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.
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…
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…
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…
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 government As a Ugandan UN judge is jailed for forcing her maid to work as a slave-does she have support back home? And…
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…
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 aid Presenter: Charles…
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…
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 cryptocurrency And we meet the artist who has designed more than 2000 album covers Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Richard Kagoe, Bella Hassan and Yvette…
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…
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…
'Ethiopians are one shock away from catastrophe'
In a stark warning, the head of the UN's food aid agency in Ethiopia said millions in the country are "one shock away from falling into a catastrophe". Zlatan Milišić's statement came as he announced that because of a lack of funding the World Food Programme was "being forced to…
A cocktail of long jail terms for Tunisian opposition leaders.
Why were Tunisian opposition figures jailed on terror and conspiracy charges ? Are new cybersecurity laws in Zambia really aimed at quashing political dissent ? And Pope Francis remembered by someone who knew him Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Tom Kavanagh, Victor Sylver, Yvette Twagiramariya and…
Haiti: A growing challenge for Kenyan officers?
Haiti is facing a ‘point of no return’, says the UN's special envoy to the country, María Isabel Salvador. She also said that Member States must increase support to Haiti’s security forces, particularly the Multinational Security Support Mission, "not as a matter of choice but of necessity”. What does this…
What was Pope Francis's relationship with Africa?
Pope Francis visited Africa multiple times and the continent has one of the fastest growing Catholic populations in the world. As tributes pour in after the announcement of his death, we hear from our Global Religion reporter on what his legacy will be in Africa. What's behind the deadly clashes…
Humanitarians working in Sudan speak
Sudan is facing the largest humanitarian crisis globally. As the country’s civil war enters its third year, the United Nations and Non-Governmental organisations say it civilians are continuing to pay the price, due to inaction. Humanitarians, some in the country, share their experiences. Also, what is the International Parliamentary group…
Sudan’s rebel forces declare rival government
Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have declared the formation of a rival government in areas under their control, will that change the course of the civil war that is now entering its third year? Will former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila who is planning…
Kidnappings increase in South Africa
An American pastor who was kidnapped by armed men during a church service in South Africa last week has been rescued following a "high-intensity shoot-out". Police say three people were killed. Josh Sullivan was found unharmed in the township in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province. Why is South Africa…
Will Africa benefit from rising gold prices?
Will African gold producers benefit from a surge in prices this year? There's been a price hike after the start of a global trade war An inquest into the apartheid-era death of Nobel laureate Albert Luthuli reopens nearly 60 years later People displaced by the Uganda oil pipeline complain that…
RSF takeover Zamzam camp in Darfur
The UN says more than 100 civilians, among them at least 20 children and a medical team, have been killed in a series of attacks in Sudan's western Darfur region. The attacks, on the city of el-Fasher and two nearby camps, Zamzam and Abu Shouk, have been blamed on the…
Rwanda asks UK to extradite genocide suspects
More than 30 years after the genocide in Rwanda, the country has asked Britain to extradite six suspects on UK soil. Can the suspects face trial in UK for the alleged crimes? As Gabon seeks to transition to a democratic system, could the coup’s mastermind General Brice Oligui Nguema win…