Africa Today

Mothers in the DRC struggling to raise children fathered and abandoned by UN peacekeepers amid fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Also in the programme: we ask South Africa's minister of police whether he's lost control of the spiralling gang violence in Cape Town. And the rising wave of South Korean culture sweeping across Africa.Presenter: Richard Kagoe Producers: Blessing Aderogba, Nyasha Michelle, Bella Hassan Yvette Twagiramariya, Amie Liebowitz Technical Producer: Philip Bull Senior Journalist: Sunita Nahar Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Angola was certified as polio-free in 2015, but is now combatting a new outbreak of the disease after several cases were reported in a Western province. What has caused the virus to come back?A new report says Islamist militants are using Starlink technology to ramp up operational capabilities in Niger. And why are South Sudanese women fashion's favourites and are being sought after on the catwalk?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Alfonso Daniels in London Senior Producers: Patricia Whitehorne and Richard Kagoe Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

At least seven people reportedly killed, and many others wounded during recent anti-government protests in Togo’s capital Lome. The Togolese government denies the allegations.Who is Victoire Ingabire and why has the Rwandan government locked her up again? Plus, a look ahead to the Women's African Cup of Nations in MoroccoPresenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Blessing Aderogba in Lagos, Victor Sylver, Yvette Twagiramariya and Tom Kavanagh in London Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Civil organisations in Mozambique say at least 120 children have been kidnapped by insurgents in the north of the country. The Human Rights Watch group warn of a rise in abductions in the country's troubled nothern province of Cabo Delgado. The children are reportedly being used by Al-Shabab, an insurgent group linked to the so-called Islamic State, to transport looted goods, cheap labour and in some cases as child soldiers. We'll hear from someone closely monitoring the kidnappings.Also, are there increased US bombings against targets in Somalia since Donald Trump became president?And we meet Cathy Dreyer, the first female ranger to head up the team at the Kruger National Park in South Africa!Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Alfonso Daniels and Nyasha Michelle Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

People from Kenya’s growing Gen Z movement hold protests demanding justice and police accountability. We ask whether the police is acting on behalf of the Kenyan government. The protests marked the anniversary of last year’s deadly anti-tax demonstrations. Also in the programme: a quarter of a century after their land was seized, a small group of white farmers in Zimbabwe accept a controversial compensation deal from the government.And why food drops in South Sudan conducted by a American company called Fogbow are proving so controversial?Presenter: Richard Kagoe Producers: Bella Hassan, Charles Gitongo and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Gabriel O' Regan Senior Journalist: Sunita Nahar Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

A new bout of intercommunal violence in Chad, has left more than 40 people dead, according to the Chadian Government. This includes women and children. What's behind the recent rise in violence?Also, the border town of Zalambesa re-opened after years of tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Will it stay that way? And we discuss the mixed reviews of Tyler Perry's latest movie, Straw. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Joseph Keen, Nyasha Michelle, Alfonso Daniels and Yvette Twagiramariya Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

More than 200 gunmen on motorbikes recently attacked a Niger army base leaving at least 34 soldiers dead. Meanwhile dozens of civilians were reportedly killed in another attack in the region. Why is western Niger vulnerable to attacks by militant Islamists?Concerns after Sudan orders universities in Khartoum to reopenAnd how Nelson Mandela used sport to help transform South Africa, 30 years on from the Springboks victory in the Rugby World Cup. Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers:: Sunita Nahar, Bella Hassan, and Yvette Twagiramariya in London, with Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Jack Graysmark Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The South African city of Cape Town is one of the wealthiest cities in Africa, but it's also one of the most unequal. The city has now become the country's gang capital with more than a hundred gangs fighting for control of the lucrative drugs trade. We hear from a local journalist who grew up near one of the most volatile communities in the country, Hanover Park. Also, why the UNESCO protected town of Djenne in Mali is becoming a burden for locals.And the African diaspora community wanting to lay claim to a tiny piece of land, tucked betweeen Sudan and Egypt.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Amie Liebowitz, Yvette Twagiramariya and Nyasha Michelle in London, with Richard Kagoe in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

There is a glimmer of hope that three decades of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo could end after the government agreed a draft peace deal with Rwanda, a country accused of funding the M23, a group that has taken over some significant towns in the east of DRC. Representatives of the two countries will formally sign the agreement next week. But will this deal brokered by the United States work where others have failed?Also, Egypt scrambles for gas supplies after Israel's oil refineries are struck by Iranian strikes and we examine whether other countries in Africa have been affected too.And a bra-scandal: why female staff members at a university in Nigeria were touching the breasts of students before allowing them to take an exam.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Senior Journalist: Sunita Nahar Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agencies to bring an end to the wave of killings in Benue state. It's believed that more than 200 people were killed in attacks across various communities. What's behind the increase in violence?Also, a young man from the DRC is on the path to sainthood in the Catholic Church. Who was he and what did he do to achieve this?And we discuss the state of the book industry on the continent, following the first ever UNESCO report on the issue, with one of the authors of the report, Elitha van der Sandt and the internationally acclaimed Nigerian author, Lola Shoneyin.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Sunita Nahar and Wedaeli Chibelushi Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon is severely impacting education. With widespread school closures and displacement of teachers and students. Over 200,000 students are reportedly out of school.Is China’s recent offer to extend zero-tariff treatment to almost all African countries a reason to celebrate?And why Kenyan smallholder farmers went to court to fight for the right to sell indigenous seeds.Presenter:: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos and Richard Kagoe in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Zambia's former president, Edgar Lungu, reportedly left instructions that his political rival and current president Hakainde Hichilema "should not come anywhere near his body". Edgar Lungu died on the 5th of June and ever since, his family and the Zambian government have been locked in a tussle over his funeral. However, following days of negotiations, arrangements for his burial have now been finalised. This isn't the first time Zambia has experienced burial disputes for deceased former heads of state, including for its independence president, Kenneth Kaunda. Is there no legislation to guide these eventualities? Lawyer John Sangwa provides the answers.Also, why there is a petition to ban pit bull dogs in Zimbabwe? And, as one the art world's leading figures, Cameroonian artist, Koyo Kouoh is buried, we explore the legacy she leaves behind. *CORRECTION: Tribute to Koyo was read by Ami Waickanee and not by Otobong Nkanga.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Sunita Nahar, Tom Kavanagh and Yvette Twagiramariya T

Poor resources, fears of crime and gang violence in townships on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa force some parents to send children on long daily commutes to former white-only schools.  Nigeria's president pardons the late ‘Ogoni 9' activists 30 years after their execution. Why is the pardon being rejected?And coming to you soon the game on reclaiming looted African treasuresPresenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Tom Kavanagh, Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan in London. Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The first group of South African soldiers deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, arrive back in the country today. South Africa sent around one thousand five hundred troops to the DRC as part of a wider peacekeeping mission. In February, at least fourteen soldiers were killed during heavy clashes with the M23, a group fighting against the national government led by President Felix Tishekedi. At home in South Africa there has been public debate about the need for this deployment. Richard discusses the delayed end of mission amid reports of low morale and poor conditions in DRC with the BBC’s reporter, Nomsa Maseko. Also, Ghana makes significant progress in reducing child labourAnd does FIFA's expanded Club World Cup offer fresh opportunities to Africa's football clubs or not? Presenter: Richard Kagoe Producers: Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya in London and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Hospital services in Ghana grind to a halt after a nurses' strike escalatesWhat are the implications of Afreximbank's credit rating being lowered to one notch above junkAnd will Ecowas ever realise its dream of a borderless region?Presenter: Richard Kagoe Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Patricia Whitehorne and Tom Kavanagh in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Technical Producer: Philip Bull Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

A 31-year-old blogger, Albert Ojwang, has died in police custody in Kenya. A post-mortem revealed that he was hit on the head and his death was likely to have been caused by assault. The results of the post-mortem contradict police previous claims which said Albert had "sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall". His death has sparked widespread outrage in Kenya. We'll find out more about the case.Also, what happens to desperate people when humanitarian organisations cannot offer them the aid they need? And why Botswana has paused production at some of its diamond minesPresenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya Technical Producer: Craig Kingham Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard

Russia says the paramilitary group Wagner has accomplished its mission and has left Mali, although a Russian presence remains in the West African country, through the Africa Corps. So what did the Wagner Group achieve?Why has a separatist movement on the tiny, remote island of Annobón that is part of Equatorial Guinea, appealed to Argentina for support with its independence claim?And new research shows that Africa now has more Christians than any other continent, surpassing Europe for the first time. We discuss what is driving that growth.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Alfonso Daniels, Nyasha Michelle, Victor Sylver and Joseph Keen Technical Producer: Craig Kingham Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

In 2023, Uganda voted in some of the world's harshest anti-homosexual legislation meaning that anybody engaging in certain same-sex acts can be sentenced to death. The World Bank decided to ban Uganda from receiving loans because of its legislation. The bank now says it's confident that new "mitigation measures" will allow it to roll out funding in such a way that does not harm or discriminate against LGBTQ+ community. We hear analysis.Also, why increasing numbers of people in Togo are thinking about leaving ECOWASAnd why is Nigeria importing cows from Denmark?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Technical Producer: Kane Masaba-Morgan Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Is Trump's latest travel ban part of a US disengagement from Africa?Why are many countries now shifting their views on Western Sahara in favour of Morocco?And how can digital skills be made more available for disabled people in Africa?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Sunita Nahar, Patricia Whitehorne and Tom Kavanagh in London, with Charles Gitonga, Richard Kagoe and Christine Ntayiai in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Mothers in Lesotho are campaigning against a needle sharing method which exposes drug users to the risks of HIV and other diseases, taking root in the country. What is 'bluetoothing' or 'hotspotting'?Also, the wider impact of the rising Islamist attacks in West Africa And why do people choose Hunger strikes as a form of protest, and are they effective?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya Technical Producer: Nick Randell Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard