DR Congo: What's behind the instability?

DR Congo: What's behind the instability?

Author: BBC World Service September 5, 2023 Duration: 29:30

The government in the Democratic Republic of Congo has said that at least 43 people were killed when soldiers broke up a demonstration against UN peacekeepers in the eastern city of Goma on Wednesday. We ask what's behind the chronic instability in the DRC?

Around 80 percent of all farms in Africa are tilled by smallholder farmers. They produce most of the food we eat on the continent - and yet they get very little recognition for what they do. We hear from Wangari Kuria, the founder of Farmer on Fire. She is challenging the leaders currently meeting in Nairobi at the first Africa Climate Summit.

And we do a deep dive on the Bongos; the family that has held power in Gabon since 1967.


Each weekday, as the afternoon draws to a close, Focus on Africa provides a thoughtful and necessary pause to understand the continent's dynamic pulse. Produced by the BBC World Service, this daily podcast goes beyond headlines, unpacking two essential stories with depth and context. The reporting doesn't just explain the major events shaping nations and communities; it deliberately highlights the individuals living through these changes, ensuring the human dimension of every story is heard. Furthermore, the program offers a vital African perspective on worldwide events, examining how global developments resonate locally. Under the steady guidance of host Nkechi Ogbonna, listeners are offered clarity and insight, making complex issues accessible. This reliable briefing is crafted to fit into your routine, arriving before the evening with the authority and nuance you expect. Tuning into this podcast means connecting with a nuanced portrait of a continent, its people, and its place in the world, all delivered with journalistic rigor five days a week.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 922

Focus on Africa
Podcast Episodes
Sudan war: 'Music saved my life' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:58
15 April marks three years since the Sudan war began, as the vicious power struggle between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. More than 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the…
Benin to elect new president [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Voters in Benin will head to the elections on April 12 to choose a new president. The winner of the vote will take over from the current leader, Patrice Talon - who is stepping down after two terms and a decade in power.…
US-Iran ceasefire and Africa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
The US and Iran have announced a two week ceasefire which will see the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz - one of the largest transit routes for oil. The conflict in the Middle East has led to a shortage of fuel in many…
Artemis II: Africa on the space frontier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Astronauts aboard the Artemis II spacecraft have begun a four-day journey back towards the earth after completing a flyby of the far side of the moon. The mission began on April 1, when the rocket lifted off from the Ken…
Life on the Autism Spectrum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
In Malawi where resources are scarce and support is limited, the challenges some parents face when caring for their children with autism are extreme. BBC Africa Eye’s Florence Phiri shares her experience documenting the…
'My divorce glow-up' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:57
Divorce rates are steadily rising in many African countries. For example, government data shows the divorce rate in South Africa rose by 8.9% between 2023 and 2024. It increased by 16% in Zambia from 2022 and 2023, accor…
African countries coping in fuel crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Countries across Africa have taken measures to cope with the fuel crisis triggered by the US and Israel's war in Iran. South Africa has reduced government levies on fuel while at the same time announcing a price increase…
South Africa protests after Nigerian 'king' installed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Earlier this week, activists were holding a peaceful march in the port city of KuGompo - formerly East London, but disorder erupted after a protester said he was attacked by a foreigner, prompting demonstrators to damage…
Sexual violence part of 'everyday life' in Sudan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
The medical charity Doctors without Borders - also known as MSF - says rape and other forms of sexual violence remains part of everyday life in parts of Sudan. The MSF's new report is the most comprehensive account yet o…
What UN vote on slavery reparations means [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
The United Nations General Assembly - UNGA, last week, voted overwhelmingly for a resolution to designate the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”. The US, Israel and Argentina voted against…