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.
Nigeria's new opposition alliance to challenge Tinubu
Starting pistol fired ahead of Nigeria's 2027 elections. Two main opposition leaders form alliance in bid to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party. We meet a Kenyan breastmilk champion -who is donating litres of breast milk to families in need. Plus, what are natural assets and why do…
Militant attacks increase in Mali
Jihadist militants have launched a series of simultaneous attacks on military posts across numerous towns in Mali. It's the third major assault on Mali's army over the last month. Why is there an increase in these attacks, and what's the impact on neighbouring countries? Also, the kidnapping epidemic in Nigeria…
DRC children fathered by UN peacekeepers
Mothers in the DRC struggling to raise children fathered and abandoned by UN peacekeepers amid fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also in the programme: we ask South Africa's minister of police whether he's lost control of the spiralling gang violence in Cape Town. And the rising wave of…
Why has polio re-emerged in Angola?
Angola was certified as polio-free in 2015, but is now combatting a new outbreak of the disease after several cases were reported in a Western province. What has caused the virus to come back? A new report says Islamist militants are using Starlink technology to ramp up operational capabilities in…
Deaths after anti-government protests in Togo
At least seven people reportedly killed, and many others wounded during recent anti-government protests in Togo’s capital Lome. The Togolese government denies the allegations. Who is Victoire Ingabire and why has the Rwandan government locked her up again? Plus, a look ahead to the Women's African Cup of Nations in…
A rise in child abductions in Mozambique
Civil organisations in Mozambique say at least 120 children have been kidnapped by insurgents in the north of the country. The Human Rights Watch group warn of a rise in abductions in the country's troubled nothern province of Cabo Delgado. The children are reportedly being used by Al-Shabab, an insurgent…
Youth-led protests erupt in Kenya
People from Kenya’s growing Gen Z movement hold protests demanding justice and police accountability. We ask whether the police is acting on behalf of the Kenyan government. The protests marked the anniversary of last year’s deadly anti-tax demonstrations. Also in the programme: a quarter of a century after their land…
Chad: A rise in intercommunal violence
A new bout of intercommunal violence in Chad, has left more than 40 people dead, according to the Chadian Government. This includes women and children. What's behind the recent rise in violence? Also, the border town of Zalambesa re-opened after years of tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Will it stay…
Jihadists strike military base in Niger
More than 200 gunmen on motorbikes recently attacked a Niger army base leaving at least 34 soldiers dead. Meanwhile dozens of civilians were reportedly killed in another attack in the region. Why is western Niger vulnerable to attacks by militant Islamists? Concerns after Sudan orders universities in Khartoum to reopen…
Inside Cape Town's gang wars
The South African city of Cape Town is one of the wealthiest cities in Africa, but it's also one of the most unequal. The city has now become the country's gang capital with more than a hundred gangs fighting for control of the lucrative drugs trade. We hear from a…
How different will the Rwanda-DRC peace deal be?
There is a glimmer of hope that three decades of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo could end after the government agreed a draft peace deal with Rwanda, a country accused of funding the M23, a group that has taken over some significant towns in the east of DRC…
How different will the Rwanda-DRC peace deal be?
There is a glimmer of hope that three decades of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo could end after the government agreed a draft peace deal with Rwanda, a country accused of funding the M23, a group that has taken over some significant towns in the east of DRC…
Nigeria: What's behind Benue state attacks?
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agencies to bring an end to the wave of killings in Benue state. It's believed that more than 200 people were killed in attacks across various communities. What's behind the increase in violence? Also, a young man from the DRC is on the…
How Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis affects education
The Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon is severely impacting education. With widespread school closures and displacement of teachers and students. Over 200,000 students are reportedly out of school. Is China’s recent offer to extend zero-tariff treatment to almost all African countries a reason to celebrate? And why Kenyan smallholder farmers went…
Why did funeral plans for Zambia's ex-president Lungu cause a row?
Zambia's former president, Edgar Lungu, reportedly left instructions that his political rival and current president Hakainde Hichilema "should not come anywhere near his body". Edgar Lungu died on the 5th of June and ever since, his family and the Zambian government have been locked in a tussle over his funeral…
South Africa’s township parents 'forced' to seek former white-only schools
Poor resources, fears of crime and gang violence in townships on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa force some parents to send children on long daily commutes to former white-only schools. Nigeria's president pardons the late ‘Ogoni 9' activists 30 years after their execution. Why is the pardon…
Are South African troops ‘stuck’ in DRC?
The first group of South African soldiers deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, arrive back in the country today. South Africa sent around one thousand five hundred troops to the DRC as part of a wider peacekeeping mission. In February, at least fourteen soldiers were killed during heavy clashes with…
Why has Ghana’s nurse strike escalated?
Hospital services in Ghana grind to a halt after a nurses' strike escalates What are the implications of Afreximbank's credit rating being lowered to one notch above junk And will Ecowas ever realise its dream of a borderless region? Presenter: Richard Kagoe Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Patricia Whitehorne and Tom Kavanagh…
Kenyan blogger dies in police custody
A 31-year-old blogger, Albert Ojwang, has died in police custody in Kenya. A post-mortem revealed that he was hit on the head and his death was likely to have been caused by assault. The results of the post-mortem contradict police previous claims which said Albert had "sustained head injuries after…
Russia's Wagner Group leaves Mali
Russia says the paramilitary group Wagner has accomplished its mission and has left Mali, although a Russian presence remains in the West African country, through the Africa Corps. So what did the Wagner Group achieve? Why has a separatist movement on the tiny, remote island of Annobón that is part…