Africa Daily

A South African woman, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn have been given life sentences after being convicted of trafficking her missing 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith. The case has captivated and horrified audiences around the world. It has also highlighted the wider issue of human trafficking in South Africa. An anti-trafficking campaigner responds to the rulling and explains the extend of problem in the country. Also, Kenya and Mayotte sign a trade deal to boost economic ties. What will be traded?And a tribute to and exploration of, Kenya's literary giant Ngugi wa Thiong’o, who has died at the age of 87.Presenter: Richard Kagoe Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Tom Kavanagh and Amie Liebowitz in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

US embassies globally have halted student visa appointments, as social media vetting expands. How is Africa affected?Why is Zimbabwe's controversial radio tax now being implemented?  And how can AI predict and prevent child malnutrition in Kenya?Presenter: Richard Kagoe Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Russia's 13th International Security Summit in Moscow attracts over forty African leaders. How significant is it and what does it mean for the continent, especially for the Sahel? Also, Boeing seals a deal with the US Department of Justice over the fatal crashes of two 737 Max aircraft that killed hundreds of people. One family who lost their son and daughter-in-law in the 2019 Ethiopian plane crash share their reaction with us. And the impact of the temporary closure of Ghana's embassy in US over an alleged visa scandal.Presenter: Blessing Aderogba Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Nyasha Michelle in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Uganda cuts military ties with Germany following diplomatic rift.Somalia's government moves to control clan militias fighting al-Shabab - after allegations of serious atrocities.And will Starlink's strategy of 'winning big by thinking small' help them cover the African continent?Presenter:  Blessing Aderogba Producers: Bella Hassan, Tom Kavanagh and Yvette Twagiramariya. Technical Producer Chris Ablakwa Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The big stories from across the continent and the African perspective on major global stories. Africa Daily has now closed. You will get Focus on Africa episodes here this week. For future episodes, search for Focus on Africa, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

“My responsibilities as a captain became more… A player would receive a call telling him he’d lost a brother or a relative or a dear one.”After war broke out in Sudan, the football team Al Hilal Omdurman had to flee from Khartoum like many of those around them. They spent months looking for a new home, but eventually were welcomed to Mauritania where they have played competitively in the league there. They've now finished top of the league with two games to play. In this final episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja looks at how footballers and athletes have continued to compete at the highest levels – despite facing tragedy and loss.GUESTS: Al Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman Al Hilal Executive secretary Yasir Hassan, Sudan’s National Olympics Committee President Ahmed Hashim.From next week, you can hear stories from Africa on the Focus on Africa Podcast.

Today, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje sits down with Johannesburg mother Mankepe Matsoakeletse. Her daughter, seven-year-old Agnes, went missing in August 1989. She hasn’t stopped searching for her. “I do not know if she is alive or struggling or if she is eating. That's why I cannot give up. I cannot forget because I do not know what kind of life she is living where she is, if she is still alive”, she says. This conversation comes as South Africa will be commemorating Child Protection Week, between the 29th of May and June the 5th. According to the police, almost 700 youngsters were reported missing between 2023 and 2024. More than 470 of them were found and reunited with their families, the rest were either found dead or never accounted for at all. Tragically, the trend continued the following year, with more than 200 youngsters losing their lives or vanishing without a trace. Mpho will also be hearing from Bianca van Aswegeng and Brigadier Attie Lamprecht of the South African Police Service.

12 year old Mary has spent most of her life in an Internally Displaced People’s camp in north-east Nigeria. Her family were driven out of their village by militants Boko Haram- a group whose exploits have left millions in the region displaced. Over 3 million people have been displaced in Nigeria and more than half of that number are children. This have also contributed to the north’s reputation for having the highest number of children out of school. But over the last year a very different world has opened up for Mary, and it’s all because of chess. She’s won medals and competed in tournaments in the United States. She was taught to play by chess coach Vivian Ibrahim, a woman who believes chess could help children in these camps to get back into education. In today’s episode Alan Kasujja speaks to Mary and her mother Hanatu about their journey. He also speaks to Vivian about the power of chess.

Anyone who has spent time in hospital will know just how vital nurses are. They’re often the people we have the most contact with as they look after our comfort as well as our medical care. But the role of nurses is expanding. They are taking on more medical responsibilities and are becoming leaders in healthcare. Alan Kasujja speaks to Khadija Mohamed Juma, a Kenyan nurse who has been revolutionizing blood donation in the country. And also to Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, a nurse from Ghana who has been leading the development of oncology nursing in Ghana.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains references to violence against children, which some listeners may find distressing.Three young girls - Ingrid Maasdorp, Rosvind Fabian and Beyoncé Kharuxas - were found dead in the Namibian town of Okahandja within weeks of each other.Their deaths, though separate, shared chilling similarities and sparked a wave of grief, protests and urgent calls for justice.What do these tragedies reveal about gender-based violence in Namibia? How are families and communities confronting their grief and demanding change?BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to grieving grandmother Dollie Maasdorp, Windhoek-based journalist Frauke Jensen and former teacher and activist Jané Lowesi, who helped lead one of the first protests.