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
20 Episodes

What's the issue between Binance and the Nigerian government?

Cryptocurrency platorms are very popular in Nigeria, so why have Nigerian authoraties clamped down on cryptocurrency firms? And what's going on between the firm Binance and the Nigerian government? Also Mauritians once enjoyed a healthy economy but the Mauritian rupee has taken a hit. Why is that and what's been…
27 Mar 10AM 31 min

Senegal's next President: Bassirou Diomaye Faye

Senegal has a new president-elect, 44 year old Bassirou Diomaye Faye. He is currently Africa's youngest democratically elected leader. Who is he and what are his plans for Senegal?Paying a ransom in Nigeria is illegal but out of sheer desperation, many family members still give money to hostage takers. A…
26 Mar 10AM 35 min

Why has Uganda's President promoted his son to head the military?

Uganda's President 79 year old Yoweri Museveni, has promoted his son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to head the military. His promotion comes amid a major cabinet reshuffle in which five ministers were sacked. Mr Museveni has denied speculation that he is grooming him as his successor. What do Ugandans make of…
25 Mar 9AM 33 min

Women in Sudan: Targets of ongoing sexual violence

Women have become constant targets of sexual violence in Sudan's conflict between the country's military and their former allies, a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces. We'll hear testimonies from young women and get reaction. Also, why is Ethiopia running out of medicines and what's been the impact? And…
21 Mar 8AM 36 min

Senegal: President Macky Sall refuses to apologise

Outgoing president Macky Sall has refused to apologise for the political uncertainty he created when he tried to delay the country's presidential elections. In this special edition on Senegal, we ask if the Senegalese still trust their president? Do they believe in his credibility as leader? Also, ahead of the…
20 Mar 10AM 28 min

Kidnapped in Nigeria: A personal testimony

Yet another kidnapping in Nigeria's Kaduna State, where gunmen abducted around 100 people including women and children, that's according to local authorities. We hear a very brave and harrowing interview from a young woman who was taken by Boko Haram back in 2013, but had a lucky escape. Also Niger's…
19 Mar 10AM 32 min

Why were Malawian women abused in Oman?

A BBC Africa Eye investigation uncovers how dozens of women from Malawi working in Oman, have suffered abuse. The investigation reveals how a WhatsApp group was used to rescue at least 50 of them. How and why were these women abused?Also, how African countries can use 'soft power' for their…
18 Mar 11AM 26 min

Will the Rwandan elections be free and fair?

The Rwandan government says elections will be free and fair. But how democratic will they be if an opposition leader has been banned from standing?At least sixty-two Cameroonian national football players have been suspended for lying about their age. So why does lying about your age matter?And a young innovator…
15 Mar 9AM 34 min

Health workers in Kenya go on strike

Kenya's health workers defy a labour court order and go on a nationwide strike. They are protesting the delayed employment of thousands of medical graduates. How Egypt's galloping inflation is adversely affecting students and ordinary citizens.And is hosting the African Games worth the price tag for Ghana which is in…
14 Mar 10AM 32 min

Why are Congolese refugees protesting in Rwanda?

Congolese nationals who are now refugees in Rwanda have been protesting. Some of them fled the eastern DRC more than twenty years ago because of the ongoing conflict there. Why are they protesting and what are their demands? Also, why did one adult and eight children die after eating turtle…
13 Mar 10AM 26 min

How the recruitment of a Ugandan national to Myanmar turned into a nightmare.

A Ugandan IT specialist, who was trafficked to Myanmar, shares his personal testimony with us.  Francis Kamugisha was trafficked to a scam camp in Myanmar but he managed to escape.  We'll hear his compelling story.  Also, why is the main opposition party in South Africa, the Democratic Alliance, calling for…
12 Mar 10AM 33 min

Why do child abductions keep happening in Nigeria?

Almost three hundred school children have been kidnapped in the past few days in Nigeria's Kaduna State. The recent kidnappings surpasses the abduction of almost two hundred and seventy six Chibok girls, by Boko Haram in 2014. Why do children keep getting abducted? What's going on? Also how the ongoing…
11 Mar 10AM 28 min

Can African women's pay gap be bridged?

On International Women's Day, we ask is a lack of safety and easily available childcare affecting working women's progress at work?Could blanket large-scale tree planting projects across Africa be damaging to the environment?And heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua fights ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia. Could a major upset be…
8 Mar 9AM 29 min

Will sanctions against Zimbabwe's leader work?

The US accuses President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior officials in Zimbabwe of corruption and human rights abuses. But will these sanctions work?More than 70 children are missing following recent jihadist attacks in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province.And how the migrant who inspired an Oscar nominated film survived his harrowing…
7 Mar 9AM 28 min

Will sanctions against Zimbabwe's leader work?

The US accuses President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior officials in Zimbabwe of corruption and human rights abuses. But will these sanctions work?More than 70 children are missing following recent jihadist attacks in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province.And how the migrant who inspired an Oscar nominated film survived his harrowing…
7 Mar 9AM 27 min

Will Kenyan police be deployed to Haiti?

Kenya and Haiti have signed a deal to deploy Kenyan police officers to Haiti but what's holding up their deployment?The United Nations Security Council sanctions rebel leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We ask just how effective they are.And scientists unearth the hidden mysteries of a giant, moving star…
6 Mar 8AM 28 min

Why has Kenya become part of the trafficking route to South Africa?

Kenya is now a common transit route for undocumented migrant workers to try and reach the southern tip of the continent, and particularly South Africa, says the UN’s migration agency.The Church of England explains how it will repair the damage caused by their links to the slave trade. And it…
5 Mar 9AM 24 min

Calls for a war crimes court in Liberia

Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in Liberia's civil wars and the Truth and Reconcialition Committee proposed war a crimes tribunal but why has it not been established yet?Cameroonians struggle to cope as food and fuel prices continue to rise.And what are the benefits and advantages of women-led health…
4 Mar 9AM 31 min

Chad: What's going on and what next?

A leading critic of Chad's military leader, Mahamat Déby, has been killed in a shootout with security forces, that's according to officials Yaya Dillo's death comes after the government blamed him for a deadly attack on the country's security agency. He had denied the accusation. Several others were killed following…
1 Mar 9AM 35 min