15 January 2026

23 minutes

Available for over a year

Focus on Africa’s Charles Gitonga joined The Global Story podcast hosts Asma Khalid and Tristan Redman to explain why the United States, Russia and China are so interested in Africa. The US recently moved to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a major trade deal allowing many African countries to export goods to the American market tariff-free, while also tying promises to end the conflict in eastern DR Congo to access rare earth minerals. China sees Africa as a key part of its Belt and Road Initiative, investing heavily in infrastructure across the continent. Meanwhile, Russia has positioned itself as an alternative partner to the Central African Republic and Sahel countries, particularly in security and military cooperation.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga

Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Hannah Moore

Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba

Technical Producers: Terry Chege and Philip Bull

Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla