Focus on Africa

Kenya has allocated $538 million to its Ebola response after confirming the country’s first case, linked to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The money will support efforts to prevent further spread as health authorities step up surveillance and contact tracing. We look at whether Kenya and its neighbours are prepared as transmission continues in eastern DRC.
In Liberia, hundreds of chimpanzees used in decades of medical experiments were left behind after the research ended. We look at what happens to lab animals when scientists no longer need them.
Presenter: Blessing Aderogba
Producers: Victor Chege and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Burkina Faso's military-led government has opened a gold refinery in a bid to tighten its grip on one of the country's most important industries. The $19 million facility known as Raffinor-BF is financed by the state, including through the National Precious Metals Company (Sonasp), in partnership with Burkina Faso's private sector. The plant will initially be capable of refining 164 tonnes of gold a year, significantly more than the country's current annual production.
And in Ghana, authorities are enforcing a long-ignored ban on preaching in moving commercial vehicles, with offenders facing fines, jail time, or both.
Presenter: Blessing Aderogba
Producers: Ayuba Iliya and Keikantse Shumba
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Forces aligned to Ethiopia's national army have taken control of Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region. This came after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a movement opposing the federal government, withdrew from the capital, days after they had seized control of its main airport. Mobile and banking services apppear to have resumed in some parts of the city after internet disruptions in September. The conflict has also led to a diplomatic standoff between Ethiopia and its neighbours, Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan.
And, scientists studying a species of primates only found in Madagascar uncover surprising similarities between their vocal calls and the techniques used by human opera singers.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Victor Chege, Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Twenty-five years ago, a group of senior Eritrean politicians known as the G-15 called for democratic reform. Eleven were arrested and accused of treason. They have never been put on trial, and their families still do not know where they are. Human rights groups, including the UN, consider the G-15, prisoners of conscience and have been calling for their release.
Among the detained was former defence and foreign minister, Petros Solomon. Two years later, his wife, Asther Yohannes, was also arrested.
Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, has been speaking to their daughter, Hanna Petros Solomon about her search for her parents, and UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea, Dr Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker about the fate of those detained.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Fana Negash and Carolyne Jotham
Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi
Senior Producers: Priyanka Sippy
Editors: Daniel Dadzie, Maryam Abdalla

Fatima Zahra El Mansouri has been named Morocco's first female prime minister, after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (Pam) won the most seats in last week's parliamentary elections. The party secured 97 of the 395 seats in the lower house of parliament, short of an outright majority, which means El Mansouri’s first task will be to build a governing coalition. Speaking at the royal palace after her appointment by King Mohammed VI, El Mansouri described the moment as historic and said it was a source of pride for Moroccan women.
And as Nigeria marks 66 years of independence on October 1, we look back at key moments in the country's history, and how plays and films are keeping those stories alive.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Rukia Bulle, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla