Monday, 18th July 2016

Monday, 18th July 2016

Author: BBC World Service July 18, 2016 Duration: 30:16

HIV infections are still the leading killer of African children. And old attitudes to the virus still prevail; the AU postpones elections for a new chairman, so what happens next? And Africa's first Spelling Bee competition.


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
Zimbabwe: teachers suspended for pay strike take legal action [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:17
A teachers' union in Zimbabwe has gone to court to challenge the government's decision to suspend thousands of staff who have not been going to work, citing low pay.The UN is warning that South Sudan could spiral back in…
Uganda investigating novelist's torture allegations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Uganda’s Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi has told the BBC the government is investigating allegations that novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was tortured while he spent a month in custody. Parliament in Libya has un…
Covid: South Africa makes its own version of Moderna vaccine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Scientists in South Africa have made a copy of the Moderna Covid vaccine, a move which they say could help boost vaccination rates across Africa. West African regional bloc Ecowas will deploy troops to Guinea-Bissau to h…
Mali coup 'contagious' in region says chair of Ecowas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:18
The president of Ghana has warned that West Africa is in great danger as a result of recent coups in the region. A 20-year study on the use of treated mosquito bed nets in Tanzania has found that children who sleep under…
Burkina Faso suspended from Ecowas - sources [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:20
The West African regional body Ecowas has suspended Burkina Faso's membership following this week's military coup. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is warning of extreme hunger in northern Ethiopia. Aid agencies face se…
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Duration: 22:44
Rescue teams in Ghana are searching for survivors following a huge explosion that killed at least 13 people.Scientists say the plant enset, an Ethiopian staple, could be a new superfood and a lifesaver in the face of cli…
Many feared dead after huge explosion in Ghana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:47
Many people are feared dead after a huge explosion near a mining town in western Ghana. Police say a vehicle carrying mining explosives collided with a motorcycle near the town of Bogoso. Liberia's President George Weah…
South Africa opens a new Covid vaccine plant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:24
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa opens a brand new Covid vaccine plant in Cape Town, which could be a game-changer in the fight against the pandemic.Meanwhile, Cameroon's plan to get people vaccinated using thei…
The TPLF calls for a ceasefire in the Ethiopia conflict [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:51
The leader of the Tigray People's Liberation Front has called for an immediate ceasefire in the year-long war with Ethiopian government forces. Also, Sudanese protestors are teargassed as they continue protests against t…
Benin opposition leader in court on terror charges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:58
The opposition leader in Benin, Reckya Madougou, has appeared at the country's Economic Crime and Terrorism Court on charges of financing terrorism.The Ghanaian government has said that from midnight on Sunday all visito…