Is Africa ready for a stronger El Niño?

Is Africa ready for a stronger El Niño?

Author: BBC World Service September 3, 2026 Duration: 22:59

From devastating floods in Nepal to growing weather concerns across Africa, extreme weather is once again putting communities at risk. The United Nations warns that up to 162 million children in Eastern and Southern Africa live in areas exposed to the impending El Niño weather event. Experts say it could be the strongest El Niño in more than 70 years, bringing the risk of intensifying drought, extreme heat and flooding.

And we hear from a macro photographer who captures tiny insects in remarkable detail, in the environments they call home, to inspire people to care about their vital role in our ecosystems.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producer: Keikantse Shumba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla


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: 50

Focus on Africa
Podcast Episodes
Mali insecurity escalates amid jihadist attacks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
At least 50 soldiers have been killed in the latest attack in Mali as insecurity mounts in the country. The ambush took place near the northern town of Anefis and is one of the deadliest to occur in years. The attack has…
Deadly wildfires ravage Algeria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
The Algerian government has said that six people have died in wildfires in several provinces in recent days, as a deadly heatwave ravages the country. Officials have also instructed provincial governors to carry out comp…
Ebola: Kenya denies hosting US aid workers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Kenyan authorities have denied reports that seven aid workers are quarantined in an Ebola facility in Central Kenya. Members of the public and civil society groups have raised concerns following reports that the aid work…
Remembering the Nelson Mandela legacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Every year, July 18 is marked as the Nelson Mandela International Day. It is a moment not only to celebrate the life of South Africa's first democratically elected president, but also to reflect on the values he champion…
'Inside our polygamous marriage' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
You may have heard about South Africa’s viral Netflix show, The Polygamist. The series has been trending across the continent, sparking conversations about relationships, marriage and fidelity. Now, according to the Pew…
Sierra Leone drops treason charge against ex-president [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Sierra Leone's government has dropped its charges, including treason, against ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, who was arrested in connection with an attempted coup nearly three years ago. The charges had been dropped on…
Nigeria abducted teachers and pupils speak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Days after the rescue of 48 school children and their teachers from kidnappers in Nigeria's Southwest Oyo State, authorities call for investigations into the abductions and the release. We hear from the families of the v…
Sudan court sentences RSF leader Hemedti. What next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
A Sudanese court has sentenced the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo - known as Hemedti - to death for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide over atrocities committed…
Wife of Tanzania's Lissu speaks to BBC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Once the target of an assassination attempt, Tanzania's opposition leader Tundu Lissu is now behind bars awaiting trial for treason. His case has become a test of political freedoms in the country and drawn international…