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.
Should more employers grant menstrual leave?
The county government of Kenya's capital Nairobi is joining the growing movement which recognizes menstrual pain as a legitimate reason for paid time off. Women working for the city authorities will now be allowed to take two days of menstrual leave per month. Also, Namibia's first female President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah…
DRC rebels to retreat from seized town
Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group says it will retreat from the captured town of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa says his fighters will withdraw from Uvira at the request of the US. Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said the capture of Uvira…
Deadly floods hit Moroccan city ahead of AFCON
Search efforts for missing people continue in Morocco's Safi province after weekend flash floods. This, even as the country is set to host the African Cup of Nations - AFCON football tournament in a few days. We hear from residents in Safi, and whether the disaster has dampened the mood…
South Africa's Nama people want mines rehabilitated
We look at how decades of diamond mining along South Africa's west coast have affected the environment and why the local Nama community says mining companies such as De Beers and state-owned Alexkor haven't done enough to rehabilitate their land. Also, after Australia banned use of social media for people…
Are weight-loss drugs a magic bullet?
Weight-loss injections have become a major talking point, from Hollywood celebrities to TikTok influencers. Originally developed to treat diabetes, these medications were later found to help people shed a lot of weight - a discovery that has rapidly expanded their global use. The World Health Organization has now released its…
DRC rebels take town despite Trump deal
Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group says it has captured Uvira town near DR Congo's southeastern border with Burundi. This comes after US President Donald Trump brokered a peace deal between DR Congolese leader Felix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda in Washington DC last week. We look at what the…
Tanzania crackdown on planned protests
In Tanzania, Independence Day protests stall following stern government warnings but questions over the country's human rights record remain. And also, tragedy in an attempt to strike gold. We hear how unregulated and risky gold mines are cutting short the lives of school-going teenagers in Sierra Leone. Presenter…
BBC investigates ‘white genocide’ in South Africa
The US is prioritising asylum applications from white farmers in South Africa where it says there’s a 'genocide' against them, despite the claims being widely discredited. A BBC Africa Eye team spoke to some white Afrikaner farmers and black farmers to gain insight about the situation. Also, a conversation on…
What next after coup attempt in Benin?
What does the coup attempt in Benin mean for the West African nation and its citizens? President Patrice Talon has assured the nation that things are 'under control' after the government thwarted Sunday's military takeover. About a dozen soldiers believed to be the leaders of the mutiny have been arrested…
'My photos became deepfake porn'
What does it feel like when your photos are taken, manipulated and shared online without your consent? That’s the reality for 23-year-old Debra Nashipae, a Kenyan student and aspiring musician whose images were turned into deepfake pornography – a form of digital abuse that experts say is increasing rapidly. According…
Zambian influencer imprisoned for hate speech
Zambian-American influencer Ethel Chisono Edwards, also known as 'One Boss Lady', has been a vocal critic of Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema. She was convicted under the Cyber Security Act and the Cyber Crimes Act, two controversial laws that were recently amended to stipulate harsher penalties. The case has raised concerns…
Nigeria's kidnapping crisis leaves parents scarred
Nigeria: A deep dive into the spike in school mass abductions by armed groups in northern Nigeria. We hear from the parents of some of the victims and ask: Who is behind the kidnappings and what's the government doing about it? And how are mental health institutions perceived in Africa?…
Is Egypt reasserting its influence in Africa?
A rare conversation with Egypt's Foreign Minister about the Sudan War and the tensions with Ethiopia over the river Nile, and Focus on Africa moves its hub from London to Nairobi. Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty has denied that his country is supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces in the…
Zambia President Faces Backlash Over Constitution Amendments
Zambia: President Hakainde Hichilema faces challenges over proposed constitutional changes Why Zimbabwean short film RISE deserves an Oscar nomination Should footballers from the diaspora be allowed to join African national teams after they qualify for the World Cup? Presenter : Nyasha Michelle Producers: Sunita Nahar, Yvette Twagiramariya, Alexander Lathbridge, Stefania…
Why Maasai leaders want luxury camp removed
Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve is at the centre of a legal battle over a new Marriott Ritz-Carlton luxury safari lodge. Why are Maasai leaders calling for the camp to be removed? Also in the podcast, we hear from Malian refugees who allege war crimes committed by the now largely…
Guinea-Bissau: General sworn in after coup
A military general has been sworn in as Guinea-Bissau's transitional president following the 15th coup in the country. Why is the country prone to coups? BBC speaks to families of missing students in Niger state as Nigeria declares a state of emergency following a surge in kidnappings. And we look…
Mali settles gold mine dispute
The Malian government and Canadian mining firm Barrick have ended their two year tax dispute and have agreed a multi-million dollar settlement. So what does the agreement involve? Why did a volcano in Ethiopia erupt after laying dormant for more than 10,000 years? And we find out why Madagascar's beloved…
Guinea- Bissau: Rivals claim victory over election
In Guinea-Bissau, rivals Embalo and Dias claim victory in a tense presidential election as official results remain pending. In Nigeria, separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu has been sentenced to four life terms for terrorism and treason. What does it mean for the group calling for separatism. And in Tunisia, an Indigenous…
Selling body parts for 'rituals' in Sierra Leone
A BBC Africa Eye documentary has exposed the practice of selling body parts for magic rituals in Sierra Leone. We speak to the reporter who went back to the town where an 11-year-old boy was murdered as part of a suspected black magic killing four years ago. Why were two…
Gender-based violence declared a national crisis in South Africa
South Africa's president declares gender-based violence and femicide a national crisis after planned protests A campaign to encourage us to donate our bodies to medical science And Audrey Brown bids farewell to Focus on Africa Presenter Audrey Brown Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Yvette Twagiramariya, Patricia Whitehorne,…