Africa Today

Kenya’s President Ruto has struck a labour deal with Germany, but how will the policy work, and will the skilled and semi-skilled workers arriving from Kenya be well-received? Is Tanzania's increasing involvement in the tobacco industry sacrificing the health of its population? And why did a student take Ghana's education department to court over his hairstyle?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Charles Gitonga and Frenny Jowi in Nairobi. Yvette Twagiramariya, Benjamin Woodroof and Nyasha Michelle in London Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Why did Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dissolve the National Assembly?Consensual same sex acts are not a crime in Ivory Coast, so why are homophobic attacks on the rise?Plus, we meet the man who's trying to save African indigenous vegetables from dying out.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers:  Charles Gitonga in Nairobi and Nyasha Michelle, Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya in London.  Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Francesca Dunne Editors:  Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Devastating floods caused by a burst dam in northeastern Nigeria have submerged entire residential areas, displacing tens of thousands of people and animals. Authorities say at least thirty people have died. Two hundered prisoners also escaped from the Maiduguri state prison. It's been described as the worst flooding in thirty years, reports our correspondent Azzezat Olaoluwa in Maiduguri.Also, how the influence of so-called Islamic State in Mali is making things worse for women and girls in the Sahel.And the long history behind naked protests in Uganda. Three young women who staged a nude protest against corruption in front of the country's parliamentary buildings recently, are facing charges in a court of law.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan, Susan Gachuhi and Alfonso Daniels. Technical Producer: Nick Randell Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Why are workers at Kenya's main airports objecting to a planned deal to lease the facility to India's Adani Group for 30 years?   How Cameroon's simmering secessionist rebellion is affecting schooling for children    And why African women need to be involved in developing Artificial Intelligence.   Presenter : Audrey Brown Producers: Charles Gitonga and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi, Todah Opeyemi in Lagos with Bella Hassan and Paul Bakibinga in London Technical Producer: Nick Randell Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

On the night of 10 September 2023, Storm Daniel unleashed torrential rain and fierce winds on Libya’s north-east region. Two dams burst near Derna, releasing a devastating flood wave that swept through the city centre, killing thousands of people and causing widespread destruction. A year on since the disaster - a survivor reflects on the day and life now in Derna.Also, there is a new malaria vaccine that could protect pregnant women and their unborn children.And how the recent killings of Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei in Kenya and Christiania Idowu in Nigeria sparked deliberations on the extent of misogyny and femicide in some african societies on social media.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Patrcia Whitehorn, Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

In recent years, there have been several incidents of fires at  boarding schools in Kenya, causing concern about  safety measures in place. Is accountability possible?Dark days ahead as Zambia plans to shut down its hydropower plant at Kariba due to droughtAnd how changing forms of payment for land are affecting women farmers in Sierra Leone.Presenter: Audrey Producers :Frenny Jowi, Susan Gachuhi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos and Bella Hassan in London. Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Algeria's incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been re-elected with almost 95% of the vote. Election officials reported that less than 6 million of the country's 24 million voters turned out to vote raising questions about Tebboune's popular support. We'll get analysis.Also, the Nigerian woman in Canada who allegedly made threats against other Nigerian ethnic groups in the country.And how did African athletes fare at the 2024 Paralympics? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan, Kaine Pieri, Stefania Okereke and Patrcia Whitehorne. Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

South Africa’s ruling ANC denies allegations of harassment and killing human rights activists in the country.The Grenfell Tower fire in London report is out after seven years. 72 people, including several from Africa, were killed. Were any lessons learnt?And why has Ethiopia suspended flights to Eritrea ?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Sunita Nahar, Yvette Twagiramariya, Joseph Keen and Bella Hassan in London. Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Technical Producers: Francesca Dunne and Nick Randell Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died days after being doused in petrol and set on fire by a former boyfriend. The 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner, who competed in the recent Paris Olympics, had suffered extensive burns following Sunday's attack. We hear a moving tribute and reaction to her death, also what's it like being a female athlete? Over 100 people have been killed in northeastern Nigeria by the group known as Boko Haram. Are the militants re-grouping?And can AI be helpful when it comes to archiving African music? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi in Nairobi. Bella Hassan, Rob Wilson and Claudia Efemini in London. Technical Producer: Nick Randell Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

An attempt by inmates to break out of Makala high-security prison in Kinshasa, DR Congo, has led to the deaths of more than 100 people.How can Africa benefit from ties with China?And can traditional and modern medicine work together? We hear from someone who practices both in Uganda. Presenter :Audrey Producers: Sunita Nahar, Bella Hassan and Stefania Okereke in London. Charles Gitonga and Frenny Jowi in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Nick Randell Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

As African leaders gather in Beijing this week for the China-Africa summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping may have one thing under his belt to boast about - satellite TV rolled out in Africa. But have villagers really benefiited or not? Also, an announcement asking to free members of the Muslim Brotherhood from Egypt's prisons is quickly withdrawn. Why? And in Cape Town, artists from across the continent come together to perform challenging art for challenging times!Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan and Stefania Okereke Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The arrival of Egyptian military planes in Somalia ratchets up tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, raising tensions in the already fragile Horn of AfricaA dam bursts in Sudan killing at dozens of people, intensifying the suffering of a country already facing the ravages of war - we ask why dams fail so often in Africa?And doctors in Nigeria have been striking to demand the release of one of their colleagues kidnapped by bandits.

Every year hundreds of thousands of people go missing or are ‘forcibly disappeared’ around the world, and Africa has one of the highest number of cases. On International Day of the Disappeared we hear the testimony of one affected family, and discuss what needs to be done to effectively deal with the crisis. As health officials from several African nations conclude a week-long summit to discuss the MPox outbreak, are they closer to delivering on plans for the rollout of vaccines?   And what are the challenges of being a female stand-up comedian in Tanzania? Comedy sketch performer, Sakinah Chandoo, shares her wit and wisdom.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Bella Hassan, Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke and Sunita Nahar in London. Susan Gachuhi was in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is on a three-day trip to west Africa. He's hoping to curb the record number of unauthorised migrants travelling by boat to Europe via the Canary Islands. But why is migration increasing?Also why is there a delay in paying the Kenyan police deployed in Haiti? And what does naming of a lion, after the leader of the opposition, tell us about politics in Tanzania today?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Joseph Keen, Bella Hassan and Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

An El Nino induced drought is intensifying across southern Africa and has left almost 70 million people in urgent need of aid. Countries affected include Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi and Zambia. We hear about the devastating impact it's having on a community in Northern Zimbabwe.Also the Gambian government wants to make ammendments to the country's constitution..but does it enjoy the support of all its citizens? And the African athletes going for gold at this year's Paralympics! Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Nour Abida, Rob Wilson, Joseph Keen and Bella Hassan in London Techincal Producer: Jonny Hall Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

In a rare move, Burkina Faso’s military-led government has acknowledged that a deadly attack has taken place in which at least 200 security officers and villagers were killed. Some reports say it could be one of the worst ever in the country. So who was behind the attack and why is the military government unable to contain the violence?Zambia faces a maize contamination crisis as aflatoxins – produced by certain mould and fungi - kill dozens of dogs, sparking health concerns. How can communities keep their food safe? And what sparked the massive fallout at at the top of South Africa's opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that has led to the departure and defection of the party’s deputy leader.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Bella Hassan and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Technical Producer: Jonny Hall Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

The Maasai community in northern Tanzania has continued to protest against what they call forcible evictions from their ancestral lands at the Ngorongoro conservation area and a UNSECO heritage site. Why are they being relocated? Kenya’s national carrier, Kenya Airways, has announced that it is out of the doldrums, and has posted its first net profit in more than a decade. What lessons have they learnt from the past, and is the recovery sustainable? And Uganda proposes a new law that will require teachers to attain a bachelor’s degree to continue in the profession.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Bella Hassan in London. Frenny Jowi in Nairobi Technical Producer: Philip Bull Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Yevgeny Prigozhin was at one time the leader of the well known Russian mercenary group, Wagner. The group, since Prigozhin's death a year ago, has changed its name to Africa Corps. Has this altered Russia's operations on the continent? Also how is Burundi coping with the outbreak of Mpox?And is it a good idea to save up for your funeral? We find out why some Kenyans are doing just that.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Nour Abida, Marco Oriunto, Bella Hassan and Sunita Nahar in London. Susan Gachuhi and Frenny Jowi are in Nairobi. Technical Producer : Jonathan Greer Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

At least 30 people have died and around 200 people are still missing after a boat sank in the Lukeni River in DR Congo. It's the latest fatal boat accident in the central African country, where overloading boats is often the problem. Why do these fatal accidents keep happening?Also why were charges dropped against the Libyans arrested while undergoing training at an illegal military camp in South Africa? And who benefits from Lesotho's 'white gold'?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi, Bella Hassan, Yvette Twagiramariya and Nyasha Michelle Techninal Proudcers: Francesca Dunn and Jonathan Greer Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

African domestic workers trapped by their labour contracts in Lebanon as border tensions with Israel escalateA young Liberian poet in America tells us why bookshops are needed back home. And why are Mixed Martial Arts rising in popularity in Africa. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan, Joseph Keen, Rob Wilson and Nyasha Michelle in London. Blessing Aderogba and Todah Opeyemi in Lagos Technical Producer Nick Randell Senior Producer Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi