Africa Today

Thousands of Sudanese Christians face Christmas away from home as the Sudan war continues. We hear from one woman who was born into a Muslim family but converted to Christianity, on how her community tries to help those fleeing the war, and how she maintains Christmas traditions despite living in exile in Egypt.We meet one of the young people who was at the forefront of the unprecedented #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests in Kenya. And Ivorian chef Brice Assemian joins us in the studio to discuss and serve up the dish that the UN agency, Unesco, has declared a part of the unique heritage of Ivory Coast.Presenter Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark. Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Dozens of people have died in stampedes to collect Christmas hampers in Nigeria raising concerns about safety at these events. Also in the programme, why South Sudanese civil servants have not been paid their salaries for nearly a year, and what South African shop owners are saying about the government's new regulations to address food poisonings.

Malawi's government is demanding billions in unpaid taxes and royalties from a US-based gemstone company for rubies exported over the last 10 years. The companies deny the claimsThe tale of the child bride social media sensation in South Sudan.And a couple share their painful experience with infertilityPresenter Audrey Brown Producers: Susan Gachuhi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Stefania Okereke, Yvette Twagiramariya and Amie Liebowitz in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Jonny Hall Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Piracy off the coast in Somalia, had cost the global economy around 7 billion US dollars just over a decade ago. Since then, international security patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean shipping lane all but eliminated piracy. But in recent months, there’s been a resurgence off the coast of the autonomous region of Puntland. Why is that? Also, what's behind the fire at the parliamentary buildings in Liberia? And why Nigerians are not all that happy about "Detty December"? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Bella Hassan and Rob Wilson in London. Todah Opeyemi in Lagos. Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

An underfunded and undermanned contingent of 400 Kenyan police are on a mission to quell gangs in Haiti. How are they coping?More Somali migrants stranded in Libya return home.And Algerian Kamel Daoud was recently awarded a top French prize for his novel Houris- why is it banned in Algeria?Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Amie Liebowitz in London and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Jonathan Greer Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Over a thousand Sierra Leoneans were recently arrested on the streets of Conakry in Guinea and deported. Sierra Leoneans reciprocated with their own deportation of Guineans. This all resulted in a diplomatic spat between the two countries. We'll get the details.Also is Kenya really increasing state surveillance of its citizens? We'll hear government response to these claimsAnd a fresh start for Mali as production begins at the largest non-exploited lithium mine in the world!Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Frenny Jowi and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi and Bella Hassan and Rob Wilson in London Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The World Health Organization recently published its first-ever report on drowning prevention. The rates are highest in Africa-with Uganda one of the highestAnd a Ghanaian shares his close encounter with jihadists in Burkina FasoAre there academies in Nigeria where people are taught online scamming?Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producers: Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi, Blessing Aderogba in Lagos and Amie Liebowitz in London. Senior producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer Philip Bull Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Residents of Mayotte have spoken of "apocalyptic scenes" caused by the worst storm in 90 years to hit the French Indian Ocean territory. Twenty people have been confirmed dead, but local authorities say that number could rise into thousands. We'll look at the impact.Also a look at the painful legacy of landmines in Africa and why campaigns to end their use is always welcomeAnd the life and times of a political cartoonist. We'll hear from South Africa's Zapiro and Kenya's Maddo!Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Stefania Okereke Technical Producer: Phillip Bull Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Ethiopian authorities have reportedly deported hundreds of Eritreans. Many Eritreans there are refugees who fled forced military conscription and government oppression We hear about the lives of Syrians who fled war at home for a new life in Somalia Why did China give the least developed countries it has diplomatic ties with tariff free access.?Presenter Charles Gitonga Producers: Sunita Nahar and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne.

Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to end their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa's plans to build a port in the breakaway republic of Somaliland following talks in Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the "historic agreement", which he said would eventually ensure landlocked Ethiopia's access to the sea. How significant is this?Also what's keeping protestors on the streets of Mozambique? And a look at the complicated relationship between South Africa and Nigeria.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Sunita Nahar, Rob Wilson and Bella Hassan in London. Blessing Aderogba is in Lagos. Technical Producer: Fran Dunne Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Zambia's constitutional court says former President Lungu is ineligible for re-election.  He alleges political interferenceWe'll look at Operation Serengeti, a multinational attempt to stamp out cybercrimePlus, a BBC investigation into how influencers are spreading disinformation on women's health on TikTokPresenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Victor Sylver and Yvette Twagiramariya in London and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Senior Producer :Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Nick Randell Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso, is visiting Libya, in his capacity as chairman of the African Union's committee on the Libyan crisis. His aim is to get the country's rival governments, led by Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah in the west and Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the east, to the reconciliation table. Does the AU have any influence in Libya?Also why are young women in Kenya opting for irreversible surgery as a means of contraception? And a new regulation in Spain giving migrant workers a chance to get their papers in order. Is it good news for all migrants? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi. Bella Hassan and Sunita Nahar in London Technical Producer: Jonny Hall Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

After two previous attempts, John Mahama is set to make comeback as Ghana's president. He was the country’s leader from 2012-2016. Ghana’s economy is struggling and corruption endemic. Political  analyst  Nansata Yakubu explains the huge expectations on a Mahama presidency  over the next four years. The menstrual health taboos facing African women athletesAnd the flaw with Africa’s big infrastructure finance models.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson, Yvette Twagiramariya, Nour Abida and Amie Liebowitz in London. Frenny Jowi in Nairobi Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Nick Randell Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

The BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet has recently returned from Sudan. It's her second visit to the country since April 2023, when the war broke out between the government army and the paramilitary group, the RSF. Lyse says, the humanitarian sitaution in the country is far worse now than it's ever been. She met and spoke to people displaced by the conflict, including women and children and entreprenuers and bankers too. Also, Zimbabwe's High court rules against a law that denies abortion to children and women raped in marriage or in cases of incestAnd a journey into the Congo Basin where more than 700 new species have been discovered!Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson, Bella Hassan and Sunita Nahar in London Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Namibia has elected its first female president, who is she, and what cultural and political obstacles will she need to overcome?How the rape of a woman in Mauritania has sparked national protests and reflection As surrogacy becomes common in Nigeria, there is a new bill to regulate the practice.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers :Bella Hassan, Sunita Nahar and Rob Wilson in London.  Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Senior Producer :Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer. Editors :Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Ghanaians are preparing to vote in their presidential election this Saturday. The election is being contested between vice-president Mahamudu Bawumia and former president John Mahama. What are the key issues voters will be focusing on? Also, Sierra Leone's desire to return to being a rice exporter, instead of importing the country's most favourite foodAnd French President Macron's pivot towards anglophone countries in Africa. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson and Victor Sylver in London Technical Producer: Nick Randell Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Nigeria air strikes: Tudunbiri village continues to mourn dozens of deaths and cope with injuries one year later onWe look at the impact of mercury poisoning caused by illegal mining in southwestern GhanaAnd how easy is it for you to travel to another African country?Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan and Amie Liebowitz in London., Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Francesca Dunne. Editors :Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

US President Biden is in Angola for what is likely to be the final foreign trip of his presidency. It’s his first visit to Sub- Saharan Africa and it's part of a promise the president made, during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in 2022, to travel to the continent. But, it comes almost at the end of his tenure, so what does the president's trip to Angola say about the US Africa policy?Also, we'll hear hearing from the Mozambican opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, as protests continue over election resultsAnd who is Maxim Shugalei and what's he doing in Africa? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi in Nairobi. Rob Wilson and Victor Sylver in London. Technical producer: Nick Randell Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Negotiators in the South Korean city of Busan are trying to reach the first ever a global treaty on plastic. How stress from climate change is leading to increased violence against women.And a film maker’s odyssey to preserve the legacy of a local Ugandan photographer.Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson, Nour Abida and Nyasha Michelle in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Producer : Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

There are now 35 million people internally displaced across the continent, that's according to a recent report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. That's a threefold increase since 2009, when African governments signed a landmark deal legally binding countries to try and tackle the causes of displacement. So why is there an increase? Also, we'll hear from Leila Soueif, the Egyptian mother on hunger strike, protesting against the continued detention of her son, Alaa Abd el-FattahAnd we learn more about the origins of democracy through a system called dikgotla, in Botswana!Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan, Rob Wilson, Victor Sylver and Amie Liebowitz Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi