Why rights groups condemn Burkina Faso's ban on LGBTQ+

Across Africa, governments are tightening free speech, as activists face harassment, arrests, and digital surveillance. At the Third Annual Activist Symposium in Johannesburg, advocates are pushing back, calling for stronger protections. At a time when human rights defenders face unprecedented threats, how do activists across Africa continue to resist, rebuild, and reimagine justice?

Cameroon is heading into a pivotal election on October 12, though separatists in anglophone regions have called for a month-long lockdown to sabotage the polls. Many anglophone voters are scared for their lives, as separatists threaten those who vote with abduction, torture, and murder. DW correspondents in Yaoundé, Moki Kindzeka, and Jean Marie Ngong in the Anglophone town of Bamenda join us.

Africa is the world’s youngest continent — but it’s ageing faster than ever. By 2050, nearly 200 million Africans will be over 60. What will this mean for families, economies and the future of care? DW’s Josey Mahachi speaks with Frank Yiga and Wanjiku Joyce Kairu, founder of the Purity Elderly Care Foundation and a leading voice on ageing and elder care.

24 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US, Africa still feels the impact. In this AfricaLink podcast, DW's Josey Mahachi speaks to Fidele Amakye Owusu, a security analyst in Ghana, and DW's Zainabu Aziz, who closely followed the attacks in New York, to understand the global shockwaves from an African perspective.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu says the country has hit its 2025 revenue target ahead of schedule and won't need to borrow to fund its budget. Is this a genuine economic breakthrough or political spin? In this episode, DW's Josey Mahachi speaks to Abubakar Sadiq Ahmed, an economist, and DW's Ben Shemang in Abuja to unpack what this means for Nigeria's economy, debt profile, and everyday citizens.

Hundreds of Ford workers in South Africa are about to lose their jobs. The company says it's about "optimising production," but behind that are bigger forces—collapsing exports to the US due to the Trump tariffs. Could this be the start of a wider jobs crisis in South Africa's auto industry? Eddy Micah Jr. talks to economist Theuns Thiens du Buisson and DW's Diane Walker in Johannesburg.

Burkina Faso has joined a growing list of African nations criminalizing same-sex relations. The new law has sparked outrage from human rights groups. In this podcast, AfricaLink speaks to Larissa Kojoue, a Human Rights Watch representative, and Angel Maxine, an LGBTQ+ activist from Ghana, where parliament passed a similar law that has yet to be signed into law.

Junta-led Niger cites its own citizens' struggles in obtaining Schengen visas. It's the latest move in a dramatic shift away from the West — and toward new allies like Russia, Turkey, and China. DW's Eddy Micah Jr. speaks to security analyst Beverly Ochieng, and DW's correspondent in West Africa, Bram Posthumus.

The Nigerian army claims the country is safer, but many citizens feel less secure than ever. With armed groups active in northern and southern states, and civilians caught in the crossfire, how do the authorities distinguish between separatists and terrorists? And how does the military plan to control them? Nigeria's army spokesman Tukur Gusau joins us Under The Baobab.

From Kebbi and Niger in the north to Lagos in the south, overloaded and poorly regulated boats capsize, leaving hundreds dead each year. So, why do they keep happening, and what will it take to improve safety? Host Eddy Micah Jr. speaks to Captain Caleb Danladi, a seasoned maritime expert, and DW's Jamiu Abiodun — who's been documenting the wave of tragedies on Nigeria's waterways.