Podcast
Focus on Africa
Thu, March 28 2024 3:12:00 GMT
BBC World Service
Episodes
28 Mar
The Gambia: Personal testimonies on female genital mutilation
<p>Gambia's parliament is considering a bill, to reverse a ban on Female Genital Mutilation. If passed, Gambia will be the first country in the world to do this. Some Gambians say the ban violates their rights to practice their culture, others disagree. We'll hear from two women who share different views.</p><p>Also the airspace dispute between Somalia and Somaliland continues. What's behind it?</p><p>And a conference in Liberia encouraging young people to talk about issues that affect them. </p><p>Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Sunita Nahar, Stefania Okereke and Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi</p> 27 Mar
What's the issue between Binance and the Nigerian government?
<p>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? </p><p>Also Mauritians once enjoyed a healthy economy but the Mauritian rupee has taken a hit. Why is that and what's been the impact? </p><p>And how the London based play 'For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy' is opening up conversations considered taboo, within black communities.</p> 26 Mar
Senegal's next President: Bassirou Diomaye Faye
<p>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?</p><p>Paying a ransom in Nigeria is illegal but out of sheer desperation, many family members still give money to hostage takers. A ransom negotiator tells us how it's done.</p><p>And why some African countries, like Sudan and Kenya are experiencing a heatwave.</p> 25 Mar
Why has Uganda's President promoted his son to head the military?
<p>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 it? </p><p>Also an analysis of the recently approved Rwandan bill that, Rwanda says, will ensure the safety of asylum seekers from the UK</p><p>And why the opinion about the police across the continent is very low!</p> 22 Mar
Why has former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo agreed to run in next year's election?
<p>Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo is once more throwing his hat into the ring. He's agreed to run in next year's Presidential election. He disputed the election results, back in the 2010 poll and that led to an outbreak of civil war in 2011. Thousands died or were displaced. What are his chances, this time round? </p><p>Also a recent internet outage that affected West and Central Africa was caused by a break in a submarine cable system. How do cables, deep on the ocean floor, get fixed? </p><p>And we hear thoughts of Ghanaian Afrobeats star, Kuami Eugene</p> 21 Mar
Women in Sudan: Targets of ongoing sexual violence
<p>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. </p><p>Also, why is Ethiopia running out of medicines and what's been the impact? </p><p>And the founders of Kugali, who produced the animation series IWAJU, tell us how their collaboration with Disney went!</p> 20 Mar
Senegal: President Macky Sall refuses to apologise
<p>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 country's election on Sunday, how engaged are young people in the electoral process?</p> 19 Mar
Kidnapped in Nigeria: A personal testimony
<p>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. </p><p>Also Niger's military junta asks remaining US troops to leave the country. Why were they there in the first place and what would their absence mean for an already unstable region?</p><p>And how did customers at a bank in Ethiopia, withdraw millions of dollars they didn't actually have in their accounts?</p> 18 Mar
Why were Malawian women abused in Oman?
<p>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?</p><p>Also, how African countries can use 'soft power' for their benefit.</p><p>And why people in Botswana took to social media to criticise the 2024 Miss World contest</p> 15 Mar
Will the Rwandan elections be free and fair?
<p>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?</p><p>At least sixty-two Cameroonian national football players have been suspended for lying about their age. So why does lying about your age matter?</p><p>And a young innovator in Sierra Leone designs a robot which he says will preach peace to the world.</p>