Africa Today

Israel is having its elections and the country's longest serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting for a come back and his main challenger is of Morrocan descent. Gadi Eisenkot was born in Tiberias in Israel to working class parents from Morocco. We explore the impact of this election on Africa.And a young Somali tour guide Sucdi Abdul Fattah, is using TikTok to showcase her country’s beauty and challenge perceptions.Presenter: Blessing Aderogba Producers: Victor Chege , Ayuba Iliya and Bella Twine Technical David Kinyanjui Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Algeria is to send troops to Niger in its first foreign deployment since sending forces to Egypt during the Arab-Israeli war in 1973.The deployment follows a visit to Algiers by Niger's defence minister, as the country seeks support against armed groups, some of which are linked to al-Qaeda or Islamic State. The deployment comes as the two neighbours rebuild ties after a diplomatic rift in 2025, when Niger recalled its ambassador to Algiers. The Algerian Parliament approved the deployment with the aim of protecting Algerian energy investments the government says.And, Ugandan doctors are on a mission to significantly reduce emergency response times on the country's busiest roads. They are helping strengthen emergency response systems and improving care for patients when they need it most.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Blessing Aderogba, Ayuba Iliya and Bella Twine Technical David Kinyanjui Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

A three-day workers’ union strike in Senegal over the rising cost of living disrupts livelihoods and fuels concerns about preparations for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games, The strike, called by the Front for the Defence of Workers (FSDT), which brings together 13 union confederations, began on Wednesday 21st October. The industrial action unfolded against the backdrop of a serious debt crisis and growing pressure on the government to deliver economic improvements. Senegal is set to hosts the Youth Olympic Games begining October 31st, the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil.And climate shocks in Liberia inspire climate justice advocate and environmental conservationist Charles Wellington Morgan Jr to launch an ambitious campaign to plant one million coconut trees coconut along the country’s coastline, using nature to help protect vulnerable communities.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Bella Twine Technical David Kinyanjui Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Edito

