Focus on Africa: Can Botswana continue to depend on its diamond industry?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Focus on Africa – Can Botswana Continue to Depend on Its Diamond Industry?

BBC World Service | Host: Nyasha Michelle

Episode Date: October 3, 2025

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Overview

This episode of the Focus on Africa podcast closely examines Botswana’s economic dependence on diamonds and the country’s plans for diversification, amidst global market downturns and US tariffs. It also features an in-depth exploration of Guinea’s surprising economic growth under military rule, and closes with a look at new global efforts against schistosomiasis (bilharzia), a major but often-overlooked African health concern.

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Main Segment 1: Botswana’s Diamond Dilemma and the Push for Diversification

The Straining Diamond Industry

• Botswana, the world’s largest producer of diamonds by value, is experiencing severe strain due to dropping global demand and a sharp downturn in sales for its key company, Debswana.
• Recently, Debswana (a joint venture with De Beers) paused some mine production after a nearly 50% sales drop in the previous year.
• The US has imposed a 37% tariff on goods from Botswana, including diamonds, exacerbating economic woes.

Notable Quote

“Botswana is the world's largest producer of diamonds by value. If you're looking for the world's second largest diamond, it was found in Botswana… Diamonds have done the country very well. They've contributed to the country's income, a quarter of its GDP.”
— Waihiga Mwaura (02:52)

Economic Diversification Initiatives

• Botswana has been working to diversify away from diamond reliance, with varying levels of success. Current efforts are more urgent due to the precipitous drop in diamond revenue.
• Key alternative sectors:
  • Soda Ash Mining: Used for glass and detergent manufacturing, with enough deposits for 50 years.
  • Other Minerals: Copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and other critical minerals.
  • Tourism: Focusing on natural attractions like the Okavango Delta.
  • Agriculture: Aiming to become the “food basket” of the region.
  • Investment: Offers, e.g., citizenship in exchange for investment.
  • Value Addition: Prioritizing processing and manufacturing over raw exports.

Presidential Perspective

“We've been overly dependent on diamonds. We've taken a heavy knock… We have copper, nickel, we have cobalt, we have many other critical minerals. And we will be looking to leverage on our endowment in these regards to now begin industrialization, beneficiation, light manufacture…”
— President Douma Boko (05:01)

Challenges and Confidence in Change

• Past efforts at diversification were less urgent; dropping diamond revenues mean action is now unavoidable.
• Government revenue is down, the budget is constrained, and there’s increased pressure to deliver on promises.
• A new sovereign wealth fund has been announced to drive diversification, create jobs, and manage state companies.

Negotiating with the US

• The Botswana government is negotiating with the US for zero tariffs on diamond exports and hopes for a favorable trade deal that could set a precedent for other African countries.

“We are at an advanced stage. I think we are on the verge of reaching an agreement, and it looks like Botswana will probably be the first to conclude an agreement which will then be broadened to cover other African countries.”
— President Douma Boko (08:21)

President Boko’s Profile and Public Sentiment

• Considered among Africa’s youngest presidents (55), Harvard-trained, and regarded as personable and media-friendly.
• Faced initial public optimism; now, expectations are more measured as economic realities set in.
• Pressure is mounting to deliver on campaign promises, driving policy initiatives like the sovereign fund and new investment incentives.

“They made the promises, they got the seat. They're now in office. And I got the sense that he is a man who is pushed to make sure that he keeps to the promises that he made to the people.”
— Waihiga Mwaura (10:57)

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Main Segment 2: Guinea’s Economic Growth Under Military Rule

Overview & International Perspective

• Unlike neighbors destabilized after coups, Guinea’s economy is growing despite military rule and persistent poverty.
• Recently received a "B credit rating" with a stable outlook from international markets—a sign of confidence.

Key Quote

"Guinea has had very little incentive to disrupt the economy… They maintained open relations with various political, diplomatic and economic operators."
— Beverly Ochiang (01:15, 13:25)

Factors Fueling Economic Growth

• Key advantages:
  • Presence of a large port, allowing uninterrupted international trade despite ECOWAS sanctions.
  • Continued mining production, notably of bauxite (a key ingredient for aluminum).
  • Political stability prioritized for economic credibility.
• The Simandou iron ore project is expected to further boost economic prospects, along with related infrastructure development.

“Saguenay is a leading producer of bauxite. It's… the third largest producer in the world… Bauxite is critical for aluminium… it accounts for more than 80% of Guinea's export earnings.”
— Beverly Ochiang (14:30)

Persistent Inequality Despite Mineral Wealth

• Despite high mineral exports, the wealth has not translated to broader prosperity.
  • Informal sector comprises nearly a third of the economy, making people vulnerable to shocks.
  • Low-skill jobs dominate; locals have limited access to technical or high-paying mining roles.
  • Continued poverty and inequalities, exacerbated by historical factors and occasional crises.

“There's often many assumptions made about the presence of minerals… and then the earning power of citizens… The informal sector makes up almost a third of the economy.”
— Beverly Ochiang (16:01)

Role of International Partners

• Guinea adopted a pragmatic approach, keeping doors open to China, the UAE, India, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, and Turkey.
• Government scrutiny tries to ensure environmental and social standards are met, not just open investment.

Risks to Sustainability

• While the current regime benefits from stability, another coup could be economically destabilizing.
• External shocks (e.g., commodities prices, foreign exchange constraints) could threaten progress.

Lessons for Young Africans

“In an ideal environment, a democratic environment would be able to enable high economic growth… But that hasn't really been the case… A lot of it comes down to people having socioeconomic access, whether it's jobs, whether it's water, whether it's electricity.”
— Beverly Ochiang (20:10)

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Main Segment 3: Tackling Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) – Africa’s Silent Health Crisis

The Disease

• Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a major parasitic threat, infecting over 200 million globally—90% in Africa.
• Transmitted via contact with freshwater infested by snails carrying the parasite; children and communities reliant on open water sources at particular risk.

“There is what I would call passive transmission of the disease, where people don't actually go to the water sources, but they use water from such open water sources for household activities…”
— Moses Arinaitwe (01:21, 25:51)

Symptoms and Impact

• Early signs: rash, high fever, abdominal discomfort.
• Chronic infection leads to anemia, weakness, and increased vulnerability to other diseases like malaria.

Prevention and Control

• Key strategies include:
  • Provision of safe water sources to limit human contact with infested water.
  • Mass drug administration (praziquantel) in endemic communities.
  • Improved sanitation to prevent parasite eggs from reaching water bodies.
  • Community education on behavioral change.

Notable Quote & Practical Tip

“If you collect water very early in the morning… there is a minimal risk of getting infected. Even when you collect this water, put it under the sun for a prolonged time so that the parasites… die.”
— Moses Arinaitwe (25:51)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They [Botswana] no longer have the luxury of relying on diamond sales alone... They're quickly having to try to pivot.” — Waihiga Mwaura (02:52)
• “We want to become the food basket of the region. They want to feed their neighbors.” — Waihiga Mwaura (04:11)
• “In an ideal environment, a democratic environment would be able to enable high economic growth… But that hasn't really been the case.” — Beverly Ochiang (20:10)
• “Those who have been affected or who are likely to be affected, just need to be conscious of the activities that make them more prone to be infected.” — Nyasha Michelle (25:16)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Botswana’s Diamond Industry & Diversification: 01:33 – 11:03
• Guinea’s Economic Growth under Military Rule: 11:06 – 21:18
• Global Effort against Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia): 22:06 – 28:04

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Conclusion

The episode highlights two major stories from the African economic and health landscapes:

• Botswana faces a critical moment as it must urgently diversify away from diamonds under international and market pressures.
• Guinea presents a more complex picture: strong economic performance amid military rule, but persistent social inequality and long-term risks.
• The spotlight on schistosomiasis underscores ongoing public health challenges and innovative approaches to prevention and community education.

The discussions throughout the episode reflect optimism but underscore the complexity of resource management, governance, and development in Africa.

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Transcript

[Waihiga Mwaura]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Nyasha Michelle]

America is changing and so is the world.

[Beverly Ochiang]

But what's happening in America isn't just the cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Nyasha Michelle]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. i'm.

[Beverly Ochiang]

Tristan Redman in London and this is the Global story.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Every weekday we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Beverly Ochiang]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Hello, I'm Nyasha Michelle and here's what's coming up for you on this edition of FOCUS on Africa. Can Botswana continue to depend on its diamond industry? How is guinea defying the odds? By growing its economy under military rule.

[Beverly Ochiang]

The military led government in guinea has had very little incentive to disrupt the economy. They have ensured that mining production continued, that the foreign exchange reserves remain quite stable against the Guinean franc, that they maintain open relations with various political, diplomatic and economic operators. Over the period of the transition and.

[Nyasha Michelle]

The new global effort to tackle the parasitic disease affecting over 200 million people.

[Moses Arinaitwe]

Worldwide, there is what I would call passive transmission of the disease where people don't actually go to the water sources, but they use water from such open water sources. Household activities.

[Nyasha Michelle]

It's Friday 3rd of October. First we go to Botswana. Let's discuss diamonds and how Botswana's economy of the precious stone is under severe strain. The country's main diamond company saw a drop in sales of almost 50% last year, which it blamed on dwindling global demand. Debswana, a joint venture between the government and global mining giant De Beers, said earlier this year that it is pausing production at some of its mines. And in another blow to the industry in recent months, the US imposed a 37% tariff on all goods imported from Botswana. Now, in an exclusive interview with the BBC's Waihiga Mwaura in New York, President Douma Boko has revealed that Botswana is close to securing a zero percent tariff deal with the US Giving Botswana a potential economic lifeline. I had a chat with Waihiga about his conversation with the president and began by asking him, how important is the diamond industry to Botswana?

[Waihiga Mwaura]

I mean, you know the attribution to the late actress Marilyn Monroe that diamonds are a girl's best friend? Well, this totally applies to Botswana. Botswana is the world's largest producer of diamonds by value. If you're looking for the world's second largest diamond, it was found in Botswana. It was the size of a fist. And that was last year, you know, just to show you how highly Botswana ranks when it comes to diamonds. And of course, diamonds have done the country very well. They've contributed to the country's income, a quarter of its gdp, and I think many can count on good healthcare, education, et cetera in Botswana. And they've been ranked and listings on that because of the diamond industry. But the reality is that the last couple of years have been tough. Lots of competition. Lab grown diamonds have come into the, you know, into the mix, amongst other challenges. And so what Botswana has been trying to do for decades is that it's been trying to shift its economy away from being dependent on diamond sales to other sectors with varying degrees of success. And we'll be talking about that in just a bit. But unfortunately, where they are at at this moment, they no longer have the luxury of relying on diamond sales alone. And they're quickly having to try to pivot to stabilize their industry and to, you know, fulfill that which they've promised the people of Botswana.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So if they're trying to pivot to other industries, what others are there besides the mining of diamonds?

[Waihiga Mwaura]

I spoke to the President regarding that and he did give me, you know, a few thoughts. But what I've also been able to find out is they have interests in mining soda ash, for example. Soda ash is used for glass manufacturing, making of detergents. So they are scaling that they have enough soda ash deposits for the next 50 years. They're looking to mine manganese, but they're also looking to other sectors. You know, tourism is something they want to go big on. You know, the Okavango Delta and other sort of national parks have been a big part of the country. They want to become the food basket of the region. They want to feed their neighbors. And they also want to allow investors to come in, invest in various sectors, and they will offer them citizenship in exchange. But in terms of critical minerals, they do have other deposits that they're keen to, you know, dig into, so to speak. And the President told me a bit about that in our conversation in New York.

[President Douma Boko]

We've been overly dependent on diamonds. We've taken a heavy knock on that front. But we are also looking to diversify within the mining sector, look at critical minerals, which we have plenty of. We have copper, nickel, we have cobalt, we have many other critical minerals. And we will be looking to leverage on our endowment in these regards to now begin industrialization, beneficiation, light manufacture and processing of all these minerals so that we don't export them raw.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So from what the President is saying there, Wahiga, Botswana seems to have opportunities to diversify and shift its economy away from diamond sales. But why hasn't that happened already?

[Waihiga Mwaura]

My sense is this. At the moment, it sounds like they don't have a choice. In the past, they had the luxury of still relying on diamond sales whilst looking to pivot, but right now it's not either or. They have no choice but to move. And the way they're looking at it is in two ways. One obviously is they want to diversify, invest in critical minerals, invest in other sort of parts of the mining sector, but they also want to make sure that they get value for the diamonds that they have at the moment. And the President did tell me that one of the biggest challenges they faced with their minerals and other African countries face is that they allow their minerals, minerals to be carted away in raw form. So he's very keen now to have value addition processing of whatever minerals you know, they will be sending to the rest of the world. And industrialization, they have no choice but to look at life beyond diamond sales. And they seem to be taking that seriously. But, you know, it's the results that will show whether they've achieved success or not in the coming days.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Speaking of results, then, how confident is the President that his country can actually make that shift?

[Waihiga Mwaura]

I mean, he sounds quite confident. He was speaking about value addition making the country a logistics hub, making the country a digital hub as well. When you look at his revenue having declined, his budget has been constrained quite a bit this year, dropped by 3% last year. Government forecasts say it's going to decline again this year. I mean, the numbers don't look good. And then, of course, I'm sure you also covered that public health emergency that they had earlier this year that they had to carry out emergency measures to be able to sort out. So he's dealing with crises on multiple fronts. And so I think for him, he has to be very confident. He has to show the people that he has a plan. He's also interestingly, announced a new sovereign wealth fund that he believes he can use to, you know, push that diversification, create jobs, manage state companies. So there's a lot of plans and I'm sure the rest of Africa will be watching to see if they can make them work. But whilst all that is happening, the US then also hit them with that 37% tariff that they imposed on them on all goods imported from Botswana. So another challenge that they have to deal with altogether. And he spoke to me about that as well, and what his hopes are, even as they negotiate with the United States.

[President Douma Boko]

For us, the biggest commodity that accounts for trade between us and the United States is our diamonds. And that is why our focus has been to push for zero tariff, especially on diamonds. But, of course, we are pushing for a better deal on agoa, not just for ourselves, but for the rest of Africa.

[Waihiga Mwaura]

How far are your negotiations on zero tariffs for your damage?

[President Douma Boko]

We are at an advanced stage. I think we are on the verge of reaching an agreement, and it looks like Botswana will probably be the first to conclude an agreement which will then be broadened to cover other African countries.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Wahika, you covered so many topics with the president. What was it like to meet him? And is there anything else that you spoke about that truly stuck out to you?

[Waihiga Mwaura]

I would say arguably one of the youngest presidents of the African continent at about 55 years old, very well trained, a Harvard lawyer. He came off as quite media friendly, was quite personable in his approach together with his team. So, you know, I've done many interviews in the past, but it was one of those where I got a lot of the answers I was looking for. I didn't have to push too much. He was speaking from his heart. He's about a year in office. He's obviously confronting many challenges, and I think he wants to come off as, you know, trying to do his best for his people and trying to keep to the promises that he's made at the very last minute. He also congratulated his team that did very well in the World Athletics Championships. Botswana has been doing quite well in sports athletics in the recent past. And he believes that, you know, apart from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, watch out, Botswana are the new kids on the block.

[Nyasha Michelle]

They certainly are the new kids that everyone across Africa seems to be celebrating. But just one last thing, Wahiga, the president has been serving in office since November 2024. It's almost a year now. Let's talk about the people of Botswana. Do you have a sense of how they feel about his tenure so far?

[Waihiga Mwaura]

I mean, we did hear from some of them when he first came into office. There was celebration, there was optimism. The cloud of changing diamond fortune, so to speak, has been looming heavy over the country. And I believe they felt that a new driver, you know, in the driver's seat of the country, a new CEO, would be able to lead them in the right path. I imagine that's now been tempered by the realities of the global economy, the realities of a new US Administration that is dealing with the African continent in different ways with the US As a big market for their diamonds and of course, regional challenges as well. You know, when we're in New York, we didn't quite get to meet a lot of people from Botswana or to really sit down with them. But one gets a sense that they are now more measured expectations. And the reason the president and his team are rolling out a lot of these programs, whether it's a new sovereign fund, whether it's reopening mines, whether it's launching an investment by, you know, citizenship by investment program, et cetera, is because they are under pressure to deliver. They made the promises, they got the seat. They're now in office. And I got the sense that he is a man who is pushed to make sure that he keeps to the promises that he made to the people.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Okay, well, we here at Focus on Africa podcast and you at Focus on Africa TV will keep an eye on how things go.

[Waihiga Mwaura]

I like how you put it. Sounds just right.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And that's my colleague Wahiga mwaura from the BBC's Focus on Africa TV. Now you may be aware of the unrest that has been impacting many countries across the Sahel in recent years. Democracies toppled by military juntas who are adamant they can rule their nations better. But these nations are battling to tackle insecurity and eliminate jihadist attacks and improve tough economic conditions. But one country among them seems to be averting an economic downfall. Guinea, a nation rich in bauxite, iron ore, gold and diamonds. Since its 2021 coup, Guinea's economy has been showing surprising growth, even though poverty and inequality remain serious challenges. Let's hear from Guineans and get their take on how the country's economy is performing under the current junta. Reg. Guinea's economy is encouraging. For the very first time, guinea received a B credit rating with a stable outlook, which shows that international markets and partners have some confidence in the country. This is a very good sign.

[Beverly Ochiang]

This really gives hope for better infrastructure.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And potentially more foreign investment.

[Waihiga Mwaura]

When a country's economy is doing well, it directly reflects on its population. Today I notice there is a problem with liquidity and cash availability for the economic indicators and programs. That's something only economists can understand. For the direct economic impact on us honestly is a disaster.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Last month, Guineans voted in a referendum to back a new constitution that could allow coup leader Mamadi Doumbuya to run for president if he chooses to. Elections are expected to take place in December. But can economic progress under Dumbuya's military rule last. Beverly Ochiang is an analyst Focusing on francophone Africa and geopolitics in the Sahel, she outlined some of the factors that influenced Guinea's economic growth.

[Beverly Ochiang]

One of Guinea's main advantages compared with its neighbors, Mali, Bukiafas, Indonesia, is that it has a port and this has enabled it to continue trading even at the time when the Economic Community of West African states imposed sanctions, then lifted them later on. And also because the military led government in guinea has had very little incentive to disrupt the economy, they have ensured that mining production continued, that the foreign exchange reserves remained quite stable against the Guinean franc, that they maintained open relations with various political, diplomatic and economic operators over the period of the transition. But obviously the political stability has been quite elevated given that this is a military led government. The transition was quite long, so there was some uncertainty, but they wanted to maintain a pro business environment and having that port meant that some of ECOWASA sanctions were not as explicitly constrainous to them and they were able to continue trading with a variety of partners with that open environment.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Quite a lot of strategy there. And you've mentioned mining as one of the reasons for its economic growth. So how big a role has natural resource extraction played in this economic rise?

[Beverly Ochiang]

I mean, guinea has a diversity of mineral resources and the unique advantage of being a leading producer of some specific minerals. So it gives it both a market advantage despite those elevated political risks, and it also means that there's a lot more investment input in the country. Saguenay is a leading producer of bauxite. It's I think the third largest producer in the world, which gives it that big advantage. And bauxite is critical for aluminium, which you'll find in your kitchen, on cans, on paint. On average, it accounts for more than 80% of Guinea's export earnings. There's also the expectation that this big project in the southeast region, Simandou, will be starting off. It's an iron ore project, probably one of the largest reserves on the continent, A few operators already there, and it's underway. It's also alongside a plan to improve infrastructure. So one of the things that the military led government in particular has been doing is ensuring that people who are going into the mining sector are also providing support for the improvement of rail road, water resources and sort of building economic hubs in mining areas as a way of probably even increasing its population, appealing the public and demonstrating that it is a very positive force for the business environment, so to speak.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So the business environment seems to be gaining and it seems to be benefiting from all of this. Investment and strategies that is currently taking place. But many Ghanaians still live in poverty, despite the country's riches. Why is the wealth from mining not translating into better living conditions for the ordinary people?

[Beverly Ochiang]

There's often many assumptions made about the presence of minerals, large scale mining operators and even multinational companies. And then the earning power of citizens or the nationals in a country. One of the biggest issues that has been driving socioeconomic inequalities in guinea is that the informal sector makes up almost a third of the economy. So these are people who are self employed in trade in areas that are quite fragile because it means if there are any bigger economic shocks, and these are some of the businesses that end up being vulnerable to those shocks, the earning power of those who are in employment, employment is also fairly low and there's a huge skills gap. So not many of them actually get to be in the more higher technical positions, for instance with mining companies, which then means that for the majority of them, they end up either in their formal economy or they are employed in other sectors. So that bridge hasn't been gapped yet. A lot of the developments under the military led government have only been over the last four years. The socioeconomic inequalities have been over long periods of years. So issues around allegation of corruption in the government, issues around political instability and socio economic opportunities have been the longstanding underlying issues. And of course it's going to take quite a bit of work to be able to bridge that skills gap. Other socioeconomic challenges that keep on being thrown up. For instance, when there was the massive fire at the depot in 2023, which meant that people had power outages, which then took people back socioeconomically. So these are issues that would take a longer term to address. And of course by looking into resources or revenues from the mining sector, perhaps the incoming government, especially after the election, may want to prioritize this in order to also meet the expectations of the public.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And let's talk about other players now. How have international partners like China and Western investors influenced Guinea's economic trajectory since the coup?

[Beverly Ochiang]

So to begin with, unlike other countries in the region that have had military coups, guinea didn't face as much backlash. There was the sanctions by ecowas, which were backed by other Western partners. But guinea continued to be quite pragmatic in its relations. So China and Emirati operators are quite dominant in the bauxite sector. There's been other operators like Indian, Italian, Swiss, who are across other sectors in agriculture or even in the mineral economy. Russia has also been in the gold sector in the country. So you see that sort of range in terms of partnerships. And I think that's worked the advantage of the military government to some extent and ensuring that they have that sort of stability. They've had countries like Turkey also coming in. They have also scrutinized these operators. So it's not just about giving them a favorable environment, but looking into environmental social standards and making sure that those investments are in line with some of the regulations and expectations of the country. So holding each to account on an equal bar, as opposed to having any sort of acrimony with select operators or select diplomatic partners, has probably been one of the things that has enabled them to maintain a balancing act.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So do you think Guinea's economic progress can be sustained under military rule, or does political instability risk derailing it in the long run?

[Beverly Ochiang]

There's two things about it. There's an assessment that if there is another military coup, either between now and before the election, even after the election, the likely junta that would come in would probably just as pro business, especially if it is one of the people within Dumbuya's current junta group. That's because the military government itself has seen the benefits of having a sort of stable economy. They want to be able to both reap the benefits of that and to be able to demonstrate a sense of legitimacy through sustaining a stable economy. But at the same time. But then there are other issues that have impacted economies that sometimes have nothing to do with internal dynamics. So it could be changes in oil prices, it could be changes in commodity prices, of which guinea would be subjected to. It could be the lack of foreign exchange reserves, which means that the Guinean franc, which is rather isolated across the region compared with the West African Monetary Union. The South African Monetary Union would be subjected to higher shocks. So it's a variety of factors that would lead to political or economic instability in the country.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Now, finally, we have quite a lot of young Africans listening. What lessons can they draw from Guinea's story about resources, leadership, and even the link between democracy and economic growth?

[Beverly Ochiang]

I suppose in an ideal environment, a democratic environment would be able to enable high economic growth because it means more participation, equality, and the distribution of resources. But that hasn't really been the case. Whether you're looking at guinea, you're looking at the wider Sahel, you're looking at the protests currently taking place in Morocco. A lot of it comes down to people having socioeconomic access, whether it's jobs, whether it's water, whether it's electricity. Guinea may seem, on paper to be doing quite well. But there are other concerns that are driving some of the grievances. Access to electricity became a high point in 2023. Access to being able to just exercise equal rights is also another issue. Despite this referendum passing, the opposition remaining quite divided and not really being part of the bigger discourse around the country's future. There's all of those things that are worth balancing. But of course, with governments thinking more around how resources can work for people, and this is not just a Sahelian example, it's been across the region with reforms to mining codes. There's a critical thinking around how much these resources can be useful to people, but also how governments can align them to use that to project a sense of legitimacy and certainty with the public.

[Nyasha Michelle]

That's Beverly Ochiang, an analyst on the Sahel. This is FOCUS on Africa from the BBC World Service. America is changing and so is the world.

[Beverly Ochiang]

But what's happening in America isn't just the cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Nyasha Michelle]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. i'm.

[Beverly Ochiang]

Tristan Redman in London, and this is THE Global story.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Beverly Ochiang]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Most people know malaria as Africa's biggest parasitic threat. But did you know that there is another parasite, bilhasia, that quietly infects more than 200 million people worldwide? Known scientifically as schistosomiasis, bilhavia is a devastating and neglected tropical disease. And according to the World Health Organization, it's estimated that at least 90% of those requiring treatment for schistosomiasis live in Africa. Now a new global effort is underway to tackle the disaster disease. Moses Ariniteway is a Ugandan doctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow in the uk he was also part of the Bilhazia and Worm Control program at the Ministry of Health in Uganda.

[Moses Arinaitwe]

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that affects mostly humans, but also other animals are affected. And I think for our case here we are talking about Berehezia, that affects to humans what we call the urinary schistosomiasis or urinary brazia, that affects the urinary system just because of its name. And then the other one is intestinal schistosomiasis, which attacks the intestinal organs. The disease is transmitted by snails, freshwater snails. And how do the snails get infected. They get infected because of human behavior of indiscriminately disposed of excreta, both urine and stool into the environment. And when the stool of urine reach the water and it has eggs of the parasite, the eggs hatch into a smaller worm which attacks the snails. And because of human interface with water sources, open water sources, if they contact such worker infested with this stage of the parasite, the parasite pours through the skin, through the bloodstream. They copyright from the and then they migrate to the different parts of the body. Depending on the species.

[Nyasha Michelle]

If it infiltrates different parts of the body. How dangerous is bilharzia?

[Moses Arinaitwe]

Usually the first sign which we get is the rash. And some people develop fever. High fevers up to 40 degrees. And because there are several other infections that cause high fever, most people ignore it. Or they try to look for medication for this high fever, neglecting bedharsia that it could be the cause. And because of the daily active activities that people are involved in that bring them into contact with these open water infectious sources. This infection happens almost every day.

[Nyasha Michelle]

What are some of the effects of the disease when someone is suffering from it?

[Moses Arinaitwe]

So the first sign which people feel is abdominal discomfort or the pain because of several eggs which are being excreted by these worms in the body. And these eggs have a spine which is very sharp. So the eggs keep piercing the rumen or the brad. And this, if it continues, you are continuously being infected. And because you are losing blood, such people become anemic, they become generally weak and they become prone to other infections like malaria.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Those who have been affected or who are likely to be affected, just need to be conscious of the activities that make them more prone to be infected.

[Moses Arinaitwe]

Right. The challenge is that you have water is the source of rival. And in communities where the only source of water is the open water, like rivers, like streams, like swamps, then it becomes harder to stop people from going to such water sources unless you provide alternative safe water sources.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Does a practice like boiling water before you drink it or use it to cook, minimize the chances of getting bilhahsia?

[Moses Arinaitwe]

The way people get infected is through contact with the water that is infested with the the Berhazia parasite. So even as you boil, you would have already contacted water. There is what I would call passive transmission of the disease, where people don't actually go to the water sources, but they use water from such open water sources for household activities like bathing, like washing babies. Actually, that's how baby young babies get infected. But boiling itself is enough for other infectious diseases or parasite or worms or germs that transmitted through water, not necessarily the parasite. What we recommend for people living around water bodies is to correct water very early in the morning because the snails shed these worms around 11 when there is sunlight. So if you correct very early, there is a minimal risk of getting infected. And even when you collect this water, put it under the sun for a prolonged time so that the parasites or the sakaria which carried from the water actually die. So we use that water. The sakaria, the effective stage of this parasite of Brazil, doesn't live for long in water. And the more it stays out without finding a host to attack, it actually loses ability to infect that person. So we go out to endemic communities and distribute massively. From five years and above, we give them plazaquanto. So that's one major strategy we are using. The other strategies which we are using, but not majorly, is improvement in sanitation facilities. So we keep advocating sensitizing and mobilizing communities to own and use latrines to keep excreta from going up to the water and infecting the snails. The other one is providing safe water sources to communities which are around such water bodies. We limit their exposure to these open water sources. And the more you limit it means the raised infection. And if this completely stops top, then you won't get people getting infected. If there is total safe water coverage and people don't go out to these open water sources, then the disease will disappear.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Moses Arinaitwe, a Ugandan doctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow in the uk Today's edition of Focus on Africa was put together by Mark Wilberforce, Sunita Naha and Stefania Okereke in London.

[Beverly Ochiang]

London.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Makochi Okafor was in Nairobi. Patricia Whitehorn was our senior producer and Pat Sissons the technical producer. Our editors are Mariam Abdallah, Andre Lombard and Alex Mathengi. I'm Nyasha Michelle. Thanks for listening. America is changing and so is the world.

[Beverly Ochiang]

But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Nyasha Michelle]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. i'm.

[Beverly Ochiang]

Tristan Redman in London and this is the global story.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Beverly Ochiang]

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