Focus on Africa

Dozens of survivors and dead pulled from an abandoned South African gold mineHow Russia is expanding its partnership in Africa's nuclear sector And ice hockey gains popularity in Kenya. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Victor Sylver, Nyasha Michelle, Priya Sippy and Sunita Nahar Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi .

Kenya's high court has struck down a law that criminalised the act of attempting suicide. We hear from one of the petitioners who brought the challenge, on why the judge's ruling is important.Also in the podcast, we revisit the dumpsite in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, that collapsed and killed more than 30 people last August. How is the city managing its waste problem?And a shop owner tells us about the devastating impact of a fire at one of the biggest open air markets in Ghana, and efforts to rebuild the area.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Sunita Nahar in London. Frenny Jowi was in Nairobi Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) pulls out of the largest free hospital in Sudan’s capital Khartoum. Fears over a cargo of explosive fertiliser in a harbour in Ivory CoastAnd who are the Baye Fall muslims in Senegal?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Amie Liebovitz and Nyasha Michelle in London and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Producer : Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Benin forces have suffered heavy losses in an attack which the military chief described as 'a heavy blow'. The assault happened at one of Benin's most well-equipped military positions. So who was behind the attack and what does it tell us about Benin's security preparedness?Also in the podcast, after São Tomé and Príncipe's president fired the prime minister accusing him of failing in his job, are political tensions on the verge of being ignited in the central African island nation?And why is the South African government not able to provide better reliable water and sanitation? We hear from the deputy minister responsible for Water and Sanitation.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Amie Liebowitz and Sunita Nahar in London Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Frank McWeeny Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

What can be done to tackle a water crisis in South Africa's largest city Johannesburg?Can Somalia's army tackle jihadists when peacekeeping forces withdraw? After space debris landed in a Kenyan village we ask : will this become more common?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Sunita Nahar, Yvette Twagiramariya, Nyasha Michelle and Bella Hassan in London.  Frenny Jowi in NairobiSenior Producer :Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Gabriel O'ReganEditors :Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The M23 rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have captured the key town of Masisi in the in the mineral-rich North Kivu province, in renewed, intense fighting. Why has there been an upsurge in the the violence and why is seizing control of Masisi so significant? Also in the podcast, why does Nigeria have the highest rates of neonatal jaundice? And we hear from two farmers in Sierra Leone - who are both amputees - about a project called Farming on Crutches, that is aimed at helping people with missing limbs find a new way to make a living.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Sunita Nahar and Kaine Pieri here in London Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Will increasing tax in South Africa help stop excessive drinking?Why are Nigeria's rice farmers struggling despite government policies to boost local production.And as more athletes break records we ask: just how long will records continue being broken?Presenter :Audrey Brown Producers: Blessing Aderogba in Lagos, Susan Gachuhi and Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Jack Graysmark Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

55 African airlines have been banned from EU skies after a newly revised blacklist was released. Which airlines are they and why the ban? Also why are some Kenyan farmers resisting government plans to vaccinate their livestock?And the legacy of Dada Masilo, the young South African dancer who died at the age of 39.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Aime Liebowitz in London. Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Egypt once had the highest rate of hepatitis C in the world, but has now almost completely wiped out the liver attacking virus in less than 10 years. How did they do that?Could the African mealworm be a solution to tackling plastic waste? Kenyan researchers say the larvae of the darkling beetle species native to Africa can digest plastic in their guts and degrade styrofoam, one the most harmful materials to the environment.Also in the podcast, how Nigerian pet owners are having to make heartbreaking decisions about their animal companions as the high cost of living continues to squeeze finances.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Stefania Okereke, Aimie Liebovitz and Bella Hassan in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Technical Producer: Philip Bull Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Ivory Coast has confirmed, French troops stationed in the region for decades, will begin withdrawing from Ivorian soil this month. This marks another shift in the growing trend across West Africa, where France is seeing a reduction in their military presence.  An analyst explains the genesis of this resentment.Also, French President Emmanuel Macron was recently heckled during his visit to cyclone-hit Mayotte.  What's France's relationship with Mayotte?And will the rights of the Kua people in Botswana, also known as Bushmen, be better under new President Boko Duma's government ? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producer: Sunita Nahar in London Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard