Africa Today

There’s been a growing debate on social media about women’s clothing, personal freedom and cultural values, following incidents in Rwanda and Tanzania where women faced consequences over what they wore. In Rwanda, women were reportedly stopped by police and denied entry to a music concert for wearing miniskirts and tight-fitting clothes. President Paul Kagame later defended dress codes in public spaces, saying freedom of expression should respect cultural values. Meanwhile, Tanzanian singer Nandy was recently fined for wearing a diamond catsuit. BBC Focus on Africa spoke to two young women, Kea Sefako from Cape Town, South Africa, and Lez...

Democrats have won control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, securing a congressional majority for the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. Six candidates of African origin won seats in Congress, including 29-year-old Ethiopian-born Melat Kiros, who becomes the first Gen Z woman elected to the US Congress. The daughter of Tigrayan immigrants, Kiros defeated a 15-term incumbent in the Democratic primary before going on to win the seat. But how does their win shape US foreign policy within the African continent?

And Victoria Ama, a Nigerian dancer and contortionist is fusing African...

Over 50,000 Ethiopians have crossed over into Kenya, fleeing renewed fighting in Somali and Oromia regions of Ethiopia. Thousands of these are under temporary international protection status from the UNHCR as they undergo registration. We hear from a BBC reporter following the story in Moyale, a town at the border of Kenya and Ethiopia.

And, for almost every young girl in school in Sub-Saharan Africa, a low hair cut is mandatory. Critics question the practice while others endorse it.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producer: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
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The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are underway in Senegal with nearly 3,000 young athletes from more than 200 countries gathered to compete across a wide range of sports including archery, artistic gymnastics, athletics, basketball and so much more. However, these Games are taking place at a challenging time for Senegal, which is facing growing economic pressures.

And, reparations for slavery are gaining renewed attention as Commonwealth leaders meet in Antigua with King Charles' speech recognising transatlantic slave trade as a ‘shameful chapter’ that ‘fills my heart with horror’ but falls short of an official apology. Listen to African presidents debate reparati...

The 2026 Ibrahim Index of African governance has found broad progress on economic opportunity and human development over the past decade, but also excessive decline in security, human rights and public participation at a time when Africa has suffered global shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic, decrease in development aid and the impact of conflict from across the world.

And, what does it look like to run a cat cafe in Nigeria where people hold several perceptions about the animal? We speak to 'Jason the cat guy' to find out.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna

Producer: Keikantse Shumba<...

The killing of at least ten women in Johannesburg since July once again put the spotlight on violence against women in South Africa. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a four-point plan to tackle gender-based violence and femicide. This included clearing unresolved cases, reducing forensic backlogs, improving safety in high-risk communities, and addressing alcohol-related violence. But a month later, campaigners say questions remain about what progress has been made and whether the government will meet its promises.

Focus on Africa has been speaking to 25-year-old gender based violence advocate Cameron Kasambala and Zizipho Mtwesi, National Project Coordinator at...

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has called his country 'Africa's best partner' as he sought to woo African leaders attending a two-day summit in Moscow this week. While addressing a plenary attended by several African presidents, Putin added that it was unfair that Africa lacks permanent representation at the UN Security Council. This year's event, at its third edition, focused on trade, investment, energy, agriculture and technology, at a time when Russia’s role in Africa is facing scrutiny with Amnesty International urging African leaders at the summit to investigate allegations that Africans and other foreign nationals were misled into joining Ru...

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 Gi...

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...

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 Li...

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
...

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...

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 vuln...

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 tr...

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...

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 an...

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 fu...

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...

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...

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...

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...