Is peace ever possible in DR Congo?

Is peace ever possible in DR Congo?

Author: BBC World Service December 14, 2023 Duration: 42:58

A largely unobserved truce in DR Congo, results in heightened tensions between Rwanda and the DRC. There's a presidential election just round the corner, with President Félix Tshisekedi seeking a second, and final, five-year term in office. So, is peace ever possible in the DRC?

Also, South African musician Tyla sparks a debate on social media, after describing herself as "coloured". She was talking about her mixed heritage on TikTok. We'll hear a fascinating conversation about the complexities of coloured identity within the South African context.

And we meet Rebeca Omordia the Romanian/Nigerian pianist, championing the work of African classical music composers!


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
Why do child abductions keep happening in Nigeria? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:37
Almost three hundred school children have been kidnapped in the past few days in Nigeria's Kaduna State. The recent kidnappings surpasses the abduction of almost two hundred and seventy six Chibok girls, by Boko Haram in…
Can African women's pay gap be bridged? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:03
On International Women's Day, we ask is a lack of safety and easily available childcare affecting working women's progress at work?Could blanket large-scale tree planting projects across Africa be damaging to the environ…
Will sanctions against Zimbabwe's leader work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:25
The US accuses President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior officials in Zimbabwe of corruption and human rights abuses. But will these sanctions work?More than 70 children are missing following recent jihadist attacks…
Will Kenyan police be deployed to Haiti? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:09
Kenya and Haiti have signed a deal to deploy Kenyan police officers to Haiti but what's holding up their deployment?The United Nations Security Council sanctions rebel leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We ask…
Why has Kenya become part of the trafficking route to South Africa? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:48
Kenya is now a common transit route for undocumented migrant workers to try and reach the southern tip of the continent, and particularly South Africa, says the UN’s migration agency.The Church of England explains how it…
Calls for a war crimes court in Liberia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:34
Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in Liberia's civil wars and the Truth and Reconcialition Committee proposed war a crimes tribunal but why has it not been established yet?Cameroonians struggle to cope as food…
Chad: What's going on and what next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:07
A leading critic of Chad's military leader, Mahamat Déby, has been killed in a shootout with security forces, that's according to officials Yaya Dillo's death comes after the government blamed him for a deadly attack on…
Ghana passes controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:47
Ghana ‘s parliament unanimously passed a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill that could get some people sent to prison for 10 years. Is the proposed law constitutional and is it really about promoting family values?Concern gr…
A landmark deal for Libya.  How will it work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:43
According to the Libyan government, militias have agreed to leave Libya's capital, Tripoli, following lengthy negotiations. The deal comes after a series of deadly clashes in the city in recent months. The country has be…
Why are Malawi's Catholic Bishops critical of the government? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:03
Malawi's influential Catholic Bishops have written a letter criticising President Lazarus Chakwera's government. They say the country is worse off now. than it was four years ago. The government has acknowledged the issu…