The UN warns that tensions and use of forbidden weapons are pushing South Sudan to the brink of another civil war Why is the army in the DR Congo unable to defend its citizens and territory? As Uganda's high court rules that names of landmarks and roads in the capital should be 'decolonised'- one lawyer begs to disagree Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Sunita Nahar, Patricia Whitehorne and Bella Hassan Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Edi...
Mar 28, 2025•36 min
Sudan's army has chased out the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces from the capital city, Khartoum - but how significant is this development, and could it signal a major breakthough in the two year war? We hear from Mohanad Hashim, who is from the capital and has been following the war since it began. He has just returned from a trip there. Why has Burkina Faso’s military rulers disbanded the country’s main journalists’ association and detained its leaders? And could Africa lead the way in pionee...
Mar 27, 2025•30 min
Burundi's president alleges that Rwanda plans to attack his country. Why are relations poor between the two nations? How crypto mining is bringing power to rural Zambia. And can animation be a tool for political and social change ? Views from an award-winning Ghanaian animator-Francis Yushau Brown Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Daniel Dadzie Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Jonny Hall Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi...
Mar 26, 2025•32 min
A Sudanese commander accuses Chad of allowing the United Arab Emirates to use Chadian airports to supply weapons to rebels in Sudan. But where's the evidence? Also in the programme: Eritrea kicked out USAID in 2005. Two decades on, what impact has it had? And the Kenyan woman who defied tradition and paid her own dowry. Presenter : Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi and Stefania Okreke Senior Producer : Sunita Nahar Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi...
Mar 25, 2025•27 min
A vibrant river reportedly ‘died' overnight in Zambia after an acidic waste spill at a Chinese-owned mine How the Sudan crisis is affecting gum arabic production And can AI help African farmers produce more? Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Amie Liebowitz and Bella Hassan. Senior Producer : Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Mar 24, 2025•33 min
Kenya and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will discuss a new lending programme and abandon the current one, as the country struggles to get its economy back on track. Kenya needs continued financial support from the fund to keep up with debt repayments that have accumulated as a result of heavy government spending in recent years. What does a fall out with the IMF mean for Kenya? Also, why women in Nigeria are calling for a nationwide state of emergency And in conversation with Ghana's top...
Mar 21, 2025•36 min
Why are Al Shabab jihadists intensifying attacks near Somalia's capital Mogadishu ? Lessons for Africa from the covid pandemic 5 years on. We meet the inspiring mother-daughter duo gearing up for the Safari Rally in Kenya. Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers : Alfonso Daniels, Khadra Salad, Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke and Bella Hassan in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Mar 20, 2025•32 min
The Democratic Republic of Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame have called for an "immediate ceasefire" in eastern DR Congo, following talks in Qatar. It's the first time the two leaders have met since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels stepped up an offensive in the region, where authorities say seven thousand people have been killed since January. Will the ceasefire be heeded? Also, there's a rapid increase of weaponised drones across the continent And why has Suda...
Mar 19, 2025•29 min
Angola recently refused entry to opposition leaders from across Africa. Why is South Africa's ambassador to the United States 'no longer welcome’? And Nigeria is projected to witness an obesity explosion in the next 30 years-why? Presenter : Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi, Yvette Twagiramariya and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Mar 18, 2025•32 min
Ethiopia and Eritrea could be headed towards war, according to regional experts and officials. The warnings stem from fresh instability in Ethiopia's Tigray region, where a civil war from 2020-2022 resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. What's behind the recent tension? Also, why is there a rise in the number of women being imprisoned? And we consider the legacy of the internationally acclaimed South African playwright, Athol Fugard. Presenter: Audrey Brown Technical Producer: Craig Kingha...
Mar 17, 2025•41 min
France's far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, is visiting Chad this weekend where she will meet President Mahamat Déby. It's her second visit following a meeting with Déby's late father, President Idriss Déby, in 2017. Why is the French opposition leader back in Chad? Also, why do some African parents choose to send their children back home to Africa for school? And the blind football coach in Tanzania, who thinks anything is possible if you love the game! Presenter: Audrey Brown Technical Producer:...
Mar 14, 2025•35 min
Last week Nigerian lawmakers suspended senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after she alleged being sexually harassed by the senate president, Godswill Akpabio. He strongly denies the allegations. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has now made an impassioned plea at the UN, calling for better treatment of women in politics. What's it like for women in politics in Nigeria? Also what's the controversial story behind the JesusMinistries hashtag in Kenya? And whilst the world grapples with democracy...
Mar 13, 2025•37 min
South Sudan’s unity government, led by President Salva Kiir with former rebel leader, Riek Machar as First Vice President, is facing mounting tensions, and clashes between forces allied to the president and first vice president are threatening a fragile power-sharing agreement. Could the young nation be heading towards a new civil war? For the first time in 17 years, Libya is calling on foreign companies to explore oil in its territory. But will investors be forthcoming? And why South Africa's a...
Mar 12, 2025•29 min
Sudan is taking the United Arab Emirates to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of supporting Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Khartoum argues the UAE is "complicit in the genocide" through military, financial and political backing for the RSF. The UAE has strongly rejected Sudan's allegations, calling the case a "cynical publicity stunt" and saying it will seek an immediate dismissal. Also will China be able to fill the gap after the withdrawal of USAID in Africa? And Jame...
Mar 11, 2025•32 min
Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo has started a dialogue with opposition parties on ending post-electoral tensions and reaching a political compromise. But his main political opponent was not included. Can there be a compromise deal without the participation of Venancio Mondlane? Why do so many African women die of breast cancer? It is now one of the top causes of cancer deaths on the continent. Cancer specialists met in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, to discuss how to bring the numbers down. An...
Mar 10, 2025•36 min
Calls for a ceasefire in Sudan during the month of Ramadan have been ignored. As the war approaches the three -year mark, those observing Ramadan in the country say, this year is the toughest yet. Also, the BBC's International correspondent Orla Guerin returns to DR Congo and tells us what's changed from the time she first reported from the country, more than 20 years ago And African authors on how they're making their books more available on the continent! Presenter: Audrey Brown Technical Prod...
Mar 07, 2025•37 min
The Ecowas countries are aiming to roll out a regional single currency - the Eco - in 2027. But past launch dates have come and gone, so will they meet the new target date and will a single currency work? Malawi's agriculture minister refutes the claim that a global decline in tobacco use is affecting farmers in the country. But is his government also helping tobacco farmers to diversify? And South Africa is running out of snake antivenom. What does that mean not only for South Africa, but other...
Mar 06, 2025•34 min
French Prime Minister François Bayrou recently announced that his government will be "re-examining" a 1968 migration pact which has historically made it easier for Algerians to settle in France. The announcement came after years of diplomatic friction, which seems to be escalating. What's going on? Also, Tanzania reverses the trend on maternal and newborn deaths. What are they doing differently? And why tobacco farmers in Malawi are finding it difficult to farm other crops Presenter: Charles Git...
Mar 05, 2025•28 min
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has withdrawn its mediation team from Guinea Bissau. Its mission was to help reach a political consensus on the elections, which were postponed by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. So will voting, pushed back to later this year, still go ahead? A BBC investigation finds that young women in Kenya are being lured into sexual exploitation on TikTok. Is the social media platform doing enough to keep users safe? And former South African football st...
Mar 04, 2025•34 min
South Africa voted for a UN General Assembly resolution calling for Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected last week, while the US abstained from the vote because it considered the resolution too anti-Russian. How does the very public falling out between the US and Ukraine affect South Africa's offer to broker peace between Moscow and Kyiv? What's South Africa's role in all of this? Also, navigating the subject of witchcraft in Zambia. And how did Guinea eradicate sleeping sickness? Pre...
Mar 03, 2025•30 min
How is Burundi coping with a refugee crisis caused by fighting in eastern DR Congo? What dangerous substances are being added to the deadly drug Kush? And why are some people adding detergent to the West African staple food fufu? What are the dangers? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Yvette Twagiramariya and Stefania Okereke in London with Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Mut...
Feb 28, 2025•37 min
A ship the size of a football field, crewed by more than 50 engineers and technicians, cruises the oceans around Africa to keep the continent online. It provides a vital service, repairing damaged internet cables that lay deep under the sea. We go onboard the Léon Thévenin. Also, recent reports say, Tunsian authoraties are cracking down on the LGBTQ+ community in Tunisia And why are West Africans more prone to getting Kidney disease? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Gabriel O Regan...
Feb 27, 2025•30 min
A border clash between Ethiopia and Kenya has left several people dead or missing. Germany elections: Why is the rise of right-wing parties worrying for African communities? Somalia passes a " game changing" law to protect persons living with disabilities Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Amie Liebowitz and Bella Hassan in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer Chris Kouzaris Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi...
Feb 26, 2025•27 min
In a bold diplomatic move Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has reportedly proposed granting the United States and Europe access to the country’s vast mineral resources. What's the deal and why now? Also, what is postpartum depression and why does it need to be taken seriously? And a young cancer survivor in Tanzania shares her story of recovery with us. Presenter: Audrey Brown Technical Producer: Gabriel O Regan Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Nyasha Michelle and Sunita Na...
Feb 25, 2025•39 min
Former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, publicly regrets annulling the Nigerian1993 presidential election. How does family of presumed winner, Moshood Abiola, respond? We explore the affordable housing crisis in DR Congo's capital Kinshasa. And reaction after Botswana lifts a ban on South African vegetables Presenter : Audrey Brown Producers :Sunita Nahar and Amie Liebowitz in London and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer : Jack Graysmark Edi...
Feb 24, 2025•33 min
There is growing concern that a law introduced in 2021 is being used to muzzle freedom of expression in Sierra Leone. Hawa Hunt, a social media infleuncer with Siera Leonean and Canadian citizenship is the latest victim of the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021. She is accused of insulting President Julius Maada Bio and his wife Fatima Bio in a video posted on Facebook in 2023 just as the country was preparing for elections. Her dramatic arrest during a live television show was a national talking ...
Feb 21, 2025•31 min
Sudan's military led government are upset by Kenya's decision to host a conference of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces Is there a regional power play behind Mauritania and Morocco's electricity exchange agreement ? And what's the deadly bacteria that's making Lake Victoria turn green? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Sunita Nahar, Stefania Okereke, Nyasha Michelle and Bella Hassan in London. and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Technical Producer : Philip Bull Sen...
Feb 20, 2025•32 min
Experts say the health of millions of Africans is at stake following the suspension of much needed USAID funds. Programs that the US organisation funds on the continent are vast and crucial. What do African governments need to do to fill the gap? Also, a new report says that the recruitment of children as soldiers on the continent remains a challenge. We hear from a former child soldier. And a proposal for a fresh approaching in saving the African rhino, but this time, everyone is included in th...
Feb 19, 2025•31 min
The collapse of an illegally operated gold mine in western Mali at the weekend killed dozens of people The world’s ‘first openly gay imam’ who was shot dead in South Africa, Muhsin Hendricks, is remembered What can be done about overcrowding in prisons in Africa? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Sunita Nahar and Stefania Okereke in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Gabriel O'Regan Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.
Feb 18, 2025•32 min
African Union members have elected Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as the next chair of the AU Commission. Mr Ali Youssouf defeated Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Foreign Minister of Madagascar Richard Randriamandrato. What are some of the challenges he faces? Also, why is Gambia running short on medicines? And are tech-savvy Gen Z's really more vulnerable to cyber attacks? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Philip Bull Producers: Patricia Whit...
Feb 17, 2025•32 min
