

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

Jul 25, 2024 • 31min
Can the flow of arms into conflict-hit Sudan be stopped?
The international watchdog, Amnesty International, is calling for a nationwide arms embargo on Sudan after its investigation found that a constant flow of weapons is fuelling the devastating war. But how can the supply of arms be stopped?For the first time, sub Saharan Africa has seen a dramatic drop in new HIV infections compared to the rest of the world, so what is driving that success?And we hear from Gofa in southern Ethiopia, where there are fears that the death toll will continue to rise following the deadly landslides.Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Sunita Nahar and Yvette Twagiramariya in London; Frenny Jowi in Nairobi
Technical Producer: Nick Randell
Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Jul 24, 2024 • 32min
Why young people in Uganda are annoyed by corruption?
Dozens arrested in Uganda for involvement in banned anti-corruption protests. President Yoweri Museveni had warned before the event that protesters were "playing with fire".Sierra Leone jails 11 people over an alleged coup attempt, who are they and are all the cases concluded? ?And we meet Gabriella Ghermandi, the Ethiopian ethno-musicologist who is all for women’s empowerment Presenter: Charles GitongaProducers :Joseph Keen, Victor Sylver, Rob Wilson, Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle all in London.
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Jul 23, 2024 • 34min
Why was Zambia's anti-corruption board dissolved?
In this discussion, Zambia's President Hakinde Hichilema tackles the controversial dissolution of the Anti-Corruption Commission board amid bribery allegations. He emphasizes the political motivations behind this decision and its impact on trust in governance. A former chairman shares insights on the need for reform, highlighting challenges of accountability and transparency in anti-corruption efforts. The conversation also touches on the rising civil unrest and the dangerous realities faced by artisanal miners in Kenya, spotlighting the demand for safety improvements.

Jul 22, 2024 • 26min
Why there is concern about Angola's proposed anti- vandalism law ?
Angola's new law with lengthy prison sentences for vandalism. Who are the real targets-criminals or the opposition?Can Zambia stop boys from being abducted to undergo circumcision? And is China muscling in on Nigeria's potentially lucrative car market?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Rob Wilson, Patricia Whitehorne, Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Craig Kingham
Editors :Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Jul 19, 2024 • 32min
How can building collapses in Nigeria be prevented?
Early findings into why a school building in Nigeria's Plateau state collapsed killing more than 20 children, have revealed many shortcomings. But the tragedy was one of more than 20 reported cases in the past few months. How can rules and regulations be tightened to prevent building collapses?Sierra Leone is considering dropping jury trials. What are the arguments for and against the proposed change to the justice system?And we meet Cindy Ngamba, one of the first people to compete for an Olympic medal in boxing as part of the refugee team. How did she become interested in the sport?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Sunita Nahar, Victor Sylver and Claudia Efemini in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Technical Producer: Ricardo McCarthy
Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Jul 18, 2024 • 28min
Can South Africa's government of national unity really work?
South Africa’s parliament reopens after landmark elections that lead to the formation of a government of national unity after the governing ANC lost its majority. We talk to international co-operation minister, Ronald Lamola. Is the ANC buying time or wasting time?
Somalia imposes a 5 percent tax on digital transactions sparking causing a public outcry
And why is Turkey boosting cooperation with Niger? Prsenter : Audrey Brown
Producers :Bella Hassan, Joseph Keen and Sunita Nahar in London and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi
Technical Producer: Jonny Hall
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga.
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Jul 17, 2024 • 26min
Could new EU environmental rules shut African crops out of European markets?
The manager of a coffee farmers's co-operative says small scale farmers in Africa are concerned that they may soon be unable to sell their produce to Europe because of the impact of the European Union's deforestation regulations.New information about the largest rainforest in Southern Africa raises questions about discovery - is it just a foreign concept? And, two decades after his country's capital was conquered by Italy, Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila became the first black African to win Olympic gold, running barefoot in Rome.Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Joseph Keen and Sunita Nahar in London, and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi.
Technical producer: Jonny Hall
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard.Show less

Jul 16, 2024 • 30min
Is the church in Kenya too close to the government?
Is the role of the church in Kenyan politics changing? We hear the perspective of a senior member of the umbrella group- the National Council of Churches of Kenya Why has Chadian President Mahamat Deby cancelled an official visit to Paris scheduled for this week?We talk to the founder of a beauty pageant in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, a place with a reputation for danger.

Jul 15, 2024 • 30min
Can public hearings into Zimbabwe's 'genocide' of the 1980s bring healing and national unity?
Zimbabwe's President Emerson Mnangagwa has announced public hearings into the mass killings of Zimbabwe's Ndebele people 40 years ago. The president says the hearings will be a mechanism to bring healing and national cohesion. But a survivor of the massacre of opposition supporters, tells us he does not trust the process.Also, why are major gas companies threatening to pull out of South Africa? And Zambia has spent millions of dollars on hiring new teachers and making primary and secondary education free, but the policy has also worsened class overcrowding.Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Bella Hassan, Rob Wilson and Joseph Keen in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi.
Technical producer: Craig Kingham
Senior Journalist: Paul Bakibinga
Editors : Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard.

Jul 12, 2024 • 33min
Does an Ecowas court ruling on police brutality on protestors in Nigeria go far enough?
Nigerian authorities guilty of violating protesters rights during mass demonstrations against police brutality, known as #EndSars, in 2020. Why hasn't police behaviour changed?Can Africa's booming population be harnessed?And can anyone stand in the way of another presidential term for Rwanda's Paul Kagame?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Charles Gitonga and Frenny Jowi in Nairobi. Nyasha Michelle and Joseph Keen in London.
Technical producer. Philip Bull
Senior Journalist: Paul Bakibinga
Editors : Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard.