Africa Today

Kenya has allocated $538 million to its Ebola response after confirming the country’s first case, linked to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The money will support efforts to prevent further spread as health authorities step up surveillance and contact tracing. We look at whether Kenya and its neighbours are prepared as transmission continues in eastern DRC.In Liberia, hundreds of chimpanzees used in decades of medical experiments were left behind after the research ended. We look at what happens to lab animals when scientists no longer need them.Presenter: Blessing Aderogba Producers: Victor Chege and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Burkina Faso's military-led government has opened a gold refinery in a bid to tighten its grip on one of the country's most important industries. The $19 million facility known as Raffinor-BF is financed by the state, including through the National Precious Metals Company (Sonasp), in partnership with Burkina Faso's private sector. The plant will initially be capable of refining 164 tonnes of gold a year, significantly more than the country's current annual production.And in Ghana, authorities are enforcing a long-ignored ban on preaching in moving commercial vehicles, with offenders facing fines, jail time, or both.Presenter: Blessing Aderogba Producers: Ayuba Iliya and Keikantse Shumba Technical Producer: David Nzau Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Forces aligned to Ethiopia's national army have taken control of Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region. This came after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a movement opposing the federal government, withdrew from the capital, days after they had seized control of its main airport. Mobile and banking services apppear to have resumed in some parts of the city after internet disruptions in September. The conflict has also led to a diplomatic standoff between Ethiopia and its neighbours, Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan.And, scientists studying a species of primates only found in Madagascar uncover surprising similarities between their vocal calls and the techniques used by human opera singers. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Victor Chege, Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Twenty-five years ago, a group of senior Eritrean politicians known as the G-15 called for democratic reform. Eleven were arrested and accused of treason. They have never been put on trial, and their families still do not know where they are. Human rights groups, including the UN, consider the G-15, prisoners of conscience and have been calling for their release.Among the detained was former defence and foreign minister, Petros Solomon. Two years later, his wife, Asther Yohannes, was also arrested. Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, has been speaking to their daughter, Hanna Petros Solomon about her search for her parents, and UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea, Dr Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker about the fate of those detained.Presenter: Nkechi OgbonnaProducers: Fana Negash and Carolyne JothamTechnical Producer: Jonathan MwangiSenior Producers: Priyanka SippyEditors: Daniel Dadzie, Maryam Abdalla

Fatima Zahra El Mansouri has been named Morocco's first female prime minister, after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (Pam) won the most seats in last week's parliamentary elections. The party secured 97 of the 395 seats in the lower house of parliament, short of an outright majority, which means El Mansouri’s first task will be to build a governing coalition. Speaking at the royal palace after her appointment by King Mohammed VI, El Mansouri described the moment as historic and said it was a source of pride for Moroccan women. And as Nigeria marks 66 years of independence on October 1, we look back at key moments in the country's history, and how plays and films are keeping those stories alive.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Rukia Bulle, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Kenya has broken the ground for a new oil refinery backed by Nigerian industrialist and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote. The 700,000 barrels per day refinery is believed to be a gamechanger in the energy security and stability of petroleum supply in the East African region. The construction of the $16bn dollar oil refinery in Lamu, coastal Kenya is expected to create about 60,000 jobs and be completed within three years. It hopes to provide 1,000 megawatts of power generation, twice the capacity of his Lagos refinery, serving the needs of the Lamu refinery and beyond.And we hear from Ghana's Abigail Anderson who is using modelling and content creation to raise awareness about the condition and what its like to pursue a career in modelling for people with vitiligoPresenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Rukia Bulle and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

South Africa is reeling from a series of mass shootings that have left dozens of people dead in less than a week near three of South Africa's biggest cities. One attack happened on Saturday evening when eight gunmen stormed a bar near Johannesburg and opened fire on customers killing 18 people. A few hour later, 10 people were killed in a separate shooting outside an entertainment venue near Cape Town. Police say while robbery appears to be a primary motive, they have not ruled out turf wars between illegal mining groups. And one man is making school desks out of plastic bags to help address Ghana's waste problem. Makafui Awuku is the founder of Mckingtorch Africa, and he recycles the plastic sachet bags into school desksPresenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: , Rukia Bulle and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

As heavy fighting resumes between a coalition of armed opposition forces and Ethiopia's federal government, the country's army commander has accused Sudan and Eritrea of backing the rebel groups. Sudan has denied the claimes and described them as baseless. In Tigray, where a deadly war ended in 2022, the regional state broadcaster, Tigray TV went off air on Sunday. Privately-owned news outlet Zara Media Network reported that the station was hit by a drone strike by the federal military. And a new king is set to be crowned in Uganda's Tooro Kingdom on Tuesday, following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. We hear about the coronation process.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

For millions of young Africans, leaving home in search of better opportunities has become an increasingly attractive option. A recent Afrobarometer survey across 38 African countries found that 55% of young people aged 18–35 have considered emigrating. Roughly 22% would prefer to remain somewhere in Africa, while 60% favour Europe or North America. Among those considering leaving, better work opportunities are the leading motivation, but is this merely about better work opportunities and what would make young Africans stay? Host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to Oluwaseyi Makinde, who moved from Nigeria to Canada as a teenager, only to return to Nigeria as an adult, and Omotoke Motunrayo Fatoki who made the move from Nigeria to Rwanda. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Ayuba Iliya, Carolyne Jotham and Keikantse Shumba Technical Producer: Herbert MasuaSenior Producers: Priyanka Sippy, Blessing Aderogba and Charles GitongaEditors: Daniel Dadzie, Maryam Abdalla

Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia between Tigrayan forces and the national army is threatening a return to civil war after four years of peace. On Thursday, The Ethiopian National Defense Force siad it had killed hundrends of Tigray fighters and captured a large number of others. The military described its activity as a counter-attack. Fighting is also escalating in Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia. We hear from a resident in Mekelle, Tigray's capital and what this means for the peace and stability of the country. And New York is hosting world leaders for the UN General Assembly. We get on a discussion with Africa's young people to understand if they connect with the policies that affect their future.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producer: Rukia Bulle, Bella Twine and Keikantse Shumba Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR says Chad is now hosting around 1.5 million refugees and asylum-seekers from Sudan. And despite the war entering its fourth year, the flow of people has not stopped. More than 50,000 of them have arrived in Eastern Chad this year alone. We speak with Mamadou Dian Baldé, UNHCR's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa who recently visited some of the refugee camps in the region. And, September 23 is the International Day of Sign Languages. We look at the role of AI in advancing access to information and education for deaf communities.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producer: Rukia Bulle Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

BBC reporter Madina Maishanu takes us inside the cells where 37 artisanal miners died last week. Nigeria’s Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo says a panel investigating the deaths in Niger State will examine the circumstances of their arrest, detention and whether they were tortured or denied medical care. And, from underground beats to international stages, Morocco’s urban music is going global. We explore the significance of Casablanca’s L’Boulevard festival.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Bella Twine Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

For months now, power blackouts have been disrupting life and business for thousands of people in Gambia. The crisis has recently sparked protests in the capital Banjul and surrounding areas and at least 20 people have been arrested. The country's main power provider, NAWEC, says the outage is the result of rising demand, limits on electricity imports, and technical challenges. As public frustration grows, President Adama Barrow who is seeking a controversial third term in the December elections, has pledged improvements in coming months. We hear from those affected. And a new study suggests most women in five African countries prefer cash over digital payment methods. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Ayuba Iliya and Bella Twine Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

In January 2027, Nigeria will be heading to the polls. But there’s one thing still largely missing from the ballot, women. According to Nigerian civil society organisation, policy and legal advocacy centre, Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of women’s political representation in the world. In fact, women make up less than 5% of members of parliament. And currently only 54 women hold positions across 990 seats in State Houses of Assembly, and 15 states have no female legislators at all.Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to Ufuoma Nnamdi-Udeh, the Executive Director of Enough is Enough, a civic society organisation and Zainab Buba Galadima, a politician based in Abuja. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Fana Negash, Bella Twine and Carolyne Jotham Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Priyanka Sippy and Blessing Aderogba Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

South Africa has been shaken by a string of unexplained deaths, with nine women found dead in and around Kempton Park, northeast of Johannesburg, over the past two months. South Africa has one of the world’s highest rates of gender-based violence, with women being killed at five times the global average, according to UN Women. The killings have reignited concerns about women's safety and intensified pressure on police to find answers. President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged that authorities will use every available resource to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.And we hear from African music star Fally Ipupa on representing the Democratic Republic of Congo on the world stage amid the country's worsening displacement crisis. Fresh from making history with his album XX and receiving Congo's highest honour, he reflects on his global success and national pride.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya, Bella Twine and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Pro

More than 2,000 people have fled across the Red Sea into neighbouring Djibouti as fighting in Yemen escalates. The renewed conflict between the Iran-backed Houthi movement and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has also displaced more than 100,000 people inside Yemen. Iran‑aligned Houthi rebels have seized Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast after fierce battles with government forces, tightening their hold on crucial shipping lanes. With thousands more seeking safety across the Red Sea. We take a closer look at the human cost of the conflict and why the latest developments matter for Africa. And as African cities expand, forests, wetlands and other natural spaces are being cleared for development. Experts say this is altering how cities absorb heat, manage flooding and store carbon. We explore the importance of natural ecosystems to African cities.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya, Bella Twine and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba E

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has launched Africa's largest-ever share sale, offering a stake in his oil refinery to the general public. The initial public offering (IPO) covers roughly 3% of the Dangote Refinery and aims to raise $1.6 billion across Africa, targeting up to 10 million shareholders.Hours after the offer went live, several stockbroking applications reported downtime due to unusually heavy traffic from potential investors believed to be rushing to buy stakes in the company. We explore how young people across the continent are reacting and what this means for them.And African literature continues to gain global recognition as we hear from writers from Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt and Zimbabwe shortlisted for the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing. What do their stories reveal about the evolution of the continent?Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya, Bella Twine and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba Editors:

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is expected to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington this week as Senegal seeks a new IMF programme. Earlier, the government introduced measures aimed at easing the cost of living and reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on a new $2.2 billion, three-year lending programme to support economic and financial reforms. However, the deal still requires approval from the IMF Executive Board.Meanwhile, on the streets of Dakar, protesters are calling for lower prices on essential goods and services, including food, fuel, electricity and rent. We examine the impact of Senegal's hidden debt crisis of more than $11 billion on ordinary citizens, how the country reached this point and what plans are in place to address the challenges.And we hear from a Ugandan designer whose creativity captured global attention at the recently concluded Miss World pageant in Vietnam. Her striking design, worn by Miss World Uganda, brought to life the seven ana

Earlier this year, a young Nigerian went viral after saying he would rather be a donkey in Malawi than a graduate in Nigeria. And he wasn't alone. Another young man made headlines after taking to the streets of Abuja with a placard declaring that he had a BA, MSc and PhD - but still couldn't find a job. Young Nigerians account for the largest share of the country's unemployed population and for many graduates earning a degree has not translated into finding a job. A recent report by ActionAid and Plan International put the number of unemployed young people at 80million, many of which have received formal education to the tertiary level. So, why are so many young Nigerian graduates struggling to find work? Is the problem with Nigeria's education system, the economy, or something else?Focus on Africa podcast host, Nkechi Ogbonna, travelled to Lagos to hear from people on different sides of the issue: Olamide Adeyeye, who works with a job-search platform; 23-year-old Titilayo Nwosu, a botany graduate from Nnamdi

A succession battle is intensifying in Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom ahead of the late king’s burial. Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma has been named the next monarch, but the decision is being challenged by members of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV’s immediate family, raising questions about the kingdom’s future leadership.And Ethiopia is preparing to welcome the year 2019 on September 11. On New Year's Eve, Ethiopians at home and across the world will celebrate Enkutatash, the start of a new year in the Ethiopian calendar. We explore the traditions and how the occasion is marked.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine and Fana Negash Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla