Last week Nigeria’s labour unions suspended a general strike, that caused widespread disruption across the country, for one week. Unions were demanding an increase in the national monthly minimum wage to help workers cope with the rising cost of living. The strike ended after the government agreed to a new national minimum wage. The government also said it will meet with the unions' representatives every day for a week for talks. In today’s Africa Daily Noni Muchiri speaks to the BBC’s Nkechi Ogbonna in Lagos about the union’s demands, the government’s response and the financial hardship facing many workers in Nigeria.

Residents of Ongata Rongai, a suburb in the Kenyan capital Nairobi have recently had to be on their guard after a number of lions have been sighted roaming their neighbourhood. Concern peaked three weeks ago when a video circulated of a lion climbing over a perimeter wall into a homestead – only to re-emerge with a dog in its mouth moments later. Since then the residents have received alerts from wildlife authorities, as more carnivores have been sighted. The increase in such incidents has reignited the debate over whether humans are able to live so closely to wild animals within a city. Nairobi is the only city in the world to contain a national park. For today’s Africa Daily podcast, Peter Musembi speaks to Sylvia Koira, the college student whose family dog was taken and eaten by the lioness, their homestead’s caretaker Joshua Isiga, and the BBC’s Ruth Nesoba- also a resident.

It was the news that Malawians had been dreading: on Tuesday President Lazarus Chakwera announced that his vice president, Saulos Chilima, had been killed in a plane crash. Vice President Chilima had been travelling to the funeral of a former government minister. The military aircraft he was on had been flying in bad weather and disappeared from airport radars on Monday. When it was found by rescuers, the aircraft was completely destroyed. There were eight others onboard, including the former first lady, Shanil Dzimbiri. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been looking at the reaction to Tuesday’s announcement with Bayana Chunga, a journalist in Blantyre and Felix Njawala, the spokesman for Vice President Saulos Chilima’s UTM party.

President Bola Tinubu has signed into law a bill to reintroduce Nigeria’s old national anthem which was dropped by its military government in 1978. He said the country’s old anthem composed in 1959 symbolised Nigeria's diversity. But many have questioned his priorities amid the cost of living crisis which is shaking the country to the core. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been hearing more about this change and its impact from the BBC’s Chris Ewokor in the capital Abuja and Nigerian gospel singer and song writer Chidinma Okebalama, better known as “Chee”.

Before most marriages in South Sudan go ahead, men will typically give the woman’s family a dowry in the form of money and most often cattle. For some it’s seen as an important tradition and a sign of respect. However, there are growing concerns from both men and women that providing dowries has become a burden and is leading to more sinister outcomes. This includes forced marriages and men resorting to violent cattle raids to steal the cows they need to get married. In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja hears from young men and women in South Sudan on what the tradition means for them.

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has been pleading for urgent support for Ghanaian students studying abroad who have not received their stipends for almost a year. The students are on a government scholarship, and they left Ghana with the promise of getting financial support during their time at university. The scholarship was set up for "brilliant and needy" students. But as Ghana is facing its own economic crisis, it has left these students with a huge financial burden of their own. Presenter: Alan Kasujja. Guest: Eric Sarpong

For the first time since the fall of apartheid in 1994, South Africa is now negotiating an uncharted political territory. It comes after the ruling African National Congress (ANC), a party that was once led by Nelson Mandela, lost its parliamentary majority. The organization received 40.18% in last week’s elections, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 21.81% and Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MK) with 14.58%. Some attribute the dismal performance of the ANC to its fallout with former president Jacob Zuma who now leads the MK Party. At a press briefing on Wednesday, the ANC revealed that it was in talks with the DA, EFF and several other smaller parties. It said it also reached out to the MK Party, but hasn’t received any positive feedback. So, who will the ANC form a coalition government with? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje explores various options with Dr. Hlengiwe Ndlovu from the Wits School of Governance and former diplomat Botsang Moiloa.

Teenagers are being actively targeted by the tobacco industry through the use of social media influencers and fruit flavoured products. That’s according to a report by the World Health Organisation which also says that around one in five adolescents in Africa are using tobacco. So what should governments be doing to protect their young people? Especially those in southern Africa which benefit from growing tobacco as a crop? For today’s Africa Daily podcast, Peter Musembi speaks to Vivian Joseph, a clinician and head of Southern African Youth Forum’s health cluster- who says governments need to toughen up their laws. And he also talks to Rachael Kitonyo Devotsu, a data expert, about the hurdles governments have faced as they try to do this.

“If we want to be a nation we should have our own narrative, we should have our own heroes.”Alan’s guest on the podcast today is Mia Couto - one of Mozambique’s most famous authors who’s won numerous international awards during his decades-long career. But he’s so much more: a biologist, a critical thinker, the son of immigrants and, as a young man, a member of Frelimo - the independence movement which fought against the Portuguese colonial authorities. As the only ‘white guy’ in the room when he joined, he was told “we need poetry in our struggle”. Now nearly 50 years on, he tells Alan how he’s become disillusioned with the ruling party – which has been in control of the country since independence. The country remains one of the poorest in Africa in terms of GDP despite its natural resources. He also talks about why it's been so difficult for the authorities to retain control in the northern Cabo Delgado province which has suffered a bloody insurgency since 2017 - and argues that Mozambicans need to remember their own narratives and heroes.

In today’s episode, Mpho Lakaje speaks to a 36-year-old South African man who uses a drug called Nyaope or Whoonga. It’s a type of black tar heroin often mixed with other powdered substances that include cleaning chemicals. But the problem of substance abuse and addiction isn't limited to one country - and the United Nations says it expects the number of people using drugs in Africa to rise 40% by 2030. Sierra Leone is also dealing with a drug commonly known as Kush, a psychoactive blend of addictive substances. Earlier this year, 23 people died and 20 others went blind after allegedly consuming poisonous alcohol in Kenya. And Malawi also has a concoction notoriously known as “God take me”. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guest: Professor Adamson Muula

For many young people in Africa, traditional banking isn’t just a hassle, it’s a major roadblock. Long lines, piles of paperwork and strict ID requirements mean many are left out in the cold when it comes to managing their money in bank accounts. Digital banking platforms are trying to change this. The idea is that they use technology to provide financial services for payments, loans and even investments, through online platforms and apps instead of traditional banks. Africa Daily’s Muthoni Muchiri spoke to Kiiru Muhoya, CEO of Fingo Africa, about the finance challenges facing the continent's youth and how digital banking can open up the connection channels on the continent.

“Especially the woman, they cannot sing. They cannot go in front of the people and then sing and say ‘I am an artist’. It’s shameful.”Today Alan enjoys a treat on the podcast: singer and activist Sahra Halgan came in to the Africa Daily studios in Broadcasting House along with her fellow musicians percussionist, Aymeric Krol, and guitarist, Maël Salètes, and they performed some of their music live for him. Sahra has lived quite a life… She was a nurse during the Somali civil war in the 1980s before fleeing to France in the 1990s. But after years of building up her singing career abroad, she returned to her home city of Hargeisa in the self-declared republic of Somaliland in 2015 and founded its first cultural and music centre. The name of that club is Hiddo Dhawr - which means ‘promote or keep culture’ – which is also the name of her latest album, out this month. Opening a club wasn’t without challenges; there is disapproval of musicians – especially female ones – from many sectors of Somali society. And even at the age of 55, Sahra's mother is still hoping that one day she’ll get a proper job!

"When I came to Northern Ireland, when I was walking on the streets of Derry, I could hardly see a black person. At that time, I think there were only three Kenyans, with me being the fourth person."Lilian Seenoi-Barr is about to make history by becoming Northern Ireland's first black mayor. Ms Seenoi-Barr was selected by the SDLP party to become the next first citizen of Derry City and Strabane District Council but despite the support she received, she has also faced some backlash and racist abuse. She was born in Kenya and left in 2010 to start a new life in Northern Ireland. She proudly comes from the Maasai tribe but since moving to Derry, she has been focused on building community and support for other immigrants.Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja spoke to her about her journey and why she decided to become a politician. Presenter: Alan Kasujja. Guest: Lilian Seenoi-Barr.

Are South Africans ready for Wednesday’s national election?“Since hearing that political parties will be launching their election manifestos, I decided to attend these events. I wanted to hear for myself which president would address our needs as college students. It’s my first time voting” – Thembeka Dliwako, South African voterIn today’s podcast, Mpho Lakaje sits down with 21-year-old Thembeka Dliwako, who will be voting for the very first time in her life.In her country, she’s popularly known as “Nomarally”, loosely translated as, “The lady of the rallies”.That’s because, in recent months she’s been doing something rather unusual.She’s been traveling to different parts of the country, attending the political rallies of various parties, wanting to hear for herself what leaders have to offer.Mpho also visits Johannesburg attorney, Oatlhotse Thupayatlase who voted for the first time back in 1994, in an election that marked the end of apartheid.Is he still as excited about casting his ballot as he was 30 years ago?Approximately 27 million South Africans are eligible to vote in the watershed general election on Wednesday.

For years, teachers and students at the Dandora Secondary School in Kenya’s capital Nairobi have complained of respiratory illnesses. They say they are caused by the toxic fumes given off by East Africa's largest dump site, the Dandora landfill, which is next to the school.Despite being declared full in 1996, the landfill continues to receive approximately 2,000 tonnes of waste each day.But now the head teacher of the school has decided to tackle the issue, and with students has been planting bamboo in order to combat the air pollution. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to school Principal Eutychus Maina who initiated this innovative solution when he fell ill soon after joining the school.

“Without the public outcry, the mass marriage would have gone on as planned.”There’s been a lot of debate, claim and counter-claim in Nigeria this week over a proposed mass wedding of 100 couples in Niger state in the north of the country.Concerns were raised that some of the girls involved were under the legal age for marriage, and a petition was quickly launched. The Women's Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye filed a court injunction to stop the ceremony. She’s since said that the wedding can go ahead but only after an investigation has taken place – and has offered the girls scholarships as well as gifts including sewing machines and rice. She said the girls would be closely monitored in their new homes after their marriages. Child marriages are common in the predominantly Muslim north, where poverty is higher than in the largely Christian south. Alan Kasujja unpicks the controversy – and asks what it tells us about the marriage of young people in Nigeria.Presenter: Alan Kasujja. Guests: BBC reporter, Azeezat Olaoluwa and gender and child advocate, Ayotomiwa Ayodele.Updated 24th May to reflect Minister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye’s latest statement.

Kenyan President William Ruto is on a state visit to the US, the first by an African leader since Ghana’s John Kufour in 2008 and only the 6th state visit Biden has hosted since taking office in 2020A state visit is the highest level of international visit, and its purpose is to confirm the good relationship between the countries concerned.For President Ruto it's a significant display of his emergence as leading voice for Africa - particularly in the eyes of the West.But some observers say that Washington is now playing catch up to Russia and China - which have both grown in influence on the continent in recent years - as well as newer entrants like Turkey, India, and Saudi Arabia.In this episode of Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja talks to Ambassador Martin Kimani, an international affairs expert and former Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations.

It’s expected to be a bruising election, with 70 political parties contesting for power. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress, and the official opposition, Democratic Alliance, are seen as the frontrunners. Former president Jacob Zuma’s Umkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP), are expected to give the ANC a run for their money, particularly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. But on Monday, South Africa's Constitutional Court barred Mr. Zuma from running for parliament, ruling that his 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court disqualified him. Mr Zuma was convicted in 2021 for refusing to testify at an inquiry investigating corruption during his presidency which ended in 2018. But he remains the face of the MKP and will continue to campaign. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Dr. Bandile Masuku, Solly Malatsi and Adv. Dwight Snyman

During the recent floods in East Africa it became quickly apparent just how ill-prepared most cities across the region are in the face of heavy rains.Some of the continent's major cities are located on the coast, and therefore at risk of flooding due to rising sea levels. And meanwhile, a quarter of African cities are exposed to a high risk of drought. The continent is home to 86 of the world’s 100 fastest growing cities, with 7 billion people expected to be living in urban areas by 2030.In this episode of Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja talks to Benin’s former minister for Environment and Urban Planning, Luc Gnacadja, who's currently a consultant with the World Bank, about the capacity of African cities to withstand worsening and more frequent extreme weather events.

During Liberia’s two civil wars, it became normal for children to be abducted by armed groups, often drugged, and forced to fight. 250,000 people are estimated to have died in the conflict which continued between 1989-2003. In 2006, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission - known as ‘TRC’ - to identity individuals linked to war crimes, but as of yet, no-one has been prosecuted. So after President Joseph Boakai recently signed an agreement to establish a war crimes court, people started asking whether the victims of war could finally get justice. For Africa Daily Alan Kasujja speaks to Adama Dempster, a human rights advocate who’s campaigned for the court to be set up, and the BBC’s reporter in Monrovia, Moses Garzeawu.

Male circumcision is deeply rooted in tradition and culture across many African communities but there’s a lot of controversy around the method that is used to remove the foreskin. Some initiatives that promote voluntary medical male circumcision for the prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections have been successful, in Zambia in particular.But the question remains, is this something that should be done on baby boys or in early adolescence, or is it something that should be left as a personal choice you make in adulthood? Presenter: Alan Kasujja. Guests: Anthony Natif and Michael Aboneka.

“The irony and the tragedy at once is that all this happened while the international community are watching it. So I think this is the time to prevent the atrocities that happened in El Geneina from repeating itself in El Fasher.”Last week a 216 page Human Rights Watch report said it had found evidence that a genocide may have been committed in the city of El Geneina in Darfur – and that ethnic cleansing had occurred. It said thousands of members of African ethnic groups – particularly the Massalit – had been killed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces or RSF in door to door raids and as they tried to flee the city. The vast majority of Massalits have now fled western Darfur.But now there’s grave concern that a similar massacre could happen in the city of El Fasher – the only city in Darfur not under RSF control. Thousands of internally displaced people are living in the city after fleeing RSF attacks elsewhere. Our guest today describes this as jumping from 'hot water to hot oil' as the group’s fighters have completely cut off all roads and fighting is underway within the city. The UN has called the situation “gravely concerning”, while the United States has warned of a large scale massacre if the RSF takes the city. But is anyone able or willing to stop it?For today’s Africa Daily podcast, Alan @Kasujja talks to a resident of El Fasher and to Adeeb Yousif, the former governor of Central Darfur.

The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill, drafted in 2021, was passed by parliamentarians in Ghana earlier this year. It imposes a prison sentence on anyone identifying as being LGBTQ+. This bill still needs to be signed by President Nana Akuffo Addo to become law.He's waiting for the verdict of the Supreme Court who will hear two cases challenging the constitutionality of the law. In today’s episode, Alan Kasujja speaks to Ghanaian film director Joewackle J Kusi about the challenges of making his film Nyame Mma which means Children of God.It tells the story of Kwamena a young man who goes back to his home town for his father’s funeral. It leads him to revisit the romantic relationship he had with another man, Maroof.Joewackle says the film had a screening at the beginning of March in Accra but since the new law was passed in parliament all plans to show the film are on hold and he doesn’t know when it will be seen again in Ghana.

“We’re creating a new generation of digital entrepreneurs that we like to call digital warriors… And this new generation they’re passionate about technology – they’re going to be the ones driving innovation in our country.”Throughout its history, the island nation of Cape Verde has seen heavy emigration – especially at times of drought and shortages. It means that now there are many more Cape Verdeans living abroad than on the islands themselves.And while the government acknowledges the benefits that have come with that – with its diaspora sending back much-needed foreign currency – it now wants to encourage young people to find opportunities on the islands by developing the country as a ‘digital hub for West Africa’.On today’s Africa Daily Alan @Kasujja speaks with Pedro Lopes, Cape Verde’s minister for digital economy, as well as entrepreneurs Óscar Borges and Jael Alves Monteiro.With special thanks to producer Anne Marie Borges.

Even though they see it as something that would benefit them… they would rather put that dollar into fertiliser which they really need to boost their yields.”Recently on Africa Daily we’ve heard about different insurance schemes for farmers and whole countries to insure themselves against natural disasters. With an increase in extreme weather events due to climate change it’s become an area of growth. But what are the limitations and difficulties? And can subsistence farmers, who already struggle to earn enough for their basic needs, really be expected to find money to insure themselves?Alan @Kasujja speaks with Dr Saint Kuttu, a Senior Lecturer in Finance and Risk Management at the University of Ghana Business School, and Dr Betty Chinyamunyamu, CEO of the National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi - NASFAM - which represents 130,000 farmers.

“My wish is that we hold free and transparent elections, so that the voice of the people can be heard for peace. Because governing a country with weapons is not normal.” – voter, Chad.Interim president, General Mahamat Déby, has been declared the winner of this week’s presidential election with 61% of the vote. His nearest rival, former Prime Minister Succes Masra, came second with just 18.5% - and alleged the vote was rigged.Deby took over from his father, President Idriss Déby in 2021,who had been in power for more than 30 years. In conversations recorded before the winner was announced, Alan Kasujja discusses whether this election was a step towards a functioning democracy – or whether it was simply a way for the Déby family to keep hold of power.

Kush is being sold all across Sierra Leone. It’s a psychoactive blend of addictive substances and has been prevalent in the country for years. Sierra Leone's president - Julius Maada Bio - has called Kush a “death trap" and said it poses an "existential crisis" in the country. And due to its notoriety and impact, the government has declared a national emergency over rampant drug abuse. In today's episode, our reporter based in Sierra Leone Umaru Fofana talks to a man who became addicted to the drug and hears more about what the government are doing.

Today we’re in Burkina Faso where there's been a serious crackdown on foreign media. There have been several reports alleging that the army massacred hundreds of civilians in northern villages in February 2024 and the government's not happy about it. They’ve taken some pretty strict measures on outlets like The Guardian, Le Monde and Deutsche Welle. The government, led by Ibrahim Traoré, say these reports are just attempts to smear the military's reputation. Africa Daily’s Peter Musembi has been hearing more about what it’s like to be a journalist in Burkina Faso.

Liberia, along with several other African nations, receives donated medications from international organisations such as The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The World Health Organisation says that Africa accounts for 94% of global malaria cases and had over 400,000 tuberculosis-related deaths in 2022. USAid discovered that a staggering 90% of pharmacies in Liberia are involved in the illicit sale of stolen medications meant for those in dire need. So, why are medicines that should be free being sold in Liberia? And how big of a problem is this in Africa? Guests: Joyce Kilikpo and Dr. Betha Igbinosun. Presenter: Alan Kasujja.

Today, we're shining a light on a topic that keeps many African nations in the dark – the struggle for stable electricity supply. Africa has the lowest access to electricity in the world. Roughly half a billion people lack access to a stable power supply, including two of the continent's biggest economies — Nigeria and South Africa. Recently in Sierra Leone, people faced longer than average blackouts in the capital city Freetown and other main cities across the country. The reason behind these power cuts was because Sierra Leone owed $48 million to the Turkish energy company, Karpowership. Some of that debt has since been settled and electricity has been restored. In today’s Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje has been looking at how frequent black outs impact life on the continent and what should be done to fix the problem.

Regular attacks by men on motorbikes wielding AK-47 rifles have become a common occurrence in Plateau State in central Nigeria.People in the state are still reeling from the trauma of Christmas Eve attacks just over four months ago, when gunmen attacked 25 villages killing over 150 people.Over the years, the clashes have mostly been between Muslim Fulani herders from the north and Christian farmers in the state. The conflict however seems to have morphed into a complicated situation, with the authorities claiming there are some ‘political forces’ fuelling it.The region is fertile and regarded as Nigeria’s bread basket but insecurity has meant low food production with farmers not being able to go to the farms. In this episode of the Africa Daily podcast, Peter Musembi talks to Plateau State's Governor Caleb Mutfwang about what the authorities are doing and why the killings have persisted for so long.

Federalism in Africa is the topic of today’s episode. Depending on how you define the term, there are only around six countries in Africa that use the federal model, with Nigeria and Ethiopia among them.But what is federalism and what does it look like in practice? How does it function and differ from a system where power is centralised under one authority? Mpho Lakaje has been looking into all of this and examining whether this is a form of government that suits Africa. He is in conversation with Dr Bizuneh Yimenu, a teaching fellow at Birmingham University in the UK. He has also been talking to Dr Dele Babalola, a senior lecturer in International Relations at Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK and author of `The political economy of Federalism in Nigeria`.

“We should also harvest the water, store it in the soil. Grow our crops and grow our trees. Because the storage in the soil is much, much bigger than any store we can ever put on the surface. God has already given us a huge reservoir where we can put our water.” Kenya has been ravaged by flooding this month: dozens have died – specifically after a dam burst and a passenger ferry capsized – and thousands more have been made homeless. Schools were closed and farmers have seen their crops destroyed. But in a few months, many of the areas now under water will be struggling with drought. So what can be done to conserve flood waters and build up resilience? And how can small farmers manage their land better? For today’s Africa Daily, Peter Musembi speaks with Professor John Gathenya a Hydrologist from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

We’ve spoken many times on Africa Daily about mining and whether natural resources are actually a blessing or a curse for the continent. It’s led to decades of conflict in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and the neighbouring Central African Republic - and reports from Human Rights organisations about the appalling conditions miners - including children - often work in.But we rarely get a real sense of what it’s like for people living in these areas. The BBC’s new Global China Unit has been looking inside the mines owned by Chinese companies in the DR Congo, Indonesia and Argentina. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje talked to the BBC’s Wanqing Zhang about a mine near Lubumbashi, a place often referred to as the mining capital of the country, and learned more about the lives of the communities living near the mine.

“Before pronouncing sentence on Bobrisky, the judge asked, ‘are you male or female?’. For me this was a red flag. Bobrisky’s gender has nothing to do with whether he (or she) abused the Naira.” Money spraying is part of Nigerian culture: throwing bank notes or putting them on a person’s forehead to congratulate them at weddings, birthdays or other big social events. But since 2007, it’s technically been illegal – as those bank notes can fall to the ground and be trodden on - and the maximum punishment is six months in jail. But until recently, prosecutions were rare. So there was much consternation earlier this month when Nigerian internet personality and transgender woman, Bobrisky - who has 5 million followers on Instagram - was sentenced to spend 6 months in a male prison for ‘Naira abuse’ after spraying banknotes at a film premier. The government says it’s just clamping down on the practice. But others argue that Bobrisky has been targeted because of her gender identity.

“If I have my money, I have my assets, I have my farms, my houses, my cars, I have everything I need, I don’t need to be friendly with any white person” – Sandile Swana, former freedom fighter.In 1948, the National Party came into power in South Africa and introduced apartheid, a system that segregated society along racial lines. Black people were not allowed to share toilets, beaches, theatres and other public facilities with their white counterparts. In the decades that followed, the black majority rose up against the system and engaged in various political campaigns. Many activists - including Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Walter Sisulu and Ahmed Kathrada - were incarcerated, while others fled to neighbouring countries. But after years of pressure on the National Party government, which included sanctions and international sports boycotts, apartheid collapsed. On the 27th of April 1994, the nation voted in its first democratic election. So 30 years since independence, our presenter Mpho Lakaje sits down with two people who were on either side of the political divide: former freedom fighter Sandie Swana and apartheid-era policeman Lourens Groenewald. So have black and white South Africans truly forgiven each other since those ugly days?

“It feels like a black man deserves the worst. The poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer. I don’t know how things will change” – Alexandra resident, Vusi Mbeye. On the 27th of April 1994, millions of South Africans voted in their country’s very first democratic election. During white minority rule, black people were not allowed to vote. Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress won that election and then introduced policies like Affirmative Action and Black Economic Empowerment. In addition, many black students received financial aid from the government and private companies, to further their university or college studies. All these measures were meant to correct the economic injustices of the past. But 30 years after the fall of apartheid, have black South Africans experienced meaningful economic freedom? Africa Daily presenter Mpho Lakaje, who is himself a black South African, sits down with two men who were both born in Alexandra township: street vendor Vusi Mbeye and Theo Baloyi, a wealthy businessman. He also visits political analyst Khaya Sithole.

Togo's President Faure Gnassingbé's proposal to change the constitution has ignited a fierce debate in the country. Some say it's a power grab disguised as reform, while others insist it's a step towards a more democratic future.The reforms aim to switch Togo from a presidential to a parliamentary system, but critics worry it will only prolong the Gnassingbé family's rule. Helping to keep him in power until 2031 and potentially beyond. President Gnassingbé came to power in 2005 after the death of his father, who had been president since 1967.Protests have been banned and elections postponed- they are now set to take place on Monday 29th April. It’s all led to heightened tension and concerns about the country's political future. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje spoke to the BBC’s Nicolas Negoce about the future of politics in Togo.

Earlier this month we marked the 10th anniversary of the kidnapping of the Chibok girls. It was one of the first mass kidnappings of children witnessed in Nigeria. In 2014, 276 girls were abducted from their school by militants from Chibok, a town in the country’s north east. Over the past 10 years, mass abductions and kidnappings have become a common occurrence in Nigeria. So what is the government doing to get a handle on security?In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation.

“Development is all about leadership. You can get all the resources in the world, you can get all the best human capital… but if the leadership is not there you can’t make the best of the resources you have and eventually move your country forward.”Ibrahima Cheikh Diong is UN-Assistant Secretary General and Director General of the African Union specialized agency “the African Risk Capacity Group” or ARC, which works with governments to help them deal with climate related disasters.But in a varied career, he’s also been a member of the Senegalese government and worked for the World Bank, as a senior banker and in management consultancy. And he even speaks Mandarin as well as French and English thanks to his student days in China.But he says if he had to best describe himself he’d say he was ‘an African who cares about Africa and wants to make a difference in Africa’. This is Alan’s second conversation with people included – like himself – in New African Magazine’s 100 Influential Africans list for this year.

You’ve gone to the grocery store and bought your week’s supplies… so can you imagine receiving your change in sweets, chocolates and other small items?That’s the situation in Zimbabwe where a shortage of US dollars – and a plummeting Zimbabwean dollar – has now led the government to introduce a new currency pegged to gold. The Zimbabwean dollar has already lost three quarters of its value this year.But will this latest move work any better than other attempts by the government to stabilise the economy in the past?

Earlier this month, the goalkeeper of Spanish third-tier team, Rayo Majadahonda, went into the stands to confront a fan who allegedly racially abused him. Cheikh Sarr, a black man originally from Senegal, said he heard an elderly man join others as they made monkey gestures. But what took many people by surprise was the Spanish football federation’s decision to slap the player with a two-match ban for the confrontation. It’s not the first time European football has been rocked by a racism scandal. Last year, seven people were arrested for a similar incident against Real Madrid and Brazilian star Vinicius Junior. Samuel Eto’o, who is now the Cameroonian football federation’s president said, he too faced discrimination when he was still playing for Barcelona in Spain. Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze, Ghana’s Iñaki Williams and Mouctar Diakhaby of Guinea, are among European-based African players who’ve also faced racism. So, what will it take to end racism in European football? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Evelyn Watta, vice president of the International Sports Press Association and veteran British-Nigerian broadcaster Osasu Obayiuwana

Ghana and Ivory Coast, responsible for over 60% of the world's cocoa supply, are suffering from catastrophic harvests. Illegal gold mining, climate change and a devastating virus have formed a perfect storm. Over 590,000 hectares of cocoa plantations have been affected according to Ghana’s cocoa marketing board Cocobod. Meanwhile, shoppers who indulged in Easter treats in the United States found the cost of chocolate had increased by more than 10% on last year, according to data from research firm NielsenIQ.BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to BBC's Nicolas Negoce about the specific challenges faced by cocoa farmers in the region.

Yesterday, Africa Daily heard from two Sudanese men about how a year of war has forever changed their lives. But the impact is also being felt beyond Sudan’s borders: South Sudan’s oil industry – its main income generator – has been heavily impacted because routes to the coast for export have been cut off. Chad and South Sudan are hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees each. And in border areas, armed groups have been growing more active and refugees report extortion, brutal attacks and murder. In response, many regional leaders have attempted to bring the leaders of the two warring parties together for talks: military chief General Abdel-Fattah Burhan and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of Rapid Support Forces, who is more commonly known as Hemedti. But mistakes and perceived insults mean little has been achieved from their efforts. So can African countries do anything to stop the conflict?

On April 15th last year, fighting broke out between the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a powerful paramilitary group know as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As the conflict escalated millions fled for their lives. According to the United Nations World Food Programme, around 18 million people in Sudan are facing food insecurity – a situation likely to worsen because of failed harvests. In Darfur, now mostly in the hands of the RSF, whole cities have emptied out as civilians faced targeted attacks and rapes based on their ethnic group, and there have been countless atrocities committed by both sides throughout the country. Today on Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to a man who has just been reunited with his elderly mother and younger brother after they crossed the desert to reach him in Egypt, and to the BBC’s Mohanad Hashim, who is himself Sudanese.

This month marks ten years since the kidnapping of the Chibok girls in north eastern Nigeria when militants abducted nearly 300 girls. Most of the girls have either been freed or escaped but dozens remain unaccounted. In the years since, kidnapping for ransom - for profit- by criminal gangs has also become the norm, even in places like trains or in the capital Abuja, which used to be considered relatively safe.In today’s episode Alan Kasujja speaks to a woman who was kidnapped twice on her way home from work, and hears more about the approach by Nigerian police to kidnappings.Some listeners may find some of the descriptions of kidnapping in this episode distressing.

On the 14th of April 2014, 279 girls were abducted from their school in Chibok, in north eastern Nigeria. Since that fateful night some have escaped, many have been rescued but sadly others remain missing. As Nigeria and the community of Chibok mark 10 years since the kidnapping of the girls, the country has seen many more abductions. One estimate suggests more than 4,000 people have been abducted in Nigeria in the past 8 months. So today Alan Kasujja will be looking at how the girls, now women, families and community are getting on. And we hear from the army on what they are doing to find the girls who are still missing.

“The problem is that communities are always excluded when important decisions are taken. Companies impose decisions on communities” – Fana Sibanyoni, a resident of Embalenhle in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province In today’s episode, Mpho Lakaje sits down with Sharon Mbonani and Fana Sibanyoni, the residents of Embalenhle in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province. They share their personal stories on how they are affected by air pollution. Their province is known for being home to some of South Africa’s major mines and power stations. This conversation comes after Greenpeace Africa released a report stating that Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are leading air polluters in Africa. Some of the main culprits include power plants that use fossil fuel for electricity generation, and the results are devastating. The report has revealed that air pollution is responsible for 6.7 million deaths every year on the continent. So, how are the nations mentioned in the study responding to this problem?

Last week, Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a national disaster due to a prolonged drought crisis, saying the country needed $2 billion to address hunger. Zimbabwe, once a regional food producer, now grapples with high inflation and scarcity, intensified by climate change-induced droughts. This crisis affects not only food production but also electricity generation, leading to power cuts. And it’s not just Zimbabwe. Neighbouring countries are also struggling, with Zambia and Malawi also declaring drought a national disaster. BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja hears from an impacted farmer in Zambia and hears from the BBC's Shingai Nyoka how people are coping in the region.

Recently Africa Daily presenter Mpho Lakaje had a shock - he found he had been the victim of identity theft. The person or people behind the crime had opened accounts using his personal details and taken out six loans to a total value of $2,000. It has so far been impossible for the local police to make arrests because everything happened online.He's far from alone: the Southern African Fraud Prevention Services says reports of the crime have increased by 356% in South Africa - and an Interpol report shows that South Africa tops Africa in cyber threats and is third in the world. In today’s episode, Mpho makes a trip to the police station to sort out his now complicated affairs - and sits down with another identity theft victim Cisca. He also speaks to Chad Thomas of IRS Forensic Investigations.So just how big a problem is impersonation fraud in Africa? And what can you do to protect yourself from cybercriminals?

This episode contains graphic description of violence. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++“I do not know when I will die maybe it’s today or tomorrow - but I felt if I died without forgiving him the burden would be on my children.” This weekend marks 30 years since the start of the Rwandan genocide. In 100 days, nearly 1 million people were killed based on their ethnicity.At 13 years old, Claudette was attacked with a spear and shot – but somehow survived. Most of her family were less lucky and were killed. And yet she’s taken the remarkable decision of forgiving her attacker. She’s one of a number of people who told her story to BBC reporter Victoria Uwonkunda on a recent visit to the country to mark the anniversary. Victoria was just a year younger, 12 years old, when she herself fled Rwanda and the genocide with her family. She lived as a refugee in the DRC and Kenya before being settled in Norway. She has spoken about her struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.In this episode of Africa, she tells Alan Kasujja about her trip back to her home country – the first since she left – and shares more of Claudette’s story.Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Reporter: Victoria Uwonkunda @afroscandiTo hear more, listen to Victoria’s full documentary on https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hm1sbt

"It's hard to live in Africa. It's hard to pay your bills. Public transport is hard... And it's hard to run a business in Africa."Alan got a belated Christmas surprise this year – when he found out he’d been named as one of New African Magazine’s list of 100 most influential Africans. He’s in good company… Senegal’s Ousmane Sonko, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and Guinea’s coup leader and president, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, are also on the list. But the list isn’t just about politics: it also gives a nod to changemakers in business, science, sport - and to those working to improve the environment. So in the first in a series of conversations, Alan speaks today to two young, energetic business leaders who are on the list - and are changing how money is used on the continent. Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guests: Coura Sene, West Africa Regional director for Wave and Ham Sirunjogi, Co-Founder & CEO of Chipper Cash

South Africa is one of the top wine producers in the world yet, nearly thirty years after the end of apartheid, the industry is still dominated by white-owned wineries. Black-owned brands account for less than 1% of wine sales per litre in South Africa, even though black South Africans make up over 80% of the population.But a determined group of black women wine-makers want to change this. They’ve been supported by a British company ‘On Cloud Wine’ and its owner, Emily Batchelor, who gave them the financial support to export their wines – after many found it difficult to sell it themselves within South Africa But 30 years after apartheid, why are there still so few black women involved in winemaking in South Africa? Guests: Nondumiso Pikashe and Vivian Kleyhans. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje

“Davy became our friend.”Tales of conflict between animals and people are all too common across Africa. People have been cast off their land to make way for wildlife parks for tourists. Animals have attacked humans, poachers kill for tusks and scales, and large animals like elephants trample on crops and destroy them. But today we’re travelling about 200 km west of Nairobi in Kenya to an area called Sachangwan, where a shy elephant managed to charm his way into the hearts of the local community when he wandered into their area as a calf in 2017. Despite him causing some damage, the local people grew fond of him and learnt to live with him – and even gave him the name Davy.But last month the Kenya Wildlife Service finally captured him and moved him to the Aberdare National Park where they say he’ll have the company of other elephants. They also say it’s not a good thing for elephants to live in such close proximity to humans. So on today’s Africa Daily, Muthoni Muchiri asks – how can humans and elephants co-exist for the benefit of both?GUESTS: Joel Too - local pastor Abigael Simaloi Pertet - Co-Existence Project Manager at the Mara Elephant Project

Approximately 26.3 million people in Africa have a form of visual impairment, and it’s estimated that 5.9 million are blind. Blindness in people can occur at birth or later in life, and many people across the continent who are blind face several daily challenges. Amidu Abubakar made history when he became Sierra Leone’s first ever blind law graduate. So what’s it like to study law as a blind person? What changes made it possible for Amidu to reach this dream of studying law? Umaru Fofana, based in Freetown, has been finding out in this episode he guest presented.

The Ras al-Hikma peninsula on the north coast of Egypt is going to become a new city. But it’s going to be built and managed by another country, the United Arab Emirates. In a deal signed earlier this year, Egypt gave the UAE the right to develop this 170 square kilometre area in return for $35 billion dollars. The Egyptian economy was in a critical position, and needed a quick cash injection to get it out of trouble, and the Ras al-Hikma deal was seen as the solution. But it is a very unusual deal. Both because of the amount of money involved, but also because it gives another country the right to essentially build and own a city in Egypt. And it’s not known whether it provides a long-term solution to Egypt’s economic problems. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Wael Gamal, from ‘The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights’ a human rights think tank based in Cairo, Yomn Hamaky an Economics Professor at Ain Shams university in Egypt, and Ahmed, Professor of Economics at Cairo University.

This month there have been six mass abductions in the north of Nigeria, many involving children. One school that was attacked by armed men was in the town of Kuriga in the North West. There, the parents of 137 children had to wait, helpless, for the next 16 days, not knowing where their children were, or how they were being treated by the kidnappers. The Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, took a tough line, saying there would be no ransom paid. But then, on Sunday, there was relief after it was announced they'd been released. It’s not clear how this happened, but all the children are believed to have survived. There was one fatality, a teacher called Abubakar Issa, who had been kidnapped with the children.For today's Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Dahiru Abdulahi, the parent of one of the students who was taken.

“Everybody wants to see you – everybody thinks this is an opportunity for employment…. a lot of people come into government believing they are there to enrich themselves.”It’s nearly three months since Joseph Boakai started work as Liberia’s new president. But in an interview with the Africa Daily podcast he tells Alan Kasujja that he’s still fielding enquiries from people wanting government jobs every working day from early in the morning. The 79-year-old, who was Vice President from 2006 to 2018 under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, narrowly defeated George Weah in November last year – after campaigning on an anti-corruption ticket. But he says while he’s spoken constantly about the need to clean up politics, many people ‘still haven’t grasped’ the concept that politics is about service and not about financial security for themselves and their family.In a wide-ranging and frank interview, he also tells Alan Kasujja how poverty and badly paid jobs like rubber tapping helped prepare him for leadership, his plans for a war crimes court to work for justice and reconciliation after the country’s two brutal civil wars, and how he wants to sort out Liberia’s awful roads within his first 100 days in office.And he and Alan discover a shared love of Arsenal Football Club…

“Life here is difficult. You have to be a resilient person to survive. There’s no electricity. The roads are almost non-existent. In sunny days, the shack gets too hot. You can’t stay inside. When it’s cold, it gets very cold. When it’s raining, it gets flooded” – Lala Maria Sebetlele, a resident of a Johannesburg shanty town When Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress took over in 1994, it introduced the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). It’s a policy that aims to build low-cost homes for the poor, thus reversing the legacy of apartheid. More than three million such houses have since been built, but many people still live in shanty towns due to a variety of reasons. They include internal migration and rapid urbanization. The University of Johannesburg has now come up with an initiative to use 3D printing technology to construct low-cost houses to help ease the accommodation burden. How exactly does it work? And will it make a difference? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Lala Maria Sebetlele, Dr. Alec Moemi and Professor Jeffrey Mahachi

It’s been 30 years since one of the worst atrocities in recent African history - the Rwandan genocide.In 1994, between 800,000 and one million ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in 100 days.Some Rwandans have worked hard to move on from the tragic events of 1994, but many - both in and out of the country - are still living with the trauma.Jean Paul Samputu was already an established musician in Rwanda at the time. He was living abroad during the genocide, but he lost his parents, two brothers and a sister, all killed by a neighbour and his childhood friend. Now a global peace ambassador, Jean Paul says he has found healing in forgiving his family’s killer.The Kora Awards winner tells Alan Kasujja what role music has played in his peace campaigns.

After a turbulent few years of disputes and protests, and accusations that President Macky Sall was trying to hang on to office, Senegal is holding its presidential election on March 24.Speaking to the BBC this week, the president refused to apologise for his attempt in February to postpone the vote by several months - saying he'd always acted according to the constitution and that he 'did nothing wrong'.He decision led to violent protests, but was reversed after Senegal’s top court blocked the postponement.So, will these elections be a turning point for Senegal and can the country have a peaceful transition of power?Presenter: Alan KasujjaGuests: James Copnall and Professor Mamadou Bodian

Female Genital Mutilation or FGM is a practice that divides people. In the countries where it’s common – it’s usually carried out for cultural or religious reasons - but in recent years many African countries have banned the practice saying it’s a violation of the rights of women and girls. It can cause serious health problems – including infection and complications in childbirth – and girls have died when the procedure has gone wrong. But now in The Gambia – a bill has been introduced that would reverse a ban brought in under former President Yahya Jammeh in 2015. This week, the bill passed its latest parliamentary stage and will now go to a committee of MPs for further consideration.For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Jaha Marie Dukureh, the founder for Safe Hands for Girls - an organization focused on ending FGM in The Gambia, and UN women regional goodwill ambassador for Africa.

For the last 10 years Libya has been split into two – East and West - each with its own government.And in 2021 an attempt at elections failed after some questioned the eligibility of the main candidates.But now three influential Libyan leaders have said they intend to try to form a new unified government. They say it's a 'necessity'. So why is this happening now? And could a coalition government finally bring some peace to Libya? Guest: Amira Fathalla, Presenter: Alan Kasujja

So the question being discussed by Kenyans for the last 2 weeks: will the country really send police officers to Haiti or not?US citizens have been evacuated and aid groups have warned that millions of Haitians face acute food shortages, as well-armed gangs wreak terror on the capital, Port-au-Prince. It’s widely accepted that stopping the gangs will take determined international intervention – but the shape that it will take is still under question. President Ruto is insisting Kenya will send 1000 police officers to fight the gangs once a transitional government is in place.But many Kenyans are asking why their police officers are being offered to lead the force – when the US is so much closer to the violence stricken country. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to Dr Ekuru Aukot, a lawyer and opposition politician who successfully obtained a court order stopping the deployment in January.He also talks to Kenyan security analyst George Musamali and BBC Africa’s Security Correspondent Ian Wafula.

Earlier this month an arrest warrant was issued for a Kenyan man accused of practising law without qualifications after he skipped court, according to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).The case has captivated Kenyans ever since the man was outed as an illegitimate lawyer last October, there's been outrage, support and amusement.At the time, legal officials in Kenya urged police to arrest the man, who had been practicing under the name "Brian Mwenda".Alan Kasujja spoke to Mwaura Kabata, the Vice President Elect of the Law Society of Kenya. They’re known for advocating for lawyers' rights, shaping legal policies and providing crucial support and education to legal professionals across the country.

It’s like something out of a Shakespearean drama. A strongman in power. A cousin threatens his position only to end up dead. But this is Chad, 2024 – and the strongman is Chad’s military leader, Mahamat Déby. Recently his most vocal critic, Yaya Dillo, who was also his cousin, was killed in a shootout with security forces. So what is the relationship between different members of this powerful family? And as the country gears up to Presidential elections on the 6th May – meant to return the country to constitutional rule - does Chad even have a viable opposition anymore?Guest: Beverley Ochieng, Presenter: Alan Kasujja

“As an ordinary Zimbabwean I have to be worried when my president is sanctioned, because an investor who is in Dubai will think twice before coming to Zimbabwe” – Dr. Alexander Rusero, Zimbabwean political analyst. The United States has imposed fresh sanctions, replacing a broader programme that was introduced more than two decades ago. Those targeted include president Emmerson Mnangagwa who is accused by President Joe Biden’s administration of corruption and human rights abuses. Others on the list are First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri. In a statement the United States says, “We continue to witness gross abuses of political, economic and human rights”. The White House further says, the targeting of civil society and severe restrictions on political activity have stifled fundamental freedoms. But Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF has denied America’s claims. So, where do these developments leave ordinary Zimbabweans? Alan Kasujja speaks to Zanu-PF spokesperson Tafadzwa Mugwadi and political analyst Dr. Alexander Rusero.

Nollywood is Africa’s biggest film industry. Many will associate it with lots of drama, addictive story-telling, the glitz and glamour of the red carpet. But a story that’s increasingly being told now is of financial hardship. John Okafor, who was also known as Mr Ibu, died a few weeks ago, last year he posted a video on Instagram asking his fans for help with his medical bills. And he isn’t alone, many other household names in Nigeria have posted videos on social media asking for financial support as they struggle with the challenges of being older actors. So why’s this happening in a multi-billion dollar movie industry? In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas.

"They thought that paying fees for girls to go to school was losing money... We would not get husbands to marry us. People say that going to school is just building prostitution." When Marthe Wandou was growing up in the village of Kaélé in northern Cameroon, she was the only girl to get to university. Most of her female classmates left to get married – and local people ridiculed her parents - especially her Dad – for sending their daughters to school. But she studied law, and later returned to her home state to set up a foundation called Aldepa which works to support girls and women - especially in making sure they stay in school. So what are the main obstacles girls still face when it comes to their education? And what are women like Marthe doing about it?

Apologies: only part of this podcast was initially published because of a technical fault, but this has since been rectified. _______________________________________________________________________________"They thought that paying fees for girls to go to school was losing money... We would not get husbands to marry us. People say that going to school is just building prostitution." When Marthe Wandou was growing up in the village of Kaélé in northern Cameroon, she was the only girl to get to university. Most of her female classmates left to get married – and local people ridiculed her parents - especially her Dad – for sending their daughters to school. She studied law, but returned to her home state and set up a foundation called Aldepa which works to support girls and women - especially in making sure they stay in school. So what are the obstacles girls still face when it comes to their education? And what are women like Marthe doing about it?

"They thought that paying fees for girls to go to school was losing money... We would not get husbands to marry us. People say that going to school is just building prostitution."When Marthe Wandou was growing up in the village of Kaélé in northern Cameroon, she was the only girl to get to university. Most of her female classmates left to get married – and local people ridiculed her parents - especially her Dad – for sending their daughters to school.She studied law, but returned to her home state and set up a foundation called Aldepa which works to support girls and women - especially in making sure they stay in school.So what are the obstacles girls still face when it comes to their education?And what are women like Marthe doing about it?

