

Focus on Africa
BBC World Service
Two essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the big topics and news from Africa, the people behind them, plus an African perspective on global stories. Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna. Five days a week, ready by late afternoon, Monday to Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 8, 2025 • 37min
Women and the Catholic Church
Sister Ngalula is the only African woman to be appointed to the Vatican’s International Theological Commission. She previously spoke to the late Pope Francis about the need for more female leadership in the church. She says, although many roles in the Catholic clergy are technically open to women, fear among cardinals and bishops is blocking their participation. We hear from Sister Josée Ngalula.Also, why has the EU declared Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt safe for asylum seekers? And the campaign to add sunscreen onto the list of essential medicines, especially for those with albinism.Presenter: Audrey Brown
Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer
Producers: Bella Hassan, Yvette Twagiramariya and Tom Kavanagh in London
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

May 7, 2025 • 31min
People smuggling between Eritrea and Kenya
An investigation into a new dangerous people smuggling route through Northern Kenya. Why are large and ongoing protests continuing in Morocco? And food fraud: what is it? And why is it dangerous?Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Amie Liebowitz, Stefania Okereke and Tom Kavanagh in London with Blessing Adegroba in Lagos
Technical producer: Jonathan Greer
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

May 6, 2025 • 34min
Port Sudan: Explosions in Sudan's de facto capital
Multiple explosions have been heard in Sudan's de facto capital, Port Sudan, for a third day in a row. Prior to the attacks the city had avoided bombardment and was regarded as one of the safest places in the war-ravaged nation. We hear analysis.Also, how and why Togo remains Africa's longest ruling political dynasties.And what is financial abuse and how to spot it? Presenter: Audrey Brown
Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Nyasha Michelle in London
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

May 5, 2025 • 31min
Is press freedom declining in the Seychelles?
Seychelles has long featured high in world press freedom rankings, but has the expulsion of a newspaper editor dented that image? We have a response from the governmentAs a Ugandan UN judge is jailed for forcing her maid to work as a slave-does she have support back home?And we meet Princess Oluwayemisi Oki - the woman behind a movement of female tricycle riders in Nigeria's Ondo state Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Richard Kagoe, Frenny Jowi, Tom Kavanagh and Bella Hassan
Technical Producer: Jonny Hall
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

May 2, 2025 • 34min
Ivory Coast: Why opposition leader removed from electoral list?
Ivory Coast's main opposition leader Tidjane Thiam has been struck off the electoral list. The judiciary has declared he is ineligible to run in October's presidential election due to his citizenship. Tidjane Thiam also held French citizenship which he renounced in order to run for the presidency. A court this week argued, that the former Credit Suisse boss forfeited his Ivorian nationality when he acquired French citizenship in 1987. We'll get analysisAlso, did past African National Congress party (ANC) governments in South Africa interfere with investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes? President Cyril Ramaphosa has set up an inquiry. How will it work?And, how does money laundering work, what is a 'grey list' and how do countries can get off it?Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark
Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Nyasha Michelle in London and Richard Kagoe in Nairobi
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

May 1, 2025 • 32min
Why does insurgency persist in Nigeria?
Nigeria has appointed Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar as its 15th commander in its fight against militant jihadist insurgency. Why is it proving difficult to tackle?Why are healthcare workers in Mozambique on strike again? And plans to make refugee camps in Kenya self-sufficient after cuts in global aidPresenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Bella Hassan, Yvette Twagiramariya and Frenny Jowi
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Apr 30, 2025 • 27min
Tension on Guinea and Sierra Leone border
Guinean troops have fired shots in the disputed town of Yenga, which is on the border with Sierra Leone. What's behind this unprecedented development? Also why are farmworkers in Kenya occupying tea plantations owned by multinational companies?
And why we should be eating more fermented foods..Presenter: Audrey Brown
Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne
Producers: Tom Kavanagh in London and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Apr 29, 2025 • 34min
Why is gender violence "widespread" in Namibia?
Why is gender based violence at a pandemic level in Namibia. How can it be reduced?We meet Botswana's Bitcoin Lady who is educating people on cryptocurrencyAnd we meet the artist who has designed more than 2000 album coversPresenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Richard Kagoe, Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya
Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Apr 28, 2025 • 27min
BBC Investigation reveals who shot at Kenyan protestors
In June last year, dozens of young Kenyans were killed and others wounded during days of anti -government demonstrations. The protestors wanted to occupy Kenya's parliament, to urge lawmakers not to pass a finance bill. Security forces protecting the premises opened fire at demonstrators, and at least three people were killed. No one has been held responsible for their deaths. An investigation by BBC Africa Eye shows how these protesters were gunned down.Also, how dozens of African migrants have been killed in a US air strike on a detention centre in a Houthi-controlled area in YemenAnd why South Africa is importing weevils to help fight a rapidly growing invasive plant!Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne
Producers: Blessing Aderogba in Lagos and Tom Kavanagh in London
Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Apr 25, 2025 • 34min
Why did South Africa reverse a VAT increase?
South Africa's finance minister drops plan to increase value-added tax (VAT), in a major climbdown to prevent the collapse of the coalition government.10,000 illegal settlers reportedly removed from Ghana's largest forest reserve.And why is Uganda’s treasured shea butter becoming harder to harvest ?Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya in London
Technical Producer: Craig Kingham
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.


