BBC Africa Today

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.
Daily English United Kingdom News
21 Episodes
1 – 20

Kenya returns refugees to Turkey?

The Kenyan government says it deported four Turkish refugees back home. The UN's refugee agency is not pleasedEgypt officially declared 'malaria-free' by the World Health Organization (WHO) after a 100-year long effort.And why Botswana has never borrowed money from the IMFPresenter: Audrey Brown Producers Amie Liebowitz, Sunita Nahar, Blessing Aderogba…
22 Oct 9AM 32 min

Food poisoning cases rise in South Africa

South Africa's health department say they've begun 'intense' investigations into alleged food poisioning cases especially amongst children. In a recent case six children all under the age of 10 died in Soweto, after allegedly eating food that was poisioned. We hear from a journalist covering the story.Also why South Africa's…
21 Oct 10AM 31 min

What Kenyan youth make of deputy president's sacking

There was drama in Kenyan politics this week which ended with the impeachment of deputy president  Rigathi Gachagua. Young people voted in big numbers during the general elections in 2022.  Two youths share their views on the matter.Why has the government of Ivory Coast has dissolved all student unions?And how…
18 Oct 10AM 26 min

Nigerian fuel tanker crash kills 153 people

An explosion from an overturned fuel tanker in northern Nigeria has killed more than 150 people, including several children. Many others were injured and taken to hospital. Officials say, the death toll could rise. Fuel tanker accidents are not uncommon in Nigeria, so why does this keep happening?Also the International…
17 Oct 9AM 33 min

Fears of food insecurity in northern Nigeria

On World Food Day we consider how changing weather patterns due to climate change are worsening Nigeria's food insecurity.BBC journalist Mohanad Hashim's emotional return to the city of his birth, Omdurman in Sudan, 18 months after the war startedAnd efforts to save the Yaaku language which is at risk of…
16 Oct 10AM 34 min

What's the dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon?

Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have asked the International Court of Justice to help settle a dispute. They are both laying claim to oil rich Islands not far from their coastlines. But who owns the islands and how far back does this dispute go? Also why cargo ships vare losing hundreds…
15 Oct 9AM 32 min

Africa’s deadliest migration route

Why would a migrant embark on a journey on Africa's deadliest migration route?A French-Cameroonian writer on trial in Paris for contesting the 1994 genocide in Rwanda-we find out whyAnd how excess salt in soil is affecting farming communities in AfricaPresenter :Charles Gitonga Producers: Amie Liebowitz, Nyasha Michelle, Patricia Whitehorne, Yvette…
14 Oct 9AM 31 min

Why Eritrea hosted leaders from Egypt and Somalia

The leaders of Egypt, Somalia and Eritrea, countries which all have strained relations with Ethiopia, have been meeting in the Eritrean capital, Asmara. Can Eritrea help de-escalete tension between its neighboursAlso an app that helps detect illnesses in people with black and brown skinAnd the Ugandan bill, seeking to restore…
11 Oct 9AM 33 min

Zimbabwe in major land ownership shift

Zimbabwe announces a major shift in its land tenure. Black farmers will get titles for land seized from white farmers but can only sell to "indigenous Zimbabweans"What's behind the rare flooding in the Sahara Desert?And a community in Uganda with an unusually high number of blind people.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers:…
10 Oct 10AM 28 min

Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast's rocky relationship

Burkina Faso has allegedly withdrawn all its diplomats from Ivory Coast, worsening ties between the neighbours. The relationship has been rocky of late and earlier this year their ministers of defence held a meeting on the border, in a bid to bring about a "new start" in relations - but…
9 Oct 9AM 33 min

Ethiopia's first female president leaves office?

Ethiopia's first female head of state replaced - meanwhile clashes continue in the Amhara region.How the relationship between Israel and African states has evolved a year since the Israel-Gaza war And a pioneer fashion show to highlight the plight of amputeesPresenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: :Bella Hassan, Patricia Whitehorne and Nyasha…
8 Oct 9AM 34 min

Will Mozambicans in Cabo Delgado vote?

Mozambicans will vote for a new president this week, who many hope will bring peace to a country that has faced a jihadist insurgency in the north for almost seven years. How are security challenges impacting campaigning and voting? Also, did you know that for a year, Nigeria has not…
7 Oct 9AM 32 min

Chagos Islands: What next after UK hand over?

Britain agrees to give sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but what follows next?Why the Islamic police in Kano northern Nigeria  is cracking down on sports bettingAnd why are parents sending very young children to boarding school in Lesotho?Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle in London…
4 Oct 10AM 33 min

Kenya's Deputy President faces impeachment

Kenya's Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, who calls himself the “truthful man”, is facing impeachment. Before he was elected as a member of parliament in 2017 little was known about the man, who would in five short years, rise to become Kenya’s second-in-command. So who is he and why is he…
3 Oct 9AM 37 min

Lebanon conflict: A reporter’s witness account.

Lebanon conflict: As Israel continues to attack, we learn the plight of foreigners stranded thereWe assess the state of security in Mali following last month's deadly attack in the capital, BamakoAnd outrage in Egypt after a video showing possible sexual harassment by male doctors goes viral. A medical association vows…
2 Oct 10AM 29 min

DR Congo appeals to the UN

The newly appointed Foreign Minister of the DR Congo, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, tells Focus on Africa, the crisis faced in her country is an international not a regional one. We'll get the details from the BBC's Wahiga Mwaura.Also we'll hear from a member of Eswatini's opposition party after an alleged…
1 Oct 9AM 29 min

Devastating impact of cocaine on Cape Verde

BBC Africa Eye investigates how some sailors were tricked into smuggling cocaine to Cape Verde. We’ll also meet the rap artist and former cocaine addict who is helping addicts Why South Sudan lawyers are challenging the postponement of elections in court Plus, harrowing tales of the conditions young Kenyan doctors…
30 Sep 10AM 33 min

Inside the Sudan war with the Sudanese army

The leader of the Sudanese army has told UN General Assembly in New York, that a peace deal depends on the paramilitary Rapid Support Force laying down their arms. The army has also launched a major offensive in the capital Khartoum, targeting areas in the hands of RSF. The BBC's…
27 Sep 10AM 34 min

Kenya: ‘excessive force’ used during protests

Kenyan police are alleged to have used unlawful force during protests in June. How African countries benefit from having satellites in spaceAnd Ethiopia finally launches a stock market. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle in London. Technical producer : Nick…
26 Sep 9AM 33 min

Why is galamsey such a big deal in Ghana?

A coalition of civil society organizations, labor unions, media outlets and religious leaders in Ghana have intensified pressure on the government to act decisively against illegal mining, known as galamsey. What impact does galamsey have on the country? Also, an appeal from Amnesty International to release four activists detained in…
25 Sep 10AM 36 min
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