

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 11, 2024 • 26min
Unfarmed land leaves millions staring at hunger in Sudan
More than half the population in Sudan - nearly 26 million people - face acute hunger as the ongoing war hinders agricultural production. The UN agency for Food and Agriculture (FAO) says it is trying to provide seed to farmers to help grow food.Who are Nigeria's ghost workers who are costing the economy millions of dollars? And will a new government plan succeed in exposing them and crackdown on the problem?And a Congolese entomologist says protein-rich insects are the food of the future.Presenter :Audrey Brown
Producers: Bella Hassan in London, Frenny Jowi in Nairobi and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos.
Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Jul 10, 2024 • 35min
Can Ghana afford to pay striking civil servants?
Exploring Ghana's civil servants' strike, surgical reversals of female genital mutilation, and the controversial exhumation of graves in Somalia for a navy facility, highlighting societal challenges and personal empowerment.

Jul 9, 2024 • 36min
Why land routes through Africa are more dangerous for migrants than Mediterranean crossings
Refugees and migrants taking land routes across Africa to get to the Mediterranean and Europe, face extreme violence, abuse and exploitation, with far more believed to be dying there than at sea, a UN-backed report says. Plus, why is Tanzania struggling with a huge shortage of university professors? And how the Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay made history at the gruelling Tour de France.Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Joseph Keen, Bella Hassan, and Nyasha Michelle in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi
Technical Producer: Nick Randell
Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Jul 8, 2024 • 36min
What can the breakaway confederation do without Ecowas?
The West African regional grouping Ecowas has warned that it risks disintegration and worsened insecurity after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed a breakaway confederation. Can the three landlocked countries go it alone?Can your social media presence be inherited after you die?And a new look at how electronic waste can be recycled in GhanaPresenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Joseph Keen, Bella Hassan, Yvette Twagiramariya and Nyasha Michelle in London. Susan Gachuhi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi.
Technical Producer: Nick Randell
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Jul 5, 2024 • 31min
Can Burkina Faso's military government counter deadly jihadist attacks?
Burkina Faso's military is facing increased pressure after reports of a recent spate of the deadly attacks of soldiers by jihadist fighters. The Junta government lead by Ibrahim Traore ,has kept mum about this incidents.Why are soldiers deserting the army in the Democratic Republic of Congo? 25 soldiers have been sentenced to death for running away from battle with the M23 militia group.And members of Kenya’s LGBTQ community call for greater freedoms Presenter:Audrey Brown
Producers: Bella Hassan, Nyasha Michelle, Claudia Efemini and Joseph Keen in London. Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi
Senior Producer: Karnie Sharp
Technical Producer: Craig Kingham
Editors:Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Jul 4, 2024 • 34min
Can South Sudan hold its first post-independence elections this year?
Africa's youngest nation, South Sudan will head to the polls this December, but critics say they are disappointed with the government’s lack of preparedness. These elections will be the first ever conducted in the country since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011. However, several conditions listed in a peace agreement, drawn up in September 2018, have not yet been met. Is the country ready?Also, what's causing the Gen Z inspired protests in Kenya to continue, despite some concessions by the president?And we learn more about the allegations that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is defending senior officials accused of corruption.Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers Kaine Pieri, Bella Hassan, Joseph Keen and Sunita Nahar in London and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi.
Senior Producer Paul Bakibinga
Technical Producer: Craig Kingham.
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard.

Jul 3, 2024 • 36min
Why do the British and French elections matter to Africa?
Two countries with major links to Africa are holding make or break elections this week. Britain and France. These elections will usher in new governments which may have completely new approaches to the continent. How will the outcome of the British and French elections impact Africa? And should Africans care? Also, Sierra Leone receives a million dollar grant from a US development agency, to scale up its electricity supply. How did they land the deal and how will the money be used?And the ancient language in danger of disappearing in Ethiopia. Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Sunita Nahar, Victor Sylver and Joseph Keen.
Tech Producer: Jonathan Greer
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Jul 2, 2024 • 34min
Why jihadist groups use female suicide bombers?
Nigerian authorities say that suspected female suicide bombers participated in coordinated attacks in Nigeria that killed dozens of people. Why do young girls and women become suicide bombers?How the lives of displaced people in Mozambique's troubled Cabo Delgado Province are being rebuilt.And can local communities in Africa can be involved in conservation ? Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Sunita Nahar, Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi.
Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Jul 1, 2024 • 33min
South Africa has a new coalition government
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled a new coalition government, after his party, the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in May's elections. Mr Ramaphosa said "the government of national unity is unprecedented in the history of our democracy". What do South Africans think of the new cabinet?Also a conversation with Ugandan designer Latif Madoi who was arrested and relased on bail.And can Tunisia's Ons Jabeur bring home tennis's most title..Wimbledon Champion? Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Joseph Keen, Sunita Nahar, Rob Wilson, Nyasha Michelle and Bella Hassan
Technical Producer: Gabriel O Regan
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Jun 28, 2024 • 34min
Sierra Leone has banned child marriage
Sierra Leone recently passed a landmark bill to ban child marriage. The country has one of the highest child marriage rates in the world. How easy will it be to eliminate the practice?Also we hear from the new chancellor for the University of Nairobi Professor Patrick Verkooijen. What's his view on the Gen Z inspired protests in Kenya?And how did Togo manage to eliminate four neglected tropical diseases? Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Aime Liebowitz, Bella Hassan, Victor Sylver and Rob Wilson in London. Frenny Jowi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi.
Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi