What’s causing insecurity in South Sudan?

What’s causing insecurity in South Sudan?

Author: BBC World Service March 12, 2025 Duration: 28:39

South Sudan’s unity government, led by President Salva Kiir with former rebel leader, Riek Machar as First Vice President, is facing mounting tensions, and clashes between forces allied to the president and first vice president are threatening a fragile power-sharing agreement. Could the young nation be heading towards a new civil war?

For the first time in 17 years, Libya is calling on foreign companies to explore oil in its territory. But will investors be forthcoming?

And why South Africa's apartheid reparations fund remains largely unspent, 30 years after it was set up to compensate victims of gross human rights violations.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Craig Kingham Producers: Sunita Nahar in London. Frenny Jowi in Nairobi and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi


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
Are South African troops ‘stuck’ in DRC? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:25
The first group of South African soldiers deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, arrive back in the country today. South Africa sent around one thousand five hundred troops to the DRC as part of a wider peacekeepi…
Why has Ghana’s nurse strike escalated? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:50
Hospital services in Ghana grind to a halt after a nurses' strike escalatesWhat are the implications of Afreximbank's credit rating being lowered to one notch above junkAnd will Ecowas ever realise its dream of a borderl…
Kenyan blogger dies in police custody [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:44
A 31-year-old blogger, Albert Ojwang, has died in police custody in Kenya. A post-mortem revealed that he was hit on the head and his death was likely to have been caused by assault. The results of the post-mortem contra…
Russia's Wagner Group leaves Mali [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:18
Russia says the paramilitary group Wagner has accomplished its mission and has left Mali, although a Russian presence remains in the West African country, through the Africa Corps. So what did the Wagner Group achieve?Wh…
Uganda: World Bank lifts loan ban [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:35
In 2023, Uganda voted in some of the world's harshest anti-homosexual legislation meaning that anybody engaging in certain same-sex acts can be sentenced to death. The World Bank decided to ban Uganda from receiving loan…
How is Africa affected by the US travel ban? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:37
Is Trump's latest travel ban part of a US disengagement from Africa?Why are many countries now shifting their views on Western Sahara in favour of Morocco?And how can digital skills be made more available for disabled pe…
Lesotho: Why are mothers against 'bluetoothing'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:58
Mothers in Lesotho are campaigning against a needle sharing method which exposes drug users to the risks of HIV and other diseases, taking root in the country. What is 'bluetoothing' or 'hotspotting'?Also, the wider impa…
Dozens killed in twin Mali attacks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:19
Mali's army says it has repelled attacks by jihadists on two military bases. Why is the Al-Qaeda linked group stepping up attacks? South Africa's continued hunt for an alleged illegal mining kingpin in LesothoAnd why is…
Africa to benefit most from Bill Gates fortune [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:51
Microsoft founder, Bill Gates says that most of his fortune will be spent on improving health and education services in Africa over the next 20 years. The 69-year-old said, "by unleashing human potential through health a…