Focus on Africa Folgen

A recent attack in Niger's south-western Tillaberi region led to the deaths of 31 civilians. It adds to a trend of deadly assaults by jihadist militants in the tri border area of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (Acled), Tillaberi was the deadliest region in the Sahel in 2025, with more than 1,200 civilian deaths recorded. Also, we take a look at how different people form their accents and how an accent may affect perceptions and social status. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya, Makuochi Okafor and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

A new report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change says that most countries, including those in Africa, will find it difficult to have full autonomy over AI systems. According to the Institute, only 32 countries worldwide host AI-specific data centres, leaving around 160 nations dependent on foreign infrastructure. We hear how the situation is for African countries. And, Nigeria wants to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland in Southern Rivers State; thirty years after environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were executed following a protest that saw the killing of four tradional chiefs of an oil producing community known as Ogoni. This led to the suspension of exploration by oil giant Shell – the company accused of causing the environmental damage. We hear the views of the Nigerian government and environmental activists. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Ayuba Ilya and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

A recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime reveals that a third of cocaine consumed in Europe is transported via West Africa. Since 2019, the region has become a key global hub for cocaine smuggling from Latin America to markets in Europe and Asia, according to the organisation. We look at how the region gained this reputation as a hub of global trafficking. Also Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia are among African countries where internet blackouts have been witnessed recently. We explore the technologies and techniques that youth in these countries are using to stay online.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Chiamaka Dike and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla