Focus on Africa

Niger has set strict conditions for reopening its border with Benin closed since the July 2023 military takeover. Among them are a new defence agreement, greater transparency over foreign military activities near the border, and the creation of a joint intelligence unit. The conditions were outlined during talks in Cotonou, Benin's commercial capital between a Niger delegation led by Maj Gen Mohamed Toumba, a member of the ruling military junta, and Beninese officials.
In The Gambia, the country is grappling with rising temperatures, coastal erosion, erratic rainfall, and growing pressure on communities that depend on agriculture and fisheries all due to climate change
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers:   Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer:  Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

The UK's Keir Starmer has resigned as Prime Minister and Labour leader after weeks of mounting pressure over political missteps, a slowing economy and falling support for the governing party. We examine what his departure could mean for UK-Africa relations and the estimated three million Africans living in Britain.
And, nearly 118 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced, and refugees in parts of Africa spend an average of 16 years in exile. We explore what's behind these prolonged displacements and hear one former refugee's remarkable journey.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Victor Chege, Priya Sippy and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

She had set herself a deadline: if she reached 30 without finding a partner, she would freeze her eggs. Her name is Amarachi Amusi, a Nigerian influencer and entrepreneur. She is among a growing number of women across Africa turning to the lengthy and costly procedure of egg freezing as a way of preserving their chances of motherhood while they wait to find a life partner.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Fana Negash and Carolyne Wanjiru Jotham
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Basma El Atti
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Ebola outbreak continues to challenge communities, there is still reason for hope. Despite fear, violence and mistrust, many patients are surviving and recovering from the disease. In areas where treatment centres have been attacked and health workers threatened, every recovery offers a much-needed boost to families and communities struggling with the outbreak. We hear from the BBC’s Anne Soy who travelled to the DRC and has been following response teams in hotspots including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.
Also, we explain how Uganda's cryptocurrency ban has created an illegal network of digital transactions.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Godwin Asediba and Bella Twine
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Russia’s security presence in Africa may be entering a new chapter, with the Central African Republic at the heart of the story. Reports suggest Moscow is looking to replace private military operatives,Wagner Group with Africa Corps, a force overseen by Russia’s Defence Ministry. But the handover appears far from straightforward, raising questions about Russia’s influence across the continent, the future of its security partnerships, and what it all means for the Central African Republic.
And in China, an online trend involving dark-skinned dolls known as Natasha Dolls, fuels discussion about racism and discrimination.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Chiamaka Dike and Ayuba Iliya
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla