Focus on Africa

South Africa is reeling from a series of mass shootings that have left dozens of people dead in less than a week near three of South Africa's biggest cities. One attack happened on Saturday evening when eight gunmen stormed a bar near Johannesburg and opened fire on customers killing 18 people. A few hour later, 10 people were killed in a separate shooting outside an entertainment venue near Cape Town. Police say while robbery appears to be a primary motive, they have not ruled out turf wars between illegal mining groups.
And one man is making school desks out of plastic bags to help address Ghana's waste problem. Makafui Awuku is the founder of Mckingtorch Africa, and he recycles the plastic sachet bags into school desks
Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: , Rukia Bulle and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

As heavy fighting resumes between a coalition of armed opposition forces and Ethiopia's federal government, the country's army commander has accused Sudan and Eritrea of backing the rebel groups. Sudan has denied the claimes and described them as baseless. In Tigray, where a deadly war ended in 2022, the regional state broadcaster, Tigray TV went off air on Sunday. Privately-owned news outlet Zara Media Network reported that the station was hit by a drone strike by the federal military.
And a new king is set to be crowned in Uganda's Tooro Kingdom on Tuesday, following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. We hear about the coronation process.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

For millions of young Africans, leaving home in search of better opportunities has become an increasingly attractive option. A recent Afrobarometer survey across 38 African countries found that 55% of young people aged 18–35 have considered emigrating. Roughly 22% would prefer to remain somewhere in Africa, while 60% favour Europe or North America. Among those considering leaving, better work opportunities are the leading motivation, but is this merely about better work opportunities and what would make young Africans stay?
Host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to Oluwaseyi Makinde, who moved from Nigeria to Canada as a teenager, only to return to Nigeria as an adult, and Omotoke Motunrayo Fatoki who made the move from Nigeria to Rwanda.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Ayuba Iliya, Carolyne Jotham and Keikantse Shumba
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producers: Priyanka Sippy, Blessing Aderogba and Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie, Maryam Abdalla

Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia between Tigrayan forces and the national army is threatening a return to civil war after four years of peace. On Thursday, The Ethiopian National Defense Force siad it had killed hundrends of Tigray fighters and captured a large number of others. The military described its activity as a counter-attack. Fighting is also escalating in Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia. We hear from a resident in Mekelle, Tigray's capital and what this means for the peace and stability of the country.
And New York is hosting world leaders for the UN General Assembly. We get on a discussion with Africa's young people to understand if they connect with the policies that affect their future.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producer: Rukia Bulle, Bella Twine and Keikantse Shumba
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR says Chad is now hosting around 1.5 million refugees and asylum-seekers from Sudan. And despite the war entering its fourth year, the flow of people has not stopped. More than 50,000 of them have arrived in Eastern Chad this year alone. We speak with Mamadou Dian Baldé, UNHCR's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa who recently visited some of the refugee camps in the region.
And, September 23 is the International Day of Sign Languages. We look at the role of AI in advancing access to information and education for deaf communities.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producer: Rukia Bulle
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla