Africa Today
Africa news and analysis from the BBC's Focus on Africa. The Africa Today podcast contains the day's top stories from African news - available to download Monday to Friday from 1630 GMT.
Who is Malawi's old next President?
Malawi re-elects former President Peter Mutharika. At 85. How did he beat other contenders? What's life like in Bunagana town along Uganda's recently reopened border with rebel held eastern DR Congo Nigerian women push for more female MPs. Does reserving seats for women in parliament help ? Presenter: Charles Gitonga…
A landmark deal for HIV jab
A new HIV prevention drug will be made available at a lower cost in over 100 low-income countries within two years, including across Africa. It's a move expected to give millions access to the breakthrough treatment and potentially bring the world closer to ending the HIV/Aids epidemic. So, how affordable…
The two African countries which don’t recognise Palestine
UNGA: More than 150 member states recognise the State of Palestine-Cameroon and Eritrea will not. South Africa's police discover illicit drugs worth $20 million on a farm. Plus, we discover the nutritional benefits of eating dried fish. Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Makuochi Okafor, Mark Wilberforce, Sunita Nahar and…
US deportees to sue Ghana's government
A group of deportees from the US have sued the Ghanaian government, alleging they've been detained illegally. We talk to the lawyer representing these deportees and ask what legal framework underpins this US-Ghana deportation deal? And how does this situation tests the principles of human rights? Also in the programme:…
Togo: Ex Defence Minister arrested
Togolese Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbe’s sister-in-law, who’s also the ex Defence Minister, has been arrested after calling for end to family rule. How aid cuts and crocodile attacks are contributing to malnutrition in northern Kenya. And why do Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso apparently want to leave the International Criminal…
Guinea: Why the constitutional referendum matters
Guineans will vote in a referendum on a new constitution on Sunday, that would permit junta leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president, despite his promise not to do so when he seized power four years ago. Political analyst Renna Hawili explains the other major proposals. Also, will a new…
UN accuses South Sudanese leaders of 'systematic looting'
South Sudan: UN report accuses leaders of "systematic looting" The government denies the allegations Why was the Gambia’s auditor general forcibly removed by police from office? Plus, why domestic worker jobs are on the decline in South Africa Presenter :Charles Gitonga Producers: Sunita Nahar, Stefania Okereke, Nyasha Michelle and Mark…
Mali: Fuel tankers set ablaze
Several fuel tankers were destroyed in Mali after al Qaeda-linked insurgents, who had declared a blockade on fuel imports to the country, attacked a convoy of more than 100 vehicles. That's according to local reports. A fuel supply blockade initiated by the militant group, JNIM, has been in place since…
Are treason charges being weaponized in Africa?
Why is the treason charge being used against several key opposition figures in some African countries ? We meet Elsa Owusu-Sarpong - aka Bikergirl El’- the tireless road safety campaigner from Ghana. What's the sad tale behind her passion and inspiration? And Africa’s elderly population is set to increase –…
Dubai: BBC investigates deaths of Ugandan women
A Ugandan woman, Monic Karungi, known online as Mona Kizz, tragically fell to her death from a Dubai high-rise in 2022. Within hours her name was trending. A grainy video of a woman jumping from a building began circulating, with social media users claiming it was of Monic and that…
Who is Uganda's Joseph Kony?
The International Criminal Court concludes hearings into war crime charges against the Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony and will decide whether he should face trial. But who is Joseph Kony and what are the charges against him? How some South African schools are fighting childhood obesity. And as Malawi gears…
Steve Biko inquest reopens in South Africa
South Africa is to reopen an inquest into the death of anti-apartheid figure Steve Biko, who died in police custody. It will officially be registered in court on the anniversary of Biko's death, the 12th of September, almost 50 years ago. We hear reaction from Biko's friend and fellow anti-…
Africa's climate summit: what viable solutions?
Will the second Africa climate summit produce tangible solutions to fight for climate justice? Police abuse is widespread in Kenya a new study finds. Rights groups warn the findings expose systemic failures that have left many Kenyans vulnerable to police harassment and violence. And how did Botswana become a leader…
Ethiopia opens huge dam despite outside opposition
Ethiopia opens Africa's largest hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile river deepening a rift with Egypt and Sudan. Authorities in the US have arrested two suspected leaders of the Cameroon separatists' military wing. We find out more about the charges against the two men, and why Cameroon has been blighted…
DR Congo declares new Ebola outbreak
A new Ebola outbreak declared in the DR Congo. An emergency response has been launched Over 10 opposition parties form coalition ahead of Ethiopia's next polls And we experience a ride on one of Tanzania's locally manufactured planes Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Sunita Nahar, Stefania Okereke and Priya Sippy in…
Is the jailing of a former Zambian minister a watershed moment?
Zambia's former Foreign Minister Joseph Malanji has been sentenced to four years in prison with hard labour after being convicted, along with a co-accused of corruption. President Hakainde Hichilema promised to root out corruption when he swept to power four years ago, is he now delivering on that pledge? In…
Somali fighters in Kenya spark fears
Why are fighters from Somalia's Jubaland region crossing the border into Kenya. Their presence is - causing fear and uncertainty Burkina Faso's unelected transitional parliament bans homosexual acts Plus how experts in Africa are tryings to close the AI language gap Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Priya Sippy, Alfonso Daniels, Sunita…
Sudan landslide: Race to find survivors
A landslide that followed days of heavy rain, has killed hundreds of people in the remote Marra Mountains in western Sudan, and trapped survivors in deep valleys. How do aid agencies help people hit by a natural disaster but caught in the middle of a war? A new report…
Barrier built around Sudan’s el-Fasher city
An extensive earthen wall is being built around the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher. Researchers from Yale University say it is intended to trap people inside. Why is there a rapidly growing demand for solar panels in Africa? And we meet Iris- the teaching robot in South Africa. Presenter: Audrey…
South Africa building fire: What happened to survivors?
Two years on from the devastating fire at an abandoned building in Johannesburg that was occupied by squatters, how much has changed? We revisit the scene of one of South Africa's worst tragedies, in which more than 70 people - including children - died, to find out what happened to…