Focus on Africa

Police in Nigeria have arrested three people in connection with the discovery of 20 mummified bodies near Benin City.Also, we examine the track record of Angola's third post independence president as elections draw near.And a right royal battle is raging for the Zulu throne in South Africa. We'll hear the latest from the Kingdom of Kwazulu.

Algerian emergency workers struggle to contain forest fires in which at least 38 people have died.Also, Kenya's electoral commission boss asks for more security following threats and harassment of himself and his staff.Plus, is Sierra Leone's proud tradition of marriage across political and religious lines under threat due to political manipulation?

Kenya's presidential election result is caught in a quagmire, as candidate Raila Odinga alleges foul play... We'll be asking what happens next?Plus, we preview elections in Angola.And we will introduce you to a star called Nutty O, whose fresh music is making people dance to the beat in Zimbabwe.

At least three people were killed in protests in Somaliland. But why was this normally peaceful territory engulfed by violence? Also, Sierra Leone's main opposition APC says it is not responsible for deadly protests earlier this week. They blame the government's economic policies instead. And we take the pulse of Kenya's parliamentary election results.

Voting has ended in Kenya's elections where 22 million have cast ballots to vote for their next President, MPs and Governors... Did delays due to a biometric system cause major problems?Plus, African art lovers mourn the death of Nigerian playwright, author and director, Biyi Bandele, who's died suddenly at the age of 54.

Hundreds of Kenyans rush to collect national identification cards necessary to cast their vote, while many others experience travel woes on the eve of the country's general elections. Observers highlight a few issues ahead of the polls as the Electoral Commission suspends voting in four areas over ballot paper issues. Plus some Kenyans tell us about the panic-buying that's now started.Also, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, is the latest international diplomat on a charm offensive to woo the continent.. We hear from South Africa.And Ethiopia's Rophnan, DJ turned musician fuses electronic with traditional sounds.

The Senegalese government has signed a peace deal with rebels from the southern region of Casamance. Will it hold this time?Also, warnings of a hike in the price of rice. Can African countries step up to the plate production-wise?Plus, will Kenyans get leaders that tackle corruption this time around?And our resident presidents discuss Zimbabwe's new Chinese-built parliament, and they're not impressed!

Angry mobs on the rampage in a South African township, following the vicious gang rape of a group of women in the town of Krugersdorp last week.And it's fifty years since Asians were forced to flee Uganda's Idi Amin and settle in Britain.

President Etienne Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo is reassessing when MONUSCO peacekeepers should leave the country. We hear from his spokesman.Also, with news of the killing of Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, survivors of the 1998 bombing of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam express disappointment at receiving no compensation like American victims.Plus Somalia's new cabinet includes a former Al Shabab leader.Those stories and more in this podcast.

Following attacks on UN peacekeeping bases this week in the DRC, the governor of North Kivu province, attempts to address the issue.And, Ethiopia's government calls for talks without any pre-conditions with the Tigrayan rebels in a bid to end the bloody civil war.Those stories and more in this podcast.

Did UN peacekeepers open fire on civilians during recent protests against its mission in DR Congo?Also, in Kenya as elections loom, Deputy President William Ruto's running mate is ordered to surrender over 1.6 million Dollars to the state over fraud.And why have Tanzanian health authorities banned the use of a sex enhancing traditional medicine?

Day three of protests against the UN Peacekeeping presence in the East of the DR-Congo.Also, Russia's foreign minister wraps up his tour of Africa.And a rare pink diamond found and in Angola - we hear what makes it very special.

Five protestors and three peacekeepers have been killed after hundreds protest in the east of the DRC over the presence of MONUSCO forces who they say are ineffective.Also, Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, explains why he's willing to roll out the red carpet for Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, during his Africa tour.More on those and other stories in this podcast.

In the shadow of the war in Ukraine, Russia's foreign minister is on a charm offensive in Africa.Also in today's podcast: We'll hear from marginalised women contenders vying for office in Kenya's upcoming elections.And an Africa Eye investigation into the causes of the lethal gangland terror in Nigeria's Zamfara State.

Bread makers in Nigeria turn off their ovens for four days in protest, as one of the country’s bakers unions is demanding the federal government subsidize the cost of baking products. Also, we're on the presidential campaign trail here in Kenya.

Ghanaian health authorities confirm there's been an outbreak of Marburg virus with two deaths. The Director General of Ghana's health service tells us how they are trying to contain the disease and spread awareness in the country.Also, in Zimbabwe officials are investigating how indigenous grains can help stave off food insecurity.Plus, Chadian rebel groups are outraged by the latest announcement by transitional President Mahamat Idris Deby.And we hear from the rising Kenyan RnB and neo soul star, Karun.

A new draft constitution for Tunisia, drawn up by a committee especially picked by President Kais Saied.Also, we'll return to Sudan where 3 more people have been killed in latest protests.And the Residents Presidents discuss the Commonwealth.Much more on those and other stories in this podcast.

Tensions continue to rise between Ethiopia and Sudan, as the latter recalls its ambassador.Also, the United Nations becomes the latest body to call for an independent inquiry over Morocco migrant deaths at the Spanish enclave of Melilla. Plus, Sierra Leone reacts to the US Supreme court banning abortion.And much more in this. podcast.

South African police investigate the mysterious deaths of twenty two young people in a bar in the city of East London.Also, Nigeria's Zamfara state tells residents to take up arms against kidnap gangs and violent attacks, but how will it work?And after the U.S Supreme Court's decision to overturn its own landmark ruling in 'Roe v Wade', should Africa care?Plus much more in this podcast.

Commonwealth heads of state and government begin two days of talks in Rwanda. Big issues on the table including trade, climate change, and even food on your table. Bola Mosuro will be telling us more from Kigali.Also, we will also be hearing from South Africa, where the so-called dirty fuel, King Coal is enjoying a rare bonanza.That and other stories in this podcast.

A much anticipated report on corruption is out in South Africa. The Zondo Report criticises the African National Congress for creating an environment that enabled corruption and wide scale looting under former President Jacob Zuma.Also, an urgent appeal to the international comunity over the famine in Somalia.Those stories and more on Africa Today.

The Russian Ministry of Defence says at least forty-two African mercenaries have been killed in Ukraine, but what do we know so far?Also, why is Burkina Faso's army conducting an eight-hour military exercise in the capital, Ouagadougou? How often does this happen and are residents aware of what's going on?That and much more in the podcast.

Belgium returns a tooth belonging to the Congolese independence hero, Patrice Lumumba, more than 60 years after his brutal murder.Also, one of Sierra Leone's most popular musicians has his dreadlocks shaved by the police - the Inspector General defends the action.And the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) has opened in Kigali. Focus on Africa's Bola Mosuro is there.

South Africa considers importing crude oil from Russia. The country's Energy Minister says Russian oil is not on the sanctions list.Also, the Democratic Republic of Congo says it's suspending all trade agreements with Rwanda. They say it's because Rwanda is supporting the M23 rebels which further exaccerbates levels of violence in the Eastern DRC. Kigali denies this claim.Plus more...

We hear the latest on clashes between police and the Maasai community in Tanzania.And what's happening to residents still displaced by the floods in Durban, South Africa? Has local government done enough to help them? We'll hear from the Deputy Mayor.

More than 700 people made up of Rwandan former combatants and their families are resettling in the country. Most used to be FDLR ethnic Hutu fighters who have undergone rehabilitation and training.Also, chief virologist, Dr. John Nkengasong, takes on a new role as coordinator of PEPFAR - the US initiative on HIV and Aids - and says he'll still be serving Africa.Plus, floods uproot lives in Ghana's capital with homes swamped by heavy rains.

Hopes of finding eight miners trapped more than 700 metres underground in Burkina Faso are fading after rescuers today found a second safety chamber empty. We hear the frustrations and despair of some of the men's wives.Also, Nigeria's chief accountant has been arrested in connection with a $190 million dollar fraud case involving money laundering and diversion of funds.And how South Africa is tackling high youth unemployment.

The fuel prices emergency is hitting households across the continent, from Egypt to Tanzania, Uganda to Nigeria and South Africa. The airline industry has also been affected. So what can governments do?Also, in Somalia, dozens of candidates have registered for the presidential race in six days. We hear who's challenging the incumbent, Farmajo.Plus, how South African singer, Nomfundo Moh, has made it big in the world of music.

There's been a major attack on an ATMIS forces base in Somalia. Al Shabab militants have claimed responsibility, and there are fears about the death toll.The UN Secretary General speaks after visiting camps in Nigeria's Borno state housing hundreds of thousands of victims displaced by Boko Haram and Islamist insurgent attacks. Meanwhile, one NGO decries the closure of camps which have left IDPs in unsafe and vulnerable conditions.Mali's military leader announces they're cutting ties with France accusing the French of flagrant security violations.Plus, how 16 months of civil war in Tigray in northern Ethiopia and turbulence in other regions have affected press freedom in the country.

A damning report alleges that ex South African President Jacob Zuma put interests of his corrupt associates ahead of those of his country.Also, why have a group of Turkish nationals who've been running a high performing high school in Liberia been expelled from the country?And Kenya bids farewell to its third president Mwai Kibaki at a State funeral in Nairobi.

Today: Mounting concerns about the rise in police brutality and disappearances in Kenya.Also, a BBC investigation uncovers the ugly and dangerous side of Egypt's beauty industry.(Image: Kenyan activists protest against police brutality in Nairobi. Credit: EPA)

Angola's government has suspended the salaries of more than 5,000 doctors, describing their strike action as illegal.Malawians no longer have to pay tax on sanitary pads – as a 16.5% levy has been axed.The World Food Program says its food trucks have entered rebel held areas in Ethiopia’s war-torn region of Tigray for the first time since December last year.

In a move which has been described as "historic", the Democratic Republic of Congo has officially been admitted to the East African Community (EAC) trade bloc. Seven passengers have died after gunmen attacked a busy train between Nigeria's capital, Abuja, and Kaduna city, hospital sources have told the BBC.

Malawi kicked off a polio vaccination campaign targeting up to three million children under the age of five. To mark the International Day of Forests, we find out about the health of the second largest tropical rainforest in the world: the Congo basin in Central Africa.

Did Ethiopian government forces kill MSF charity workers in the Tigray region last year?Also, the American Ambassador to the United Nations on why African countries cannot remain neutral in the war in Ukraine.Plus, Tanzania's President, one year into office - how is she performing?And of course, our Resident Presidents on the use of Swahili at the AU.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that South Africa has been approached to play a mediation role in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.Nigerian customs officials say they have intercepted 1,390 sacks of donkey meat in the north-western state of Kebbi near the border with Niger.At least 750 civilians were killed in the northern Afar and Amhara regions in the second half of last year, Ethiopia's human rights body says.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered the authorities to re-register all motorbike taxi operators - locally known as boda-bodas - following public outrage over an attack on a woman in her car in the capital, Nairobi.Plus, Nigerian women push members of parliament to reconsider gender laws. In Ukraine, we hear from a Cameroonian student who is one of many still stranded in the besieged city of Kherson is in the south west.And we meet the Kenyan teenager who is rising tennis star.Presented by Aisha Afrah. Producer: Patricia Whitehorne.

Eritrea was one of only five countries in the world to vote against a UN resolution deploring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supporting sanctions.Kenya's deputy president says it's up to the people of Kenya to make up their own minds on the fallout between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta.Plus singer, songwriter, and record producer Davido talks about what it takes to stay at the top of his profession for more than a decade.

As the fighting continues in Ukraine, thousands continue to pour out of the country. We hear about the situation at the Polish border. A court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has temporarily removed control of a huge copper and cobalt mine from its Chinese owners. Plus, we hear from an avid listener who tunes into the BBC everyday despite not speaking English.

The trial of Paul Gicheru, a Kenyan lawyer accused of bribing prosecution witnesses of the International Criminal Court has started in The Hague. The arrest of Nigerian "super cop" Abba Kyari on drug-trafficking charges has laid bare the "public bickering" between two of Nigeria's law enforcement bodies, an analyst told the BBC. Commander Abba Kyari is accused of trying to recruit fellow officers into a drug plot. Plus we talk to Syriacus Buguzi, a Tanzanian medical doctor turned journalist, he tells us why he started the first science and technology newspaper in Swahili language.

A Sudanese politician who had been a member of the dissolved joint civilian-military government has been arrested.Some Chagossians evicted from the islands 50 years ago returned in a trip organised by the Mauritian government. The Mauritian flag has been raised for the very first time on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. Plus hear from Nigerian singer and songwriter Adekunle Gold, he explains how the pandemic encourage him to embrace the idea of change and develop a new musical style.

A teachers' union in Zimbabwe has gone to court to challenge the government's decision to suspend thousands of staff who have not been going to work, citing low pay.The UN is warning that South Sudan could spiral back into civil war because of delays in implementing the 2018 peace deal that brought nearly six years of conflict to an end.This week our resident presidents are talking about democracy.

Uganda’s Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi has told the BBC the government is investigating allegations that novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was tortured while he spent a month in custody. Parliament in Libya has unanimously approved a new interim prime minister in a move that threatens to spark a new power struggle in the country as there already is someone else who holds that position. Plus we hear about a documentary exploring the Ghanaian city of Bukom renowned for having produced the most world boxing champions from Africa.

Scientists in South Africa have made a copy of the Moderna Covid vaccine, a move which they say could help boost vaccination rates across Africa. West African regional bloc Ecowas will deploy troops to Guinea-Bissau to help stabilise the country after this week's attempted coup. The first AU summit since the pandemic began in 2020 kicks off in Addis Ababa this weekend. What's on the agenda?

The president of Ghana has warned that West Africa is in great danger as a result of recent coups in the region. A 20-year study on the use of treated mosquito bed nets in Tanzania has found that children who sleep under them at an early age are more likely to survive into adulthood.There are concerns over the possible environmental impact of an explosion on an oil production vessel off the coast of Nigeria.

The West African regional body Ecowas has suspended Burkina Faso's membership following this week's military coup. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is warning of extreme hunger in northern Ethiopia. Aid agencies face severe challenges delivering supplies to Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where government forces have been fighting rebels for more than a year. Rwanda will re-open its border with Uganda from next week, the government has announced.

Rescue teams in Ghana are searching for survivors following a huge explosion that killed at least 13 people.Scientists say the plant enset, an Ethiopian staple, could be a new superfood and a lifesaver in the face of climate change.Plus, our Resident Presidents offer their satirical take on the winter games due to start in China in two weeks.

Many people are feared dead after a huge explosion near a mining town in western Ghana. Police say a vehicle carrying mining explosives collided with a motorcycle near the town of Bogoso. Liberia's President George Weah has declared three days of mourning following the death of 29 people in a stampede during a church service held on a football field in the capital, Monrovia.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa opens a brand new Covid vaccine plant in Cape Town, which could be a game-changer in the fight against the pandemic.Meanwhile, Cameroon's plan to get people vaccinated using their love of football isn't going too well.Also: an MP from Somaliland argues against independence from Somalia.And the Ghanaian artist, activist and humanitarian, Rocky Dawuni and his latest album Voice Of Bunbon.

The leader of the Tigray People's Liberation Front has called for an immediate ceasefire in the year-long war with Ethiopian government forces. Also, Sudanese protestors are teargassed as they continue protests against the army and try to mark three years since Omar El Bashir was ousted.Plus, new measures are enforced around the continent as governments try to protect civilians as Omicron cases rise.