Africa Today

Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi has kicked off a three-country tour of Africa. His trip to Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe comes as the country is trying to create new economic relationships, in order to mitigate the impact of sanctions imposed on the country by the United States. Plus, we look ahead to the upcoming elections in Gabon. Victory for incumbent Ali Bongo and his family dynasty looks a virtual certainty, before the vote even takes place. And with Wimbledon underway, South African wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane tells us about making history at this year’s French Open.

As European governments harden their stance on undocumented migration - we hear what's been happening to hundreds of people found in the Mediterranean by Spanish authorities. And what drives people to make these dangerous journeys.Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been attacked in the Tunisian city of Sfax, with dozens reportedly wounded. We hear from one of them. And a plan from the African Union to tap into the youthful energy that abounds on the continent.

We get an update from Somalia. The African Union has begun pulling its troops out of the country and plans to complete the withdrawal by December. Could the move hamper the fight against al-Shabab?Plus, we take a look at the job networking website designed for people who work in the informal sector. And we speak to two African entrepreneurs who are marketing their wares in China.

On World Swahili Day, we take at a look at how far the east African language has travelled and hear from people teaching it from Moscow to Bogotá.Also in the pod: Since the covid 19 pandemic, there’s been growing interest in fruit bats. Our Global Health Correspondent Naomi Grimley has been given special access to a scientific research project in Ghana which aims to monitor them.Also, we give you some more details on Threads, Meta's answer to twitting.

South Sudan hasn't voted in an election since the country gained independence in 2011, but that could change if President Salva Kiir's pledge to hold general elections in 2024 go to plan. Also on the pod: anger is still simmering in Nanterre, France, after the killing of a 17 year old by the hand of the police sparked days of violent protests. A BBC team speaks to local activists and hears from the police.And, why are so many Egyptian athlets are fleeing their country? We look behind the intriguing case of an Egyptian wrestling champion who disappeared and resurfaced in France.

President Ruto outrages environmentalists after lifting a ban on cutting trees. But what does this mean for Kenya’s commitment to the environment? We ask Tracy Makheti, Community Manager at Greenpeace Africa.From problems to solutions: we chat to Omolara Svensson, a Nigerian woman whose mission is to change stereotypes around farming and get more young people into agriculture.Plus, Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija who has a new book called ‘The Savage Avenger’, tells us about his experience of being detained, tortured and having to flee Uganda.

Senegal’s president Macky Sall has announced he won’t seek a third term in office when the country holds an election in 2024. Speculation around what would have been a controversial candidacy has fuelled unrest in the country.Plus, could Kenya become the latest African country to pass new legislation cracking down on LGBTQ+ rights? We look at the foreign organisations influencing the debate in Africa.And we meet Musa Motha, the amputee dancer from South Africa whose inspiring story has touched the world.

Kenya recently launched an online registry where employers can look up names of convicted sexual offenders. But how effective a deterrent is this? We ask Stanley Mutuma, a legal researcher in Kenya.Also in the pod: Psychologist Dr Kirindi Odindo tells us about the added burden of responsibilities many young women feel as first-born girls in their family.And, I speak with the woman who succesfully campained for the South African government to scrap tax on sanitary pads and other period products.

As the mandate for United Nations peacekeeping soldiers to remain in Mali comes to an end after more than a decade, we look at what the force has achieved in the country, and what could happen once the troops have departed.Plus, we examine the impact of IMF-mandated public spending cuts on countries like Kenya, who have to agree to stringent terms in order to receive emergency loans.And we take a look at how the rising cost of living is making it difficult for some young Muslims to make the Hajj pilgrimage this year.

Zimbabweans are once again experiencing triple-digit inflation, ahead of August’s presidential election. We look at the state of the economy, which is once again a huge point of contention ahead of the vote.Plus, as soldiers from Morocco and Israel carry out joint drills for the first time we examine what the two countries are hoping to get out of their new kinship.And after many of us were gripped by the search for the Titan submersible, we speak to the Egyptian man who holds the record for the world’s deepest scuba dive.

We discuss the living legacy of Ghanaian author and champion of women's rights Ama Ata Aidoo, who died recently at the age of 81 with journalist Dr Sharihan Al-Akhras. Also in the pod: we discuss with journalist Mark Lobel the story of a young man who was trafficked to London for an illegal organ donation operation.And Serge Stroobants, from the Institute for Economics and Peace's tells us why 2022 was the "worst year in conflict, this century".

