Africa Today

Zambia’s President Hakinde Hichilema has fired the entire board of the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission after allegations that certain officials on the body tasked with fighting corruption, were taking bribes. The accusations have been strongly denied, but a former chairman says the board needs to be reformed.Ethiopia has seen a surge in kidnappings for ransom in recent years and the country’s largest region, Oromia, is one of the worst affected. Who are the groups behind the abductions and what are their motives?And how can artisanal and informal mining in sub-Saharan Africa be made safer?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Nyasha Michelle in London; Blessing Aderogba in Lagos; and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Angola's new law with lengthy prison sentences for vandalism. Who are the real targets-criminals or the opposition?Can Zambia stop boys from being abducted to undergo circumcision? And is China muscling in on Nigeria's potentially lucrative car market?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson, Patricia Whitehorne, Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Craig Kingham Editors :Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Early findings into why a school building in Nigeria's Plateau state collapsed killing more than 20 children, have revealed many shortcomings. But the tragedy was one of more than 20 reported cases in the past few months. How can rules and regulations be tightened to prevent building collapses?Sierra Leone is considering dropping jury trials. What are the arguments for and against the proposed change to the justice system?And we meet Cindy Ngamba, one of the first people to compete for an Olympic medal in boxing as part of the refugee team. How did she become interested in the sport?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Sunita Nahar, Victor Sylver and Claudia Efemini in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Technical Producer: Ricardo McCarthy Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

South Africa’s parliament reopens after landmark elections that lead to the formation of a government of national unity after the governing ANC lost its majority. We talk to international co-operation minister, Ronald Lamola. Is the ANC buying time or wasting time? Somalia imposes a 5 percent tax on digital transactions sparking causing a public outcry And why is Turkey boosting cooperation with Niger? Prsenter : Audrey Brown Producers :Bella Hassan, Joseph Keen and Sunita Nahar in London and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Technical Producer: Jonny Hall Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga. Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

The manager of a coffee farmers's co-operative says small scale farmers in Africa are concerned that they may soon be unable to sell their produce to Europe because of the impact of the European Union's deforestation regulations.New information about the largest rainforest in Southern Africa raises questions about discovery - is it just a foreign concept? And, two decades after his country's capital was conquered by Italy, Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila became the first black African to win Olympic gold, running barefoot in Rome.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Joseph Keen and Sunita Nahar in London, and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi. Technical producer: Jonny Hall Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard.Show less

Is the role of the church in Kenyan politics changing? We hear the perspective of a senior member of the umbrella group- the National Council of Churches of Kenya Why has Chadian President Mahamat Deby cancelled an official visit to Paris scheduled for this week?We talk to the founder of a beauty pageant in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, a place with a reputation for danger.

Zimbabwe's President Emerson Mnangagwa has announced public hearings into the mass killings of Zimbabwe's Ndebele people 40 years ago. The president says the hearings will be a mechanism to bring healing and national cohesion. But a survivor of the massacre of opposition supporters, tells us he does not trust the process.Also, why are major gas companies threatening to pull out of South Africa? And Zambia has spent millions of dollars on hiring new teachers and making primary and secondary education free, but the policy has also worsened class overcrowding.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan, Rob Wilson and Joseph Keen in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Technical producer: Craig Kingham Senior Journalist: Paul Bakibinga Editors : Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard.

Nigerian authorities guilty of violating protesters rights during mass demonstrations against police brutality, known as #EndSars, in 2020. Why hasn't police behaviour changed?Can Africa's booming population be harnessed?And can anyone stand in the way of another presidential term for Rwanda's  Paul Kagame?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Charles Gitonga and Frenny Jowi in Nairobi. Nyasha Michelle and Joseph Keen in London. Technical producer. Philip Bull Senior Journalist: Paul Bakibinga Editors : Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard.

More than half the population in Sudan - nearly 26 million people - face acute hunger as the ongoing war hinders agricultural production. The UN agency for Food and Agriculture (FAO) says it is trying to provide seed to farmers to help grow food.Who are Nigeria's ghost workers who are costing the economy millions of dollars? And will a new government plan succeed in exposing them and crackdown on the problem?And a Congolese entomologist says protein-rich insects are the food of the future.Presenter :Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan in London, Frenny Jowi in Nairobi and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

All through Ghana civil servants have been on strike following the government's failure to honour a pledge to raise their pay. Can their grievances be addressed?We meet a doctor who carries out operations to reverse female genital mutilation.And why are Somalis being forced to remove bodies from a graveyard in Mogadishu?Presenter :Audrey Brown Producers: Joseph Keen, Patricia Whitehorne and Bella Hassan in London. Frenny Jowi and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Journalist: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Refugees and migrants taking land routes across Africa to get to the Mediterranean and Europe, face extreme violence, abuse and exploitation, with far more believed to be dying there than at sea, a UN-backed report says. Plus, why is Tanzania struggling with a huge shortage of university professors? And how the Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay made history at the gruelling Tour de France.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Joseph Keen, Bella Hassan, and Nyasha Michelle in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi Technical Producer: Nick Randell Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The West African regional grouping Ecowas has warned that it risks disintegration and worsened insecurity after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed a breakaway confederation. Can the three landlocked countries go it alone?Can your social media presence be inherited after you die?And a new look at how electronic waste can be recycled in GhanaPresenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Joseph Keen, Bella Hassan, Yvette Twagiramariya and Nyasha Michelle in London. Susan Gachuhi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Nick Randell Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Burkina Faso's military is facing increased pressure after reports of a recent spate of  the deadly attacks of soldiers by jihadist fighters.  The Junta government lead by Ibrahim Traore ,has kept mum about this incidents.Why are soldiers deserting the army in the Democratic Republic of Congo? 25 soldiers have been sentenced to death for running away from battle with the M23 militia group.And members of Kenya’s LGBTQ community call for greater freedoms Presenter:Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan, Nyasha Michelle, Claudia Efemini and Joseph Keen in London. Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Senior Producer: Karnie Sharp Technical Producer: Craig Kingham Editors:Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Africa's youngest nation, South Sudan will head to the polls this December, but critics say they are disappointed with the government’s lack of preparedness.  These elections will be the first ever conducted in the country since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011.  However, several conditions listed in a peace agreement, drawn up in September 2018, have not yet been met.  Is the country ready?Also, what's causing the Gen Z inspired protests in Kenya to continue, despite some concessions by the president?And we learn more about the allegations that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is defending senior officials accused of corruption.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers Kaine Pieri,  Bella Hassan, Joseph Keen and Sunita Nahar in London and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Senior Producer Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Craig Kingham. Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard.

Two countries with major links to Africa are holding make or break elections this week. Britain and France. These elections will usher in new governments which may have completely new approaches to the continent. How will the outcome of the British and French elections impact Africa? And should Africans care? Also, Sierra Leone receives a million dollar grant from a US development agency, to scale up its electricity supply. How did they land the deal and how will the money be used?And the ancient language in danger of disappearing in Ethiopia. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Sunita Nahar, Victor Sylver and Joseph Keen. Tech Producer: Jonathan Greer Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Nigerian authorities say that suspected female suicide bombers participated in coordinated attacks in Nigeria that killed dozens of people. Why do young girls and women become suicide bombers?How the lives of displaced people in Mozambique's troubled Cabo Delgado Province are being rebuilt.And can local communities in Africa can be involved in conservation ? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Sunita Nahar, Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled a new coalition government, after his party, the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in May's elections. Mr Ramaphosa said "the government of national unity is unprecedented in the history of our democracy". What do South Africans think of the new cabinet?Also a conversation with Ugandan designer Latif Madoi who was arrested and relased on bail.And can Tunisia's Ons Jabeur bring home tennis's most title..Wimbledon Champion? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Joseph Keen, Sunita Nahar, Rob Wilson, Nyasha Michelle and Bella Hassan Technical Producer: Gabriel O Regan Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Sierra Leone recently passed a landmark bill to ban child marriage. The country has one of the highest child marriage rates in the world. How easy will it be to eliminate the practice?Also we hear from the new chancellor for the University of Nairobi Professor Patrick Verkooijen. What's his view on the Gen Z inspired protests in Kenya?And how did Togo manage to eliminate four neglected tropical diseases? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Aime Liebowitz, Bella Hassan, Victor Sylver and Rob Wilson in London. Frenny Jowi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Ministers of Ecowas, the regional and political organisation for fifteen west African countries, are meeting in Abuja to discuss the formation of a new regional force against terrorism and unconstitutional government changes. The talks come amidst a rise in jihadist activity across the Sahel and after recent coups.  Is a new regional force, the answer to the challenges faced by countries in West Africa?Also a recent strain of mpox in the DRC has been described as the "most dangerous yet". Another strain has been detected in South Africa. What do you need to know about the virus? And what’s it like being queer in Nigeria?  The BBC is let into a secretly held event for Nigeria's LGBTQ+ community. Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Victor Sylver, Amie Liebowitz, Bella Hassan and Sunita Nahar Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Somalia's ambassador to the United Nations recently accused Ethiopian troops of making illegal incursions across their shared border. Relations between the two countries have continued to decline ever since Ethiopia signed a non-binding agreement with the breakaway Republic of Somaliland earlier this year. Why Africans continue to pay a high price for denied visas into Europe.And how floating solar panels can help Africa become more energy sufficient. Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Susan Gachuhi, Frenny Jowi, Sunita Nahar, Bella Hassan, Nyasha Michelle and Patricia Whitehorne. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi