition and paid her own dowry.Presenter : Audrey Brown
Producers: Frenny Jowi and Stefania Okreke
Senior Producer : Sunita Nahar
Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
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