Focus on Africa

Cameroon holds presidential elections this Sunday with Paul Biya, the world's oldest ruler, seeking another seven-year term. At 92 years old, there have been concerns about his health and ability to rule. The credibility of the election commission has also been questioned. And insecurity is rife in the English speaking parts of  the country.  So, can the polls on Sunday be free and fair?Also in the programme: should advertising boards be removed from football pitches to avoid accidents like the injury suffered by Togo's Samuel Asamoah during a game in ChinaAnd Somalia is to introduce Swahili, the lingua franca of East Africa, to its national curriculumPresenter: Nyasha Michelle Producers: Jospeh Keen, Mark Wilberforce and Tanya Hines Technical Producer: Craig Kingham Senior Journalist: Sunita Nahar Editors: Andre Lombard and Karnie Sharp

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has asked for one year to fix the country's challenges, promising that if they persist, he will resign. He said this during a town-hall style meeting at his palace with various groups of government supporters. Many attendees had the opportunity to ask the president questions or simply share their views. We hear analysis.Also, South Africa’s highest court rules that all parents of newborns, will now be entitled to equal parental leave.And renewable energy overtakes coal as the world's leading source of electricity. What's the impact on African countries? Presenter: Nyasha Michelle Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke and Tanya Hines Technical Producer: Frank McWeeny Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Eswatini accepts 10 more US deportees, despite rights groups in the southern African state mounting legal action to block the plan. We ask what has the Eswatini government got in return?Nigeria's Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaj, resigns after allegations that he forged his academic credentials.And nurses and midwives protest in Ghana for not being paid their salaries for nearly ten monthsPresenter: Nyasha Michelle Producers: Mark Wilberforce, Patricia Whitehorne, Alfonso Daniels and Bella Hassan Senior producer: Sunita Nahar Technical Producer: Nick Randell Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

A Sudanese militia leader has been found guilty of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region more than 20 years ago. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, is the first person to be tried by the International Criminal Court for the atrocities in Darfur. We get analysis.Also, what's Africa's reaction to the appointment of the Anglican church's first female Archbishop of Canterbury?And why are Egyptian children being arrested for online gaming?Presenter: Nyasha Michelle Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Tanya Hines, Stefania Okereke, Mark Wilberforce and Saleck Zeid in London Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Nearly a decade ago in Ghana, 15-year-old Kevin Moses died at Achimota High School. In a landmark ruling last year, Ghana’s High Court found the school negligent for Kevin's death. The school has appealed that decision. Between May 2023 and February 2024, six students died while in boarding school. Why are children dying in schools in Ghana? Also, we hear differing views on what caused the recent floods in Sudan. And how Nigeria's Green Falcons could become the first African team to qualify for the Women's Rugby League World Cup?Presenter: Nyasha Michelle Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Piers Edwards and Stefania Okereke in London Senior Journalist: Yvette Twagiramariya Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Waihiga Mwaura, Botswana's President Duma Boko, outlines his plan to reduce his country's reliance on the diamond industry amid falling global demand, and how he is pushing for a 0% tariff deal with the US.Guinea is showing signs of economic progress under the military-led regime. What is driving the country's economic growth?And more than 200 million people worldwide are infected by schistosomiasis - also known as bilharzia - which is a disease caused by parasitic worms. The majority of those affected live in sub-Saharan Africa. How can the disease be prevented?Presenter: Nyasha Michelle Producers: Sunita Nahar, Mark Wilberforce and Stefania Okereke in London. Makuochi Okafor was in Nairobi Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Editors: Maryam Abdalla, Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Violent clashes, arrests and deaths during Morocco’s GenZ 212 protestsWhy Senegal's fishermen are blaming a BP natural gas project for lack of fishAnd Nigeria's First Lady raises $13million for national library – but why has it taken so long?Presenter : Nyasha Michelle Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Mark Wilberforce, Bella Hassan and Joseph Keen in London. Makuochi Okafor was in Lagos. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

