

Focus on Africa
BBC World Service
Two 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 Nkechi Ogbonna. Five days a week, ready by late afternoon, Monday to Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 7, 2025 • 37min
Sudan: "The war has destroyed the spirit of Ramadan"
Calls for a ceasefire in Sudan during the month of Ramadan have been ignored. As the war approaches the three -year mark, those observing Ramadan in the country say, this year is the toughest yet. Also, the BBC's International correspondent Orla Guerin returns to DR Congo and tells us what's changed from the time she first reported from the country, more than 20 years agoAnd African authors on how they're making their books more available on the continent!Presenter: Audrey Brown
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editirs: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Mar 6, 2025 • 34min
Will a west African single currency work?
The Ecowas countries are aiming to roll out a regional single currency - the Eco - in 2027. But past launch dates have come and gone, so will they meet the new target date and will a single currency work?Malawi's agriculture minister refutes the claim that a global decline in tobacco use is affecting farmers in the country. But is his government also helping tobacco farmers to diversify?And South Africa is running out of snake antivenom. What does that mean not only for South Africa, but other countries on the continent?Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Producers: Sunita Nahar and Nyasha Michelle in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Mar 5, 2025 • 28min
Algeria and France in diplomatic row
French Prime Minister François Bayrou recently announced that his government will be "re-examining" a 1968 migration pact which has historically made it easier for Algerians to settle in France. The announcement came after years of diplomatic friction, which seems to be escalating. What's going on?Also, Tanzania reverses the trend on maternal and newborn deaths. What are they doing differently? And why tobacco farmers in Malawi are finding it difficult to farm other cropsPresenter: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan in London
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Mar 4, 2025 • 34min
Why did Ecowas leave Guinea Bissau?
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has withdrawn its mediation team from Guinea Bissau. Its mission was to help reach a political consensus on the elections, which were postponed by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. So will voting, pushed back to later this year, still go ahead?A BBC investigation finds that young women in Kenya are being lured into sexual exploitation on TikTok. Is the social media platform doing enough to keep users safe?And former South African football star, Benni McCarthy, is Kenya's new head coach. Is the appointment of Africans to lead African teams now an established trend?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan
Producers: Sunita Nahar, Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Mar 3, 2025 • 30min
Can South Africa be peacemaker in Ukraine?
South Africa voted for a UN General Assembly resolution calling for Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected last week, while the US abstained from the vote because it considered the resolution too anti-Russian. How does the very public falling out between the US and Ukraine affect South Africa's offer to broker peace between Moscow and Kyiv? What's South Africa's role in all of this? Also, navigating the subject of witchcraft in Zambia.And how did Guinea eradicate sleeping sickness?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Feb 28, 2025 • 37min
Deadly explosions hit M23 rally in eastern DRC
How is Burundi coping with a refugee crisis caused by fighting in eastern DR Congo?What dangerous substances are being added to the deadly drug Kush?And why are some people adding detergent to the West African staple food fufu? What are the dangers?Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Yvette Twagiramariya and Stefania Okereke in London with Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Feb 27, 2025 • 30min
The ship keeping Africa connected
A ship the size of a football field, crewed by more than 50 engineers and technicians, cruises the oceans around Africa to keep the continent online. It provides a vital service, repairing damaged internet cables that lay deep under the sea. We go onboard the Léon Thévenin. Also, recent reports say, Tunsian authoraties are cracking down on the LGBTQ+ community in TunisiaAnd why are West Africans more prone to getting Kidney disease? Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Gabriel O Regan
Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Stefania Okereke and Amie Liebowitz in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Feb 26, 2025 • 27min
Why did fishermen clash on the Ethiopia-Kenya border?
A border clash between Ethiopia and Kenya has left several people dead or missing.Germany elections: Why is the rise of right-wing parties worrying for African communities?Somalia passes a " game changing" law to protect persons living with disabilitiesPresenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Amie Liebowitz and Bella Hassan in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer Chris Kouzaris
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Feb 25, 2025 • 39min
DR Congo proposes deal to the West
In a bold diplomatic move Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has reportedly proposed granting the United States and Europe access to the country’s vast mineral resources. What's the deal and why now?Also, what is postpartum depression and why does it need to be taken seriously?And a young cancer survivor in Tanzania shares her story of recovery with us.Presenter: Audrey Brown
Technical Producer: Gabriel O Regan
Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Nyasha Michelle and Sunita Nahar in London. Frenny Jowi in Nairobi
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Feb 24, 2025 • 33min
Nigeria's ex-military leader regrets cancelling election
Former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, publicly regrets annulling the Nigerian1993 presidential election. How does family of presumed winner, Moshood Abiola, respond?We explore the affordable housing crisis in DR Congo's capital Kinshasa.And reaction after Botswana lifts a ban on South African vegetablesPresenter : Audrey Brown
Producers :Sunita Nahar and Amie Liebowitz in London and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer : Jack Graysmark
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.


