Africa Today

A report submitted to the UN Committee against Torture this week said, torture in Egypt has been used as a political tool to curtail dissent and that it was so widespread it amounted to crimes against humanity. We hear a testimony from an Egyptian female in exile in the United States, who alleges she was tortured in prison, under the current regime. The Egyptian government denies all allegations of torture in facilities, including prisons. Also quelea birds are a pest across many countries on the continent. Recently, Tanzania culled over a million of them but the chemical used to kill them in Africa, is either banned or restricted in other countries. I speak to my colleague Dorcas Wangira who has covered this story extensively in Kenya. And we meet Rwanda's first female Barista.

The main opposition leader in Seychelles, Patrick Herminie, is one of eight people charged with witchcraft, following the exhumation of two bodies. They deny the charges, with Mr Herminie calling the prosecution a "political show" intended to taint his image. Meanwhile, we examine the arrest of Tunisian opposition politician Abir Moussi, and look at why another opposition leader from the country, Rached Ghannouchi, is on hunger strike.And why the price tag for conserving the king of beasts, the African lion, could be a staggering $3 billion per year.

Focus on Africa takes you inside Sierra Leone's overcrowded prisons and looks closely at the country's justice system. Our reporter Umaru Fofana looks into a much needed review on how prisoners are treated.Also the Nobel peace prize-winning gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, who is renowned for helping victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, announces his plans to run for president in December. What's the reaction in the DRC and can Denis Mukwege make a difference?And we talk to African playwrights, Tonderai Munyevu and Yael Farber who join over 60 of the world's leading playwrights for an online charity auction taking place at Christie's in London. The event, "Out of the Margins", is organised by the Good Chance theatre and will include writers; Wole Soyinka, Inua Ellams, Tom Stoppard, Tina Fey, and Tanika Gupta.

One year on from the most recent coup in Burkina Faso, we look at the current state of play regarding security, the economy and the ruling junta.We examine the political tensions in Mozambique ahead of the country’s local elections next week.Plus, we meet Kenyan stargazer Susan Murabana, who is bringing astronomy to the people.

Thousands of people in Sudan remain displaced with many seeking shelter in schools. The impact of the war has had a devastating effect on the country's youth who now have no formal schools to attend. We'll hear how this ongoing conflict is disrupting the lives of young people in Sudan.Also, there's frustration in Nigeria as the country grapples with ongoing power outages, despite investment in the energy sector. We find out what's behind the perennial blackouts and get analysis from Nigeria.And how Ethiopians are praying for peace and unity as they begin celebrating the annual religious holiday of Meskel.

The World Health Organization says the African continent has the highest prevalence of the "silent killer" hypertension.  What are the signs and what can be done?Why is the DR Congo government now calling for an accelerated withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission? And good news for Morocco ,a chance to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and after 50 years ,East Africa will host the tournament in 2027.

Kenya says it's confident the deployment of hundreds of its police to Haiti by January will end gang warfare in the country. Last year Haiti's government appealed for help because of spiralling gang violence. Kenya's Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua says it will be an intervention force to disarm what he called the "thugs and the gangs". So does Kenya really have the capabilities to help end Haiti's violence and how do Kenyan's feel about this deployment? Also, why Zambia's former President Edgar Lungu has been warned against jogging in public. The police have described his weekly workouts as "political activism". We hear from Mr Lungu's lawyer and get analysis on the wider political situation in the country.And how AI technology in South Africa is helping with immediate health concerns.

Fighting has reportedly erupted in Ethiopia’s turbulent Amhara region. Reports say local militia fighters clashed with the military, over government plans to disarm local forces. What's behind this escalation, and what does it portend for the future of Africa's second most populous country?We look into why the Egyptian government has ordered a three-month ban on onion exports.And why young women admired  Zoleka Mandela, granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, who has died of cancer aged 43.

France says it will withdraw its troops and ambassador from Niger. The military junta which seized power in July has welcomed the move. But what impact will this have on Niger’s ability to deal with insurgency?Also, in Ghana protestors demand their right to protest amid the arrest of several people by police. For three days demonstrators have taken to the streets to protest against the high cost of living.And we speak to Zawadi Ya Mungu and Kerolin Govender two South African singers from different backgrounds who are collaborating to heal racial divides.

Mohbad: There's been controversy and outrage following mysterious death and hasty burial of Nigerian Afrobeats rapper Mohbad. Authorities have now carried out an exhumation of his body for autopsy following protests on streets and social mediaHow is climate change affecting Africa's pastoralists. We hear from a representative attending Climate Week in New YorkAnd at the rugby World Cup in France this weekend it is reigning champions South Africa against Grand Slam winners -Ireland. What are Africa's chances?

Ten years ago, members of the Islamist group al-Shabab attacked the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. The incident lasted for four tense days and left 67 people dead. In this special episode of Focus on Africa, we'll hear from Valentine Kadzo and Shamim Allu who survived the Westgate attack. They talk about the impact it has had on their lives and how they managed to heal ten years later. We'll also speak to the BBC's Bushra Mohamed, who is a Kenyan-Somali and explains how her community has been affected by the incidents that followed the attack. And security analyst Dr. Hannah Macharia explains how the attack changed Kenya's counter-terrorism approach.

There are concerns that violent extremists are expanding their activities to northern Ivory Coast. A report by the Institute for Security Studies says that these groups have found ways to finance their activities, particularly along the border which West Africa's largest economy shares with Burkina Faso.A landmark case in Rivers State in southern Nigeria gives women the right to inherit property. What does this mean in practice?And the museum in the Netherlands which tells the story behind looted artefacts through the centuries.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, three West African countries in the Sahel region which are ruled by military juntas, have signed a defence pact to come to aid each other in case of any rebellion or external aggression.BBC Africa Eye investigation team gets a look inside a xenophobic vigilante group in South Africa.And how cheetahs from Namibia are now faring in India.

The crisis in Mali continues to deepen. An alliance of Tuareg rebels called the CMA, which had signed an agreement with the government, has announced that it is resuming hostilities. That comes after Mali’s military government ordered the expulsion of French troops and UN peacekeepers from the country, with a jihadist insurgency still proving impossible to overcome.Could the deaths of thousands of people in Derna, Libya and the extensive damage to property and infrastructure been mitigated? We hear the views of a construction engineerPlus, how the self-declared Republic of Somaliland is using an app to boost literacy skills.

There are scenes of utter devastation in Libya's eastern city of Derna, after a powerful storm caused two dams to burst, sweeping away large parts of the port city. Some aid has arrived, but with the country struggling under divided political administrations in the east and west, Libya's Prime Minister in Tripoli said they would only accept "necessary aid". We look at how the catastrophic impact of Storm Daniel has brought the country’s fragile and complex political situation to the fore.The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted a year-long visa ban imposed on Nigerian travellers. Flights were stopped last year after Dubai’s Emirates airline suspended operations in Nigeria as it was angered by moves preventing it from transferring its revenues overseas because of a foreign currency crisis.Also…Conservationists in Egypt oppose the government’s plan to build a highway through Cairo’s centuries old cemetery The City of the Dead.

We look at why Morocco’s government has been selective over offers of humanitarian assistance from abroad, after the devastating earthquake which has killed more than 2,800 people.Four East African countries have reportedly incurred an estimated $30 billion in losses between 2021 and 2023, due to extreme droughts and devastating floods.Plus we meet the Queen of African horror writing, who is scared of ghosts.

The number of people killed in Friday's powerful earthquake in Morocco has risen to more than two thousand people, the interior ministry says. With a magnitude of 6.8, the earthquake which hit central Morocco is the biggest the area has seen since before 1900. We explore the impact of military rule in Guinea two years after the fall of former President Alpha Conde.And we hear how a British-Nigerian performance artist is using opera to reconnect with her Pidgin-speaking roots.

We go to Gabon to get the latest on the situation in the country, after the military forced President Ali Bongo from power. The transitional authorities have held talks with dissidents jailed under Ali Bongo, and have freed some political prisoners.An update from Kadugli in Sudan, an area that has been experiencing heavy fighting in recent weeks. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced there, as the country as a whole faces up to a dire humanitarian situation. Plus should Africa's hopes for the rugby World Cup rest on the current champions - South Africa?

Nigeria's Appeal Court has rejected challenges to Bola Tinubu's narrow victory in February's presidential election. As election petitions become more common in Africa we ask how fair are election challenges. Between July and October 2022, about 70 children in the west African nation of The Gambia died because of suspected kidney ailments allegedly caused by consumption of cough syrup made in India. A year on since the first deaths in the Gambia, we hear from the families about their shared grief and their struggle for justice.And meet young climate change activists on the frontline pushing for more action beyond pledges following the Africa Climate Summit that took place in Nairobi.

Taiwan's president is visiting Eswatini. It's to mark 55 years of cooperation with her country's last African ally. Has Taipei's influence on the continent waned ? We examine the recent spate of coups in former French colonies in Africa.Plus do we really need vultures? Fears that the scavengers are facing extinction