The former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo is sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, treason and backing the Rwandan-supported M23 rebels in eastern Congo. The court has ordered his arrest, but his whereabouts remain unknown We look at the man and his life.Also in the programme: Officials in Namibia have deployed hundreds of soldiers to battle a fire that has ravaged a third of the key nature reserve, Etosha National Park.And we speak to a woman who suffered a heart attack, and we find how such attacks can be prevented.Presenter Nyasha Michelle Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Mark Wilberforce and Ayub Ilia Senior Producer: Sunita Nahar Technical Producer: Philip Bull Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

AGOA: Why is a vital US-Africa trade deal set to expire? And why will women be more affected?Oil workers go on strike at Dangote Refinery in Nigeria following dismissal of hundreds of staff.And professional boxing suspended in Ghana following the death of two boxers in 6 months.Presenter Nyasha Michelle Producers: Tanya Hines, Joseph Keen ,Yvette Twagiramariya, Stefania Okereke, Bella Hassan and Patricia Whitehorne in London Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Philip Bull Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Authorities in Madagascar impose a curfew in the capital, Antananarivo, after protests over frequent power and water shortages turn violent. As the police continue to patrol the streets, we ask whether the government has improved conditions in the country?Also in the programme: The Island of Seychelles, one of the richest countries in Africa, holds a re-run of the presidential elections after the first secured no outright winner.And two years on from the earthquake in Morocco, what kind of support have survivors received from the government?Presenter: Nyasha Michelle Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan, Jewel Kiriungi, Joseph Keen Senior Producer: Sunita Nahar Technical Producer: Philip Bull Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Malawi re-elects former President Peter Mutharika. At 85. How did he beat other contenders?What's life like in Bunagana town along Uganda's recently reopened border with rebel held eastern DR CongoNigerian women push for more female MPs. Does reserving seats for women in parliament help ? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Mark Wilberforce, Nyasha Michelle and Stefania Okereke Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Ricardo McCarthy Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

A new HIV prevention drug will be made available at a lower cost in over 100 low-income countries within two years, including across Africa. It's a move expected to give millions access to the breakthrough treatment and potentially bring the world closer to ending the HIV/Aids epidemic. So, how affordable and effective is it? Also, Zimbabwe continues on a quest to become Africa’s blueberry capital after recently signing a tariff free export agreement with China, one of the largest consumers of the fruit. What impact will it have on the country? And why students in Europe are learning Hausa, a language spoken by millions of people in West AfricaPresenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Patrcia Whitehorne in London. Madina Maishanu in Abuja. Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Senior Journalists: Sunita Nahar and Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard, Samuel Murunga, Maryam Abdalla and Alice Muthengi

UNGA: More than 150 member states recognise the State of Palestine-Cameroon and Eritrea will not.South Africa's police discover illicit drugs worth $20 million on a farm.Plus, we discover the nutritional benefits of eating dried fish.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Makuochi Okafor, Mark Wilberforce, Sunita Nahar and Nyasha Michelle in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard, Maryam Abdalla, Samuel Murunga and Alice Muthengi

A group of deportees from the US have sued the Ghanaian government, alleging they've been detained illegally. We talk to the lawyer representing these deportees and ask what legal framework underpins this US-Ghana deportation deal? And how does this situation tests the principles of human rights? Also in the programme: The BBC has managed to get rare access into Sudan's oil-rich Kordofan region, which has turned into a major front line in the war between the army and rival paramilitary forces. We hear about the people caught up in the fighting.And a 3000-year-old bracelet has been stolen and melted down in Egypt, raising questions about how the country protects its artefacts.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers : Yvette Twagiramariya, Patricia Whitehorse and Makouchi Okafor Senior Producer: Sunita Nahar Technical producer: Jonathan Greer Editors: Andre Lombard, Samuel Murunga, Maryam Abdalla and Alice Muthengi

Togolese Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbe’s sister-in-law, who’s also the ex Defence Minister, has been arrested after calling for end to family rule.How aid cuts and crocodile attacks are contributing to malnutrition in northern Kenya.And why do Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso apparently want to leave the International Criminal Court?Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers : Mark Wilberforce, Bella Hassan, Nyasha Michelle and Sunita Nahar in London. Jewel Kiriungi in Nairobi. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Jack Graysmark. Editors: Andre Lombard, Samuel Murunga, Maryam Abdalla and Alice Muthengi

Guineans will vote in a referendum on a new constitution on Sunday, that would permit junta leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president, despite his promise not to do so when he seized power four years ago. Political analyst Renna Hawili explains the other major proposals.Also, will a new World Trade Organisation agreement help protect the livelihoods of fishing communities off the coast of Africa?And hear why an Ivorian musician's performance at a festival in Paris, was cancelled.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Makuochi Okafor, Yvette Twagiramariya, Ayuba Iliya, Madina Maishanu and Stefania Okereke Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi, Samuel Murunga, Maryam Abdalla and Andre Lombard

South Sudan: UN report accuses leaders of "systematic looting" The government denies the allegationsWhy was the Gambia’s auditor general forcibly removed by police from office? Plus, why domestic worker jobs are on the decline in South AfricaPresenter :Charles Gitonga Producers: Sunita Nahar, Stefania Okereke, Nyasha Michelle and Mark Wilberforce in London. with Jewel Kiriungi in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Samuel Murunga, Andre Lombard, Maryam Abdalla and Alice MuthengiNB in our South Sudan item our contributor Ferenc Davis was introduced as an expert on South Sudan from the International Crisis Group. Prof. Davis is an independent researcher with 15 years work experience in South Sudan.

Several fuel tankers were destroyed in Mali after al Qaeda-linked insurgents, who had declared a blockade on fuel imports to the country, attacked a convoy of more than 100 vehicles. That's according to local reports. A fuel supply blockade initiated by the militant group, JNIM, has been in place since early September. The militants had threatened fuel importers and drivers that they would be targeted while bringing products into the country. Mali's Prime Minister Maïga said, "the damage caused clearly demonstrates that armed groups in the area are desperate and have adopted a new operating method, causing panic in certain places." We hear analysis. Also, there's concern in Ethiopia after 92% of grade 12 students who sat national examinations, failed. It's the third year in a row for bad results in the country. Why are students failing? And who benefits from the continued growth of the Mandarin language on the continent?Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Patricia Whitehorne and Makuochi Okafor Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard, Maryam Abdalla, Samuel Murunga and Alice Muthengi

Why is the treason charge being used against several key opposition figures in some African countries ?We meet Elsa Owusu-Sarpong - aka Bikergirl El’- the tireless road safety campaigner from Ghana. What's the sad tale behind her passion and inspiration?And Africa’s elderly population is set to increase – but how are they treated? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Charles Gitonga in Nairobi with Mark Wilberforce, Sunita Nahar and Patricia Whitehorne in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Editors: Andre Lombard, Maryam Abdalla and Alice Muthengi.

A Ugandan woman, Monic Karungi, known online as Mona Kizz, tragically fell to her death from a Dubai high-rise in 2022. Within hours her name was trending. A grainy video of a woman jumping from a building began circulating, with social media users claiming it was of Monic and that she’d taken her life after a “porta potty” video of her was leaked. We hear from BBC Eye’s Runako Celina, who spent two years trying to find answers as to why and how Monic and another Ugandan woman by the name of Kayla both died under similar, tragic circumstances. Also, what's the state of press freedom in Africa, as it declines sharply around the world?And how two sworn enemies came together to promote peace in NigeriaPresenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Madina Maishanu, Sunita Nahar and Mark Wilberforce Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard, Maryam Abdalla and Alice Muthengi