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BBC World Service

Two essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the big topics and news from Africa, the people behind them, plus an African perspective on global stories. Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna. Five days a week, ready by late afternoon, Monday to Friday.

Focus on Africa

Protestors have been arrested in Nairobi while objecting the Africa-France event and France-Africa relations, calling it rebranded "imperialism". Macron has announced investments worth $27bn (£20bn) in Africa in areas such as energy transition, digital and AI, the maritime economy and agriculture. The summit is aimed at broadening Paris's partnerships and making investment deals on the continent against a backdrop of rising anti-French sentiment and diminishing power in its former colonies, especially in West Africa.

And, we turn to a not-so new but revived sound of music by South-African musician Zawadi Yamungu, who is creating music that feels both spiritual and contemporary, drawing on themes of ancestry, identity and healing.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Rukia Bulle, Godwin Asediba and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Bella Twine
Editors: Priya Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

What came out of the Africa–France summit?

The president of Botswana Duma Boko in an exclusive conversation with the BBC has shared his view about the state of diplomatic ties between African countries and France, as the "Africa Forward" summit kicks off in Nairobi. 

And, around the world, about 100,000 seabirds are unintentionally killed each year by fishing gear, including 10,000 in South Africa. In response, the conservation charity, BirdLife set up an Albatross Task Force, and by putting bird-scaring lines on fishing boats, they’ve managed to cut the number of albatrosses accidentally killed by 90 percent. 

Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Bella Twine
Editors: Priya Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

Botswana President backs Africa-France relations

We thought you might enjoy listening to the latest season of the BBC’s global investigations podcast World of Secrets: Searching for Soldier Dad. 
In this first episode of the season, we meet Cathy. Cathy is 10 years old when she starts asking questions. Why don’t I have a father? The secret her mum Maggie is forced to reveal changes everything. 
Years later, when lawyers and a geneticist turn up in their hometown in Kenya to take DNA samples, Maggie hopes they can help her finally learn the truth. 
In this investigation, we follow as a team of lawyers and a leading geneticist travel to Kenya to help locate the British soldiers who fathered children then vanished. We witness the groundbreaking legal and scientific detective work used to find the missing dads. 
What’s at stake is more than the reputation of the British army and the UK’s post-colonial legacy. The mixed-heritage children have in some cases been ostracised by their communities and denied a chance of British citizenship since birth – something which could transform their lives.
Searching for Soldier Dad is a BBC Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service. Listen to the full series, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. 
Please note, the image being used is for illustrative purposes only and the child depicted is a model. 
Presenter: Ivana Davidovic 
Series Producer: Josephine Casserly 
Sound design: Tom Brignell 
Executive Producer: Matt Willis 
Commissioning Senior Producers: Katy Davis and Anne Dixey 
Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

Introducing: World of Secrets Searching for Soldier Dad

We speak to South African influencer and software developer Masheane Sefuthi, who has been on a journey to ‘whiten’ his skin; public health advocate Amira Adawe, who has been campaigning against these harmful products; and Kenyan media personality Kush Tracey, who has spoken about reversing skin bleaching after years of struggling with it.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Fana Negash, Basma El Atti and Layla Mahmood
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Carolyne Kiambo Jotham
Editors: Priya Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

'Why I can't stop bleaching my skin'

For a while now, Sudan's military government has been accusing Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates of working with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Sudan war that entered its fourth year in April. Both the UAE and Addis Ababa have refuted that claim. An investigation by the Reuters news agency in January showed the presence of a secret training camp in Ethiopia allegedly used to train thousands of RSF fighters. We speak to a Horn of Africa expert.

Also, bicycles are fading away in many parts of urban Nigeria, but in the northeastern rural community of Mishara, they remain a symbol of love and commitment to marriage.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine and Ayuba Iliya
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

Is Ethiopia involved in Sudan war?

As medical experts work to contain the spread of hantavirus on board a stranded cruise ship in the Atlantic ocean, we hear from a representative of the World Health Organisation in Cape Verde. What's hantavirus, how does it spread and what happens to those on board the MV Hondius luxury cruise liner? 

Also, seven years after the enactment of the law promoting inclusion for persons living with disability in Nigeria, advocates say implementation remains weak.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Rukia Bulle, Bella Twine and Ayuba Iliya 
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

Hantavirus: what you should know

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has finally visited Eswatini where his arrival had been expected since April. The state visit was cancelled last minute, and Taiwan blames China - saying Beijing applied pressure on African countries not to allow the plane carrying President Ching-te to use their airspace on the way to the Kingdom of Eswatini. We look at the significance of this visit and Taiwan's diplomatic ties to the Southern Africa kingdom.

Also, we have a fire chat with Ghanian musician Stonebwoy, whose Accra-famous music festival known as BHIM is going global, headlining at the OVO Wembley Arena in London this August.

Presenter : Charles Gitonga
Producer: Rukia Bulle, Blessing Aderogba and Mark Wilberforce
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Bella Twine
Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

What Eswatini risks by standing with Taiwan

As the world marks World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO has awarded the 2026 Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, recognising their courage in reporting amid threats to their safety and rights. Since Sudan’s war began in 2023, more than 30 journalists have been killed and over 500 violations recorded, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists.

At the same time, we explore how memes and AI-generated political images are increasingly shaping global power and narratives around the US–Israel war with Iran, raising new questions about influence, information, and the future of digital diplomacy.

Presenter : Charles Gitonga
Producer: Rukia Bulle
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Bella Twine
Editors: Priya Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

Sudanese journalists win World Press Freedom Prize

For the longest time, Africa’s migration story has largely been one way: people leaving the continent in search of opportunity. But that story is beginning to shift. Africa’s young diaspora who were born and raised in Europe, the United States and Canada are increasingly choosing to move to countries their parents once left.

Focus on Africa podcast host Charles Gitonga spoke to Dr Maryam Abdishakuur who grew up in Denmark and moved back to her native country, Somalia in her twenties, and Danielle Wanjiku Natche, who grew up in the US and moved to Kenya - where her mother is from - in 2019.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Fana Negash and Basma El Atti 
Technical Producer: Terry Chege
Senior Producer: Carolyne Kiambo
Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

'Is diaspora written on my forehead?'

Uganda’s new bill could jail citizens for up to 20 years for unauthorised foreign funding, citing concerns over foreign influence on national policy. This has raised questions about the future of civil society, independent organisations, and political freedoms in the country. We look at what the Sovereignty Bill could mean for Ugandans if passed into law.

Meanwhile, in northern Zimbabwe, a conservationist is working with rural communities to transform how people live alongside lions, finding practical solutions to long-standing human–wildlife conflict. Her approach is now gaining international attention, earning her the 2026 Whitley Award.

Presenter : Charles Gitonga
Producer: Ayuba Iliya
Technical Producer: Terry Chege
Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing Aderogba 
Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

Uganda sovereignty bill: protection or policing?

In Madagascar, the arrest of Gen Z protesters is fuelling growing doubts about the military leadership that emerged after the 2025 uprising, as young activists question whether anything has truly changed. Elsewhere on the continent, a new report reveals a deepening economic squeeze: African countries are now paying nearly twice as much to borrow as they did in 2020, as shrinking aid forces governments to rely more heavily on costly debt.

Presenter : Charles Gitonga
Producers: Chiamaka Dike and Ayuba Iliya
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

Madagascar: Gen Z arrests fuel doubts over military rule

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