Focus on Africa

Africa's football spirit meets the 2026 World Cup buzz, controversy, and opportunities. The tournament is a landmark moment for African football, coming four years after Morocco became the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final at the Qatar edition in 2022. But even before the games begin, the tournament has been shrouded in controversy after the US denied Somali referee Omar Artan entry into the country. Omar was one of six referees from Africa appointed by FIFA for this year's World Cup. We speak to former Ghana international player Jonathan Mensah and former Ugandan international women's footballer, Jean Manayega Sseninder to unpack the opportunity for the 10 African competitors in the tournament.
And, a remote Kenyan community embarks on a mission to empower young girls with vocational skills.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Godwin Asediba and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

There has been continued violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in recent months as rebel groups and armed forces wrestle for territorial control. DR Congo's North and South Kivu provinces have been the epicentre of the ongoing Ebola outbreak, along with Ituri Province where more than 560 cases of the virus have been reported. Parts of these eastern areas are under the control of rebel group M23, whose clashes with government forces have brought additional difficulties in dealing with the virus. We hear from a humanitarian worker in Goma, eastern DRC.
Also, are AI assistants increasingly leaning towards established gender stereotypes in their responses and interactions?
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine, Victor Chege and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

At least 360 abductees were rescued by the Nigerian army from an enclave linked to a terrorist group in northeastern Borno State. Most of them being women and children. While the Nigerian Army says the rescue followed weeks of planning and intelligence-led operations that achieved "complete tactical surprise," overwhelming the terrorists and forcing them to abandon their positions and flee into the surrounding mountainous terrain, a different account has emerged. A local group, the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSAYA) says that it facilitated the unconditional release of the abductees and had been in contact with the militants, while online conversations speculate negotiations and possible ransom. We hear from a security expert.
And a Rwandan genocide survivor Sabin Nkusi shares how her experiences have driven her commitment to supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Over 3,000 African fighters are involved with the Russian army as claimed by Ukrainian authorities. Many of them say they have been misled or coerced into fighting by illegal recruitment agencies promising a good job and salary in Russia.
We speak to the BBC's Sammy Awami who gained access to a prisoner of war facility in western Ukraine, and spoke to some of the young men trapped there.
And we hear about the frustrations of African fans hoping to travel to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Godwin Asediba, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

PCOS affects an estimated 170 million women worldwide during their reproductive years yet as many as 70% of those affected remain undiagnosed, according the World Health Organization. Experts hope that will change following the condition’s recent renaming to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), a term they say better reflects its impact on the whole body, not just the ovaries. So what is it like to live with the condition?
We spoke to 35-year-old Bianca Chenai from Zimbabwe, and 25-year-old Ghanaian, Juliana Naa Dede who have been living with PMOS from a young age. 
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Fana Negash and Basma El Atti
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Senior Producer: Priya Sippy and Carolyne Kiambo Jotham
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla