Increased concerns over missing Ethiopia journalists

Increased concerns over missing Ethiopia journalists

Author: BBC World Service August 20, 2025 Duration: 27:44

Two prominent journalists in Ethiopia, Abdulsemed Mohammed and Yonas Amare, have been missing for more than a week after being abducted by what reports say, were men wearing masks and military uniforms. There has been no news about their whereabouts but their disappearances have raised concerns about a crackdown on media freedom in the country.

Aid agencies warn that a surge in the number of people with the respiratory illness diphtheria is becoming 'the most urgent and dangerous threat' to public health in Somalia. Why are cases of the disease increasing?

And how the conflict on the ground in Sudan is affecting migratory birds in the sky.

Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Nyasha Michelle in London. Richard Kagoe in Nairobi Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Maryam Abdalla, Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard


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
ECOWAS leaders consider Niger intervention [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:34
With the coup leaders in Niger refusing demands to hand power back to the elected government, the West African regional block ECOWAS is considering options including a military invasion of the country. ECOWAS is due to h…
Niger coup: Wagner taking advantage of instability - Antony Blinken [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:29
Russia's Wagner mercenary group is "taking advantage" of instability in Niger, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told the BBC. What does this mean and what is next for Niger? Surviving the bombing of the US embass…
Kenya care home abuse revealed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:09
BBC Africa Eye reveals abuse of elderly people at a care home in Kenya. Secret filming shows staff mistreating residents and leaving medical conditions untreated.Plus, we look at the current intensification of fighting i…
Kenya care home abuse revealed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:09
BBC Africa Eye reveals abuse of elderly people at a care home in Kenya. Secret filming shows staff mistreating residents and leaving medical conditions untreated.Plus, we look at the current intensification of fighting i…
Reaction to Senegal's TikTok ban [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:24
We bring you reaction to the Senegalese authorities banning TikTok, which activists have been using to coordinate a string of recent protests. Tensions are high in the country, with repeated protests over legal cases aga…
Kenya: Privacy concerns over eyeball scanning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:43
Kenya’s government has ordered cryptocurrency company Worldcoin to stop signing up new users, due to privacy concerns over the company’s eyeball scanning technology. We look at some of the concerns around digital identit…
How Niger’s coup affects the Sahel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:04
Niger’s military rulers reopen the borders, as Mali and Burkina Faso warn ECOWAS not to use military force to reinstate deposed president Mohamed Bazoum.Plus, following the jailing of its leader Ousmane Sonko, Senegalese…
Mauritius makes progress against smoking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:01
Mauritius, Morocco and Madagascar are leading African countries in making inroads in the fight against smoking, which claims over 8 million lives annually around the world.What's behind the staying power of South Africa'…
ECOWAS threatens action over Niger coup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:52
West African regional body ECOWAS has threatened a military response to the coup in Niger, if deposed president Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within a week.Plus, we look at the impact of Kenya suspending the reopening…
Why Nigerian doctors are on strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:07
Nigerian doctors tell us why they called an indefinite strike, as we discuss some of the challenges facing the country’s healthcare sector.Plus, Mali relegates French, removing it as one of the country’s official languag…