What’s driving the coordinated attacks across Mali?

Loading player...
We look at what’s behind the coordinated attacks in Mali by the Azawad Liberation Front and JNIM, which are raising fresh questions about how much control the military-led government really has and whether its alliance with Russia’s Africa Corps is making a meaningful difference in tackling insecurity.

At the same time, condom prices could rise by up to 30%, a growing concern for African countries that rely on imports and shrinking aid. Experts warn this could affect HIV prevention across the continent.

Presenter : Charles Gitonga
Producer: Ayuba Iliya and Chiamaka Dike
Technical Producer: Mbarak Abdallah
Senior Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla
28 Apr 11AM English United Kingdom News

Other recent episodes

Are billionaires good for Africa?

About twenty-five years ago, Africa had no dollar billionaires. Today, there are 23. Their combined wealth has grown to more than 100 billion US dollars. At the same time, many people on the continent are living in poverty, and their number has also grown. Focus on Africa Podcast host Charles…
22 May 11AM 25 min

Who are the Azawad Liberation Front in Mali?

In Mali, separatist group, Azawad Liberation Front have renewed attacks in the northern part of the country with the aim of creating an independent Tuareg state. We hear from a Sahel security expert on the origins of the group, and their recent alliance with Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) -…
21 May 11AM 22 min

How Arsenal built a loyal African fan base

After 22 years, Arsenal has won another English Premier League title. The team is one of the most popular European football clubs in Africa, and had been running a multi-million sponsorship deal with the government of Rwanda which concluded at the end of the 2025–26 season. We speak to fans…
20 May 11AM 22 min

Ebola: how does contact tracing work?

The Democratic Republic of Congo says the death toll linked to its latest Ebola outbreak has risen to 131, with 513 suspected contacts now being monitored across six health zones, as the government races to contain the spread of the Bundibugyo variant of the virus. And, with global fuel supply…
19 May 11AM 22 min

Who is in charge in Somalia?

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's four-year tenure came to an end on May 15th. However, a contentious constitutional amendment has extended it by a year. The country had failed to hold elections over controversy regarding electoral reforms. We hear how Somalia got here, and what is next for the country…
18 May 11AM 23 min