Focus on Africa

The World Health Organisation says snake-bites are a global health priority; why is a Dutch company claiming ownership of Teff - an Ethiopian staple? Remembering the Malian music maestro, Kassé Mady Diabaté, who died last night.

A burst dam in Kenya kills 47 people; a shortage of HIV medication in Liberia; Ethiopia orders closure of a mine after protests; the prospects for the Gambia's capital as the city votes for a new mayor.

Thousands left homeless after fire in Lang'ata suburb in Nairobi.Also in the programme: The UK High Court to sit in Sierra Leone to hear allegations of human rights abuses by a mining company; and antibiotic-resistant germs, could onions be the answer?

Israel gives African migrants three months to leave the country voluntarily or face forcible repatriation or indefinite jail terms. The daily life of a female Zambian UN peacekeeper in the Central African Republic. The Grand Mufti of Egypt proscribes the crypto currency, bitcoin. And exciting new music coming out of Africa in 2018 with DJ Rita Ray.

In the last of our special podcast series about Kenya's elections this year, Dickens Olewe covers the twists and turns of the process in a rare interview with former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga. He explained his view that a new political party is needed to take the place of the current political elite, and why he would like to chair a commission of inquiry into alleged police brutality.

Britain's top diplomat to Nigeria on the three-year long search for the Chibok girls; More than ninety migrants feared drowned after their boat sank off the coast of Libya; Eighty thousand teenagers in danger of missing out on school in Burundi.

The new South Sudanese Vice President addresses key issues in the country and what political alliances will emerge in South Africa after recent municipal elections?

Ahead of tomorrow's elections Zambian civil society groups call for a free and fair vote. Burkina Faso bans donkey meat and skin exports following huge demand from China.

Running battles in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, between police and anti-government demonstrators. Local elections in South Africa - a major test for the ruling ANC. Malian music sensation, Modja... plus more.

HIV infections are still the leading killer of African children. And old attitudes to the virus still prevail; the AU postpones elections for a new chairman, so what happens next? And Africa's first Spelling Bee competition.