As the Kremlin sends the Wagner boss to Belarus following a dramatic weekend in Russia, what happens to the thousands of Wagner mercenaries serving in Africa? We discuss three possible scenarios with Senior Analyst for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, Julia StanyardAlso in the pod: How disposing of plastics without care can end up clogging up drains and causing floodsAnd, we speak with Luis Munana from the acclaimed Netflix series Young, African and Famous

We look at how clan affiliations which cross national borders have set the tone for the recent fighting which has engulfed Sudan.Plus, as the US dollar becomes more expensive for many African countries, could some be poised to abandon it?And we look at the exhibition bringing the migration stories of African women to the Venice Biennale.

We focus on Ciyaal Weero, the Mogadishu gangs terrorising residents of Somalia's capital. They emerged in outlying districts of the city in late 2021, and have been using extreme violence to rob and extort people.Plus, we speak to the lawyer who represented the family of a Nigerian man who died whilst being restrained by police in Switzerland in 2018, after all of the officers in question were acquitted over his death.And we catch up with South Africa’s Nandi Madida to talk about how she’s using her radio show to promote African artists.

Italy's former PM Silvio Berlusconi died on 12th June. Known for his lavish spending on Milan football club and his tumultuous relationship with Italian justice, the late media magnate had also a lesser-known passion: relaxing in Malindi. He was once quoted saying that he just 'could not get enough of the Kenyan coast'. Today, Malindi attracts European tourists, particularly Italians. A former manager of the super-luxury hotel Lion in the Sun, where Berlusconi stayed, reveals how the once fishing village became a destination cherished by Italians, including the late Silvio Berlusconi.Also in the pod: as politicians and investors meet in Kenya to discuss how to harness renewable energy in Africa, a young policy adviser from Kenya tells us why she believes that wind energy has a promising futureAnd two young Sierra Leoneans discuss the importance of voting in this year's presidential elections

Sierra Leone is experiencing election fever ahead of its fifth election since the end of a brutal civil war in 2002. More than three million voters are expected to choose the next president, parliamentarians and local councillors. And in the pod: A new report into human trafficking states that the number of boys caught up in the system has risen sharply. Why is this?Also: we speak to Bogolo Joy Kenewendo. Not so long ago she was one of the youngest government ministers in Africa. How did she make her presence felt in the corridors of power in Botswana?

Mali's ruling military junta held a constitutional referendum on Sunday, but turnout was around 27%, with many people refusing to take part. We look at what was on the table, and what the outcome could mean in terms of the return to democracy.Plus, as South Africa takes a step towards making universal healthcare a reality, we speak to the head of the country's National Health Insurance about why some people aren't happy about the situation.And we speak to the director of a museum in Nigeria preparing to receive some of the Benin Bronzes looted during the days of British colonialism, about why returning the artefacts home is important.

Nine Egyptian nationals suspected of involvement in the sinking of a boat carrying hundreds of migrants off the Greek coast last week have pleaded not guilty after appearing in court. The men were arrested on suspicion of people smuggling and other offences following the disaster, which saw at least 78 people killed. We talk to someone who has been involved in migrant boat rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea.Also in the pod: The effect of power shortages on South Africa's water supply.And 10 years of K-Pop in Africa.

As African leaders visit Ukraine and Russia to help negotiate peace , we ask what unique perspectives they can bring to succeed where others have failed.Also in the pod: can you really buy your way out of a climate catastrophe? Our Environment Correspondent tells us why buying carbon credits could be insufficient at preventing overshooting our global temperature targets.And, as Belgium refurbishes a museum holding African artefacts, we reignite a conversation between two young Congolese activists on the future of African artefacts taken during the colonial past.

Nigerian students to get interest free loans for higher education. Thanks to President Bola Tinubu's new student loan bill. How will it work in practice?Also in the pod: There has been a furious reaction in Egypt to Netflix’s recently released “Queen Cleopatra” miniseries. We look at why many in the country are upset that a black actor was cast in the leading role.And American pop diva Beyonce on a global tour but why isn’t Africa part of her world?