

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

Nov 8, 2024 • 36min
Mauritians unsure of democracy ahead of elections
The Mauritian government has ended its recent suspension of social media, which threatened voters’ access to information ahead of the general elections on the 10th of November. Once a proud democracy, how are Mauritians feeling about the upcoming election?Also are more African domestic workers escaping Lebanon, as the war continues? And how did some African migrants vote in the recent US elections? Presenter: Audrey Brown
Technical Producer: Craig Kingham
Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Bella Hassan and Joseph Keen in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard.

Nov 7, 2024 • 30min
Violent protests continue in Mozambique
Police in Maputo fire tear gas in a bid to stop opposition protests against the results of last month's disputed election. Mozambique has seen weeks of unrest since the victory by the Frelimo party. The ICC says there has been no payment into a fund for victims of Uganda warlord Dominic OngwenAnd why are so many African countries facing foreign currency and fuel shortages? Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Victor Sylver, Bella Hassan and Daniel Dadzie in London. Charles Gitonga and Frenny Jowi in Nairobi.
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris
Editors : Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Nov 6, 2024 • 30min
Is it legal to detain children in Nigeria?
Over 30 children in Nigeria, who were arrested in August after taking part in anti-government demonstrations were detained and charged with treason. Those charges have now been dropped, following outrage in the country. The country's President Bola Tinubu also called for the release of the minors. But why were children detained in the first place? Also a warning from Equatorial Guinea's vice president Teodoro Obiang Mangue, who has said, civil servants caught having sex in their offices will face "severe measures" And the town that's slowly coming to life after war in the Central African Republic. What's life like now for the residents of Bossangoa? Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Sunita Nahar in London. Frenny Jowi in Nairobi and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris
Senior Journalists: Joseph Keen
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Nov 5, 2024 • 30min
South Sudan's civil servants remain unpaid
After failure to pay civil servants and armed forces for a year-is South Sudan on the verge of becoming a failed state?What do Nigerians make of their former compatriot Kemi Badenoch, who has become the first black woman to lead a major political party in the UK And why are Nigeria and South Africa able to export power but can't meet domestic demand?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Amie Liebowitz in London and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Nov 4, 2024 • 28min
Piracy returns to Somalia coast
As piracy returns off the coast of Somalia, we hear from Pakistani and Iranian fishermen who fear being kidnapped. After years of being pushed back, the problem is once again on the rise. Also, find out how Africa's genetic variation could benefit the medical world. And how financial technology is changing business transactions on the African continent. Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Bella Hassan, Nyasha Michelle and Yvette Twagiramariya
Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan
Senior Journalist: Joseph Keen
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Nov 1, 2024 • 31min
Opposition wins election in Botswana
Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi concedes defeat, marking the end of rule for the Democratic Party (BDP). What went wrong for the party that has been in power since independence in 1966?Plus, we hear from the Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, who says government tactics to silence critics are from a bygone era.And the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group, that is seeking to break away from the rest of Nigeria, has been in court to reverse its designation as a terrorist organisation. But what is the history behind the movement, and will they ever achieve their aims?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Nyasha Michelle a in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi, and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos
Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Oct 31, 2024 • 31min
Sudan rape victims die by suicide
Civil society groups have warned the risk of sexual violence in Sudan is so severe that some women are taking their own lives. Campaigners have told the BBC of several cases of women taking their lives, either after enduring sexual violence or to avoid it. On Tuesday, a major UN report highlighted 'staggering' levels of sexual violence in Sudan, attributing the worst atrocities to the paramilitary RSF group. Aslo, find out how upcoming elections in the US could impact Africa.And could Compressed Natural Gas provide an alternative to petrol in Nigeria?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Bella Hassan and Victor Sylver in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Technical Producer: Nick Randell
Senior Journalist: Joseph Keen
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Oct 30, 2024 • 30min
Can Chad crackdown on Islamist militants?
Chad's President Mahamat Déby has ordered an army offensive against Islamist militants after 40 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base. But can the Chadian army defeat Boko Haram?A Congolese asylum seeker to the US shares his story and his message to the presidential candidates.And we hear how a TikTok game could be endangering social cohesion in Somalia.Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Amie Liebowitz and Kaine Pirie in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi
Technical Producer: Nick Randell
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Oct 29, 2024 • 31min
Sudan activists accuse RSF of massacre
In one of the deadliest attacks since Sudan's conflict began, pro-democracy groups report that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed at least 124 civilians and injured over a hundred others in El-Gezira state. The RSF allegedly raided Al-Sireha village on Friday, leading to widespread deaths and injuries, with images of bodies prepared for burial and mass graves circulating on social media. The RSF has denied targeting civilians.Also Botswana, hailed for its stable democracy, holds a general election on Wednesday.And we hear from a road transport owner following deadly tanker explosions in Uganda and Nigeria.Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Bella Hassan, Victor Sylver, Amie Liebowitz and Nyasha Michelle.
Technical Producer: Nick Randall
Senior Journalist: Joseph Keen
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Oct 28, 2024 • 31min
Will Mozambique's election results be overturned?
The leading opposition party in Mozambique files a lawsuit demanding a recount of this month's election results because of alleged irregularities, and deposits three hundred kilos of documents at the country's highest court. Also, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, visits Morocco; we take a look at relations between the two countries, and why young French Africans are leaving France to move back to Africa.