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BBC World Service

Two essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the news from Africa. Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna.

Focus on Africa

For millions of young Africans, leaving home in search of better opportunities has become an increasingly attractive option. A recent Afrobarometer survey across 38 African countries found that 55% of young people aged 18–35 have considered emigrating. Roughly 22% would prefer to remain somewhere in Africa, while 60% favour Europe or North America. Among those considering leaving, better work opportunities are the leading motivation, but is this merely about better work opportunities and what would make young Africans stay? 

Host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to Oluwaseyi Makinde, who moved from Nigeria to Canada as a teenager, only to return to Nigeria as an adult, and Omotoke Motunrayo Fatoki who made the move from Nigeria to Rwanda. 

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna 

Producers: Ayuba Iliya, Carolyne Jotham and Keikantse Shumba 

Technical Producer: Herbert Masua

Senior Producers: Priyanka Sippy, Blessing Aderogba and Charles Gitonga

Editors: Daniel Dadzie, Maryam Abdalla

JAPA: Does migrating pay off?

Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia between Tigrayan forces and the national army is threatening a return to civil war after four years of peace. On Thursday, The Ethiopian National Defense Force siad it had killed hundrends of Tigray fighters and captured a large number of others. The military described its activity as a counter-attack. Fighting is also escalating in Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia. We hear from a resident in Mekelle, Tigray's capital and what this means for the peace and stability of the country. 

And New York is hosting world leaders for the UN General Assembly. We get on a discussion with Africa's young people to understand if they connect with the policies that affect their future.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producer: Rukia Bulle, Bella Twine and Keikantse Shumba 
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Ethiopia Tigray fighting sparks fears of new war

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR says Chad is now hosting around 1.5 million refugees and asylum-seekers from Sudan. And despite the war entering its fourth year, the flow of people has not stopped. More than 50,000 of them have arrived in Eastern Chad this year alone. We speak with Mamadou Dian Baldé, UNHCR's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa who recently visited some of the refugee camps in the region. 

And, September 23 is the International Day of Sign Languages. We look at the role of AI in advancing access to information and education for deaf communities.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producer: Rukia Bulle
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Chad faces growing Sudan refugee burden

BBC reporter Madina Maishanu takes us inside the cells where 37 artisanal miners died last week. Nigeria’s Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo says a panel investigating the deaths in Niger State will examine the circumstances of their arrest, detention and whether they were tortured or denied medical care. 

And, from underground beats to international stages, Morocco’s urban music is going global. We explore the significance of Casablanca’s L’Boulevard festival.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Bella Twine 
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Nigeria probes the deaths of miners in custody

For months now, power blackouts have been disrupting life and business for thousands of people in Gambia. The crisis has recently sparked protests in the capital Banjul and surrounding areas and at least 20 people have been arrested. The country's main power provider, NAWEC, says the outage is the result of rising demand, limits on electricity imports, and technical challenges. As public frustration grows, President Adama Barrow who is seeking a controversial third term in the December elections, has pledged improvements in coming months. We hear from those affected. 
And a new study suggests most women in five African countries prefer cash over digital payment methods. 

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Ayuba Iliya and Bella Twine 
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Gambia in crisis as blackouts persist

In January 2027, Nigeria will be heading to the polls. But there’s one thing still largely missing from the ballot, women. According to Nigerian civil society organisation, policy and legal advocacy centre, Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of women’s political representation in the world. 

In fact, women make up less than 5% of members of parliament. And currently only 54 women hold positions across 990 seats in State Houses of Assembly, and 15 states have no female legislators at all.

Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to Ufuoma Nnamdi-Udeh, the Executive Director of Enough is Enough, a civic society organisation and Zainab Buba Galadima, a politician based in Abuja.
 
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Fana Negash, Bella Twine and Carolyne Jotham
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Priyanka Sippy and Blessing Aderogba
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Is Nigeria ready for a female leader?

South Africa has been shaken by a string of unexplained deaths, with nine women found dead in and around Kempton Park, northeast of Johannesburg, over the past two months. South Africa has one of the world’s highest rates of gender-based violence, with women being killed at five times the global average, according to UN Women. The killings have reignited concerns about women's safety and intensified pressure on police to find answers. President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged that authorities will use every available resource to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

And we hear from African music star Fally Ipupa on representing the Democratic Republic of Congo on the world stage amid the country's worsening displacement crisis. Fresh from making history with his album XX and receiving Congo's highest honour, he reflects on his global success and national pride.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya, Bella Twine and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

South Africa probes discovery of women bodies

More than 2,000 people have fled across the Red Sea into neighbouring Djibouti as fighting in Yemen escalates. The renewed conflict between the Iran-backed Houthi movement and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has also displaced more than 100,000 people inside Yemen. Iran‑aligned Houthi rebels have seized Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast after fierce battles with government forces, tightening their hold on crucial shipping lanes.
With thousands more seeking safety across the Red Sea. We take a closer look at the human cost of the conflict and why the latest developments matter for Africa.
And as African cities expand, forests, wetlands and other natural spaces are being cleared for development. Experts say this is altering how cities absorb heat, manage flooding and store carbon. We explore the importance of natural ecosystems to African cities.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya, Bella Twine and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Thousands flee to Djibouti amid Yemeni fighting

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has launched Africa's largest-ever share sale, offering a stake in his oil refinery to the general public. The initial public offering (IPO) covers roughly 3% of the Dangote Refinery and aims to raise $1.6 billion across Africa, targeting up to 10 million shareholders.

Hours after the offer went live, several stockbroking applications reported downtime due to unusually heavy traffic from potential investors believed to be rushing to buy stakes in the company. We explore how young people across the continent are reacting and what this means for them.

And African literature continues to gain global recognition as we hear from writers from Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt and Zimbabwe shortlisted for the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing. What do their stories reveal about the evolution of the continent?

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya, Bella Twine and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

What does Dangote's IPO mean for young investors?

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is expected to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington this week as Senegal seeks a new IMF programme. Earlier, the government introduced measures aimed at easing the cost of living and reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on a new $2.2 billion, three-year lending programme to support economic and financial reforms. However, the deal still requires approval from the IMF Executive Board.

Meanwhile, on the streets of Dakar, protesters are calling for lower prices on essential goods and services, including food, fuel, electricity and rent. We examine the impact of Senegal's hidden debt crisis of more than $11 billion on ordinary citizens, how the country reached this point and what plans are in place to address the challenges.

And we hear from a Ugandan designer whose creativity captured global attention at the recently concluded Miss World pageant in Vietnam. Her striking design, worn by Miss World Uganda, brought to life the seven anatomical layers involved in a Caesarean section, earning international recognition and sparking conversations far beyond the world of fashion.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

IMF talks amid Senegal debt crisis

Thousands of people in the Horn of Africa and East Africa have been uprooted by what the UN has called “once-in-a-century“ floods. We look at why this is happening now.

Kenya's Ogiek community condemns the government, over forceful evictions that have forced members from their ancestral land.

Plus, the initiative bringing hope to talented young South African musicians from townships in Cape Town.

Why is East Africa being devastated by floods?

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