The World Health Organization says that while most Africans do not drink alcohol, those who do can drink heavily. So are some young people turning to alcohol to cope with stress, work pressures, and mental health challenges? And are women facing a different set of pressures? We heard from 26-year-old Kenyan content creator Chebet Ronoh, who has documented her struggles with alcohol and relapse, and addiction therapist Caroline Kagia, who achieved sobriety after struggling with alcoholism for nearly two decades. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Kiambo and Keikantse Shumba Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Mozambique has reintegrated more than 100 former Islamist militants into civilian life as part of an amnesty programme launched five years ago to help restore stability in Cabo Delgado. The region has been gripped by an insurgency for nearly a decade, leaving more than 6,000 people dead and displacing around 1.1 million others. With military and regional peace efforts, including a mission led by SADC, struggling to deliver lasting peace, we explore whether rehabilitation and reintegration could offer a path to long-term stability.And, we hear from Nigerian dancer and choreographer Benjamin Daniel, popularly known as Bendancer, about his bid to break the Guinness World Record for the longest dance marathon by an individual. He reflects on the determination, discipline and motivation behind his remarkable endurance challenge in Lagos.Presenter: Blessing Aderogba Producers: Ayuba lliya Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Nigeria's Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate has confirmed their first Ebola case, which also marks the Bundibugyo strain's entry into West Africa. The patient is reported to have visited Uganda, though authorities in Kampala say she also visted the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is the epicentre of the outbreak. Uganda was declared free of the virus in August. We put the frequently asked questions on social media to the World Health Organisation. And, two years after an invasive plant threatened Cameroon’s Lake Ossa, conservationists say they’ve cleared most of it, with more sightings of the vulnerable African manatee. We speak to the man behind the effort.Presenter: Blessing Aderogba Producers: Ayuba lliya, Keikantse Shumba and Bella Twine Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Kenyan high court finds cult leader Paul MacKenzie guilty over the death of 190 children and one adult. Mackenzie ordered members of his cult to starve their children to death so they could "meet Jesus". In 2023, more than four hundred bodies were discovered in mass graves in the forest where his church was located. We hear from one of the first responders onsite in 2023. Also, the World Bank is reporting that Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy should grow by 4.3% this year, higher than the UN projection for the whole world, which is 2.6%. But young people tell us the figures do not translate to jobs for them. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Blessing Aderogba, Ayuba lliya, Keikantse Shumba and Bella Twine Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Across the continent, the increasing price of fuel is being felt by households and businesses alike, as governments grapple with the economic impact of rising costs. South Africans are demanding an immediate decrease, as users in Malawi face acute shortages. As the ripple effects of the hike spreads, we hear from Nigeria's Finance Minister, who has announced a discount at the pump for consumers. Meanwhile new data from the World Health Organisation shows that less than four out of every ten women in Africa who suffer from breast cancer survive. We speak to one of the survivors from Ghana. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Bella Twine Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Across Africa, more young workers are questioning what they should have to tolerate at work. From bullying and excessive workloads to poor leadership and low pay, some are choosing to leave jobs that take a toll on their mental health. The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy 12 billion working days every year, amounting to around US$1 trillion in lost productivity. Meanwhile, Gallup’s 2026 workplace report found that just 19% of employees in sub-Saharan Africa were engaged at work. So what makes a workplace toxic, and how can workers tell the difference between ordinary job pressures and an environment that is damaging their wellbeing? We speak to 23-year-old Vivian Eneche and 30-year-old GG Wambara, both of whom quit their jobs for these reasons? Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Fana Nagesh and Carolyne Jotham Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producers: Priya Sippy and Daniel Dadzie Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Rwanda has secured a 10-year deal to host Formula 1, potentially bringing the sport back to Africa for the first time since 1993. But the cost of developing young talent remains a major barrier. South African driver Mika Abrahams and his mother, Denise, discuss the financial challenges facing aspiring African drivers as they try to progress through the ranks towards Formula 1.Also, women make up nearly half of sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural workforce, yet research suggests they are less productive than men in the sector. Limited access to land ownership, inheritance rights and finance can prevent women from reaching their full potential, affecting agricultural output. The Kenya Pastoral Market Development Programme is helping women in pastoral communities strengthen their financial independence and increase their incomes. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Ayuba Iliya Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila has been named the head of a new political and military alliance that includes M23 rebels, who control vast swathes of Congo’s mineral-rich eastern region. The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, or FRN movement says it wants to remove the government of President Félix Tshisekedi. M23 leader Sultani Makenga will serve as one of Kabila's four deputies in the new movement. The other three also come from the AFC-M23 alliance. And across Africa, the death penalty debate continues, with some countries moving towards abolition while others are expanding or considering the use of capital punishment.Presenter: Blessing Aderogba Producers: Rukia Bulle and Ayuba Iliya Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Survivors of the boat accident where 139 migrants died off the coast of Djibouti have recounted their ordeals to the BBC. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that among those died were 15 children, marking one of the deadliest shipwrecks ever recorded on the Eastern Migration Route. The vessel was carrying 305 people, most of them Ethiopians, heading from Djibouti to Yemen. And, community safe spaces are providing critical support to help young people manage the mental stress associated with HIV, teenage pregnancy, and other structural challenges.Presenter: Blessing Aderogba Producers: Ayuba Iliya Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay has defended international justice institutions and responded to criticism from US President Donald Trump, saying the true measure of justice lies in what it means to victims of conflict and atrocities. Trump described this year's Nobel Peace Prize decision as "disgraceful" and "embarrassing," and said he had never heard of the South African jurist. In an interview with the BBC, Pillay reflects on her lifelong commitment to human rights, justice, equality, and international law. And, BBC Eye investigates how three mourners were shot and killed at a Kenyan stadium during the national farewell of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in October 2025. Presenter: Blessing Aderogba Producers: Rukia Bulle, Daniel Dadzie and Ayuba Iliya Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

For many young Africans, working remotely for an international company sounds like the dream: no daily commute, greater flexibility and, in some cases, the chance to earn in foreign currencies. But is remote working as liberating as it seems? What are the challenges of trading the traditional 9-to-5 for a job that can be done from anywhere?Nkechi Ogbonna speaks to 29-year-old Joy Aliba from Uganda and 34-year-old Mary Usaji from Kenya, who both left their traditional office jobs for remote work. They share what prompted the change, how it has transformed their working lives, and whether the reality matches their expectations.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Thursday marks the end of the three-day national mourning period in Nigeria after a military aircraft crashed in Southwest Ondo state, killing all 25 people on board. Analysts have said it is the country’s deadliest military air disaster since 1992. We hear from witnesses, and our reporter who was at the scene. And a new generation of African travel creators are using social media to show global audiences the continent's beauty through food, fashion, scenery and culture. We speak to a young Liberian creator about why she's on this journey.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Victor Chege, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: David Nzau Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

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