Focus on Africa

BBC World Service
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.

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