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has declared a national because of the prolonged drought. He says 84 districts out of a total of 116 in the country have been affected.The President said almost half of the land used for planting crops had been affected by severe dry conditions.There are also fears that the country will struggle to meet its electricity demands, as most of its energy comes from water sources.So how are Zambians coping with this situation? Alan Kasujja speaks to Zambian journalist Kennedy Gondwe.

Africa's biggest multisport event - the African Games - get underway in Ghana tonight, with 49 nations competing in 29 different sports. This is the 13th edition of the games – which are held every four years, usually one year before the Olympic Games.But this time they’ve been delayed by 8 months - since August 2023 - because of a disagreement over marketing rights which delayed the completion of facilities.It’s part of an ongoing dispute between the Africa Union (AU) which owns the games, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Association of African Sports Confederations – all of which are meant to work together to put on the event. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja re-lives his childhood memories from the fourth edition of the games held in Nairobi in 1987 as he talks to Africa’s former queen of sprints Nigeria’s Mary Onyali Omagbemi who lit up the games with phenomenal speed.But with the standards of the games appearing to have dropped, he also talks to Ghanaian Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif, asking if there is a future for the Africa Games.

“If the Islamist extremist groups succeed in entrenching themselves in Cabo Delgado, they will launch attacks in different parts of the continent” – Professor Adriano Nuvunga of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights Just as Mozambique's authorities thought Cabo Delgado province in the north of the country was beginning to stabilise, trouble started again. Insurgents linked to the group, Islamic State have launched new attacks on the area in recent weeks. As a result, more than 70 children are now missing. The authorities say they were separated from their families as thousands of people fled to a neighbouring province. According to Doctors Without Borders, over half a million people in that province remain displaced as of December 2023. The insurgency in gas-rich Cabo Delgado, launched by the IS-linked local al-Shabab militia, is now in its seventh year. High levels of poverty and disputes over access to land and jobs have contributed to local grievances. Today Alan Kasujja attempts to understand what it will take to end the conflict in Cabo Delgado.

In many parts of the continent, landing a job at a multinational company is a big deal – it promises growth and stability. But what happens when things go wrong? You get made redundant. Do you know what rights and protections you have?That’s the scenario that staff members in Ghana’s Twitter office found themselves in back in November 2022. Musk tweeted that "everyone" would get three months' severance pay. But it turns out, "everyone" didn't seem to include the Ghanaian staff.Alan Kasujja caught up with Carla Olympio, founder of Agency Seven Seven, the firm backing the Ghanaian staff fighting for their rights under Ghana's Labour Act of 2003. After a year-long battle, the agency successfully negotiated a redundancy settlement for the affected staff members.

“I think this community of BRICS is looking after each other and for sure it’s going to open more doors” – Gert Blignaut, South African beef exporter In August 2023, we brought you an episode on South Africa hosting about 70 heads of state from different parts of the world. They included China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi and Lula da Silva of Brazil, whose nations, along with Russia, form part of a bloc known as BRICS. Founded in 2009, this group aims to promote economic co-operation and increase trade among its member states. Russia’s Vladimir Putin couldn’t attend because of the International Criminal Court warrant of arrest against him, because of claims relating to the on-going war in Ukraine. At that two-day meeting held in Johannesburg, it was announced that Egypt, Ethiopia and several other developing economies were joining the bloc from the start of 2024. And this year, South Africa started exporting beef to Saudi Arabia, one of the countries who’ve been invited to join BRICS. So, what do these developments mean? Is Africa starting to see the benefits of aligning with BRICS? Does America and its western allies have a credible economic rival? Or is it all a pie in the sky? To answer these questions, Alan Kasujja sits down with South African beef exporter Gert Blignaut and Professor Patrick Bond from the University of Johannesburg.

“You just learn that the people who are against you… will always exist and they’ll always use every opportunity they can to amplify mistakes and actually very often try to portray them as deliberate. That’s part of the learning I’ve had to go through.” Being the mayor of Freetown is a tough job. Yvonne Aki Sawyer grew up in Sierra Leone but then went to the UK to study as a student. She stayed, built up a well-paid career in finance, got married, had kids. But after Ebola hit Sierra Leone in 2014 she took a sabbatical to help and became the director of Planning for Sierra Leone's National Ebola Response Centre. In the years since, she’s been voted in as mayor of Freetown twice – running on a ticket dominated with environmental concerns. But she’s also been investigated for corruption and accused of misappropriating public funds - allegations she denies and says are politically motivated. In a frank conversation, she tells Alan Kasujja about her attempts to work with the government, how women support women in Sierra Leone, and denies she’s drunk the political Kool-Aid. “My life is very different to what it was (in the UK)… I certainly don’t earn a fraction of what I used to earn… I am here because this is my heart,” she tells Alan. You can see the Africa Eye film about her work – and the pretty brutal election campaign she went through - “Mayor on the Frontline: democracy in crisis’’ on the BBC News Africa Youtube page.

Earlier this week we heard on Africa Daily from people struggling to manage as the cost of essential food items and fuel rockets in Nigeria. Inflation is now close to 30% and many stores have stopped displaying prices for the goods on sale - because prices are increasing so fast. Some people have begun hoarding food.Protesters have taken to the streets in cities around the country calling on the government to intervene - but the unions cancelled a second day of strikes on Wednesday - giving the government two weeks to meet their demands.So what has the government said in response? And what are they likely to do?For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to the BBC’s West Africa reporter Nkechi Ogbonna - and we hear from Nigeria's Finance Minister, Wale Edun.

“Society calls us waste pickers but I am a reclaimer, I don’t collect waste,” says Luyanda Hlashwayo, who for the last 12 years has made a living by sifting through household garbage to find recyclables for sale.It is estimated there are 15-20 million people worldwide who, like Hlatshwayo, depend on the informal waste sector for livelihood.Their work is dangerous and they are paid poorly.Through the Africa Reclaimers Organisation which he helped found, waste pickers from South Africa and Kenya are discussing ways to improve their working conditions and livelihoods, as they continue to push for recognition as formal stakeholders.In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to Hlatshwayo and Winnie Wanjira who has been a waste picker at one of the largest landfills in East Africa.

“South African deployment of soldiers to DRC is out of order. It must be withdrawn with immediate effect. Not that South Africa is not supposed to deploy in DRC. We [are] supposed to deploy in the DRC and be in the forefront. We just don’t have the army” – Julius Malema, EFF leader The war in the Democratic Republic of Congo is affecting several African nations. Just recently, Africa Daily produced a podcast demonstrating how tensions between Burundi and Rwanda are tied to the conflict in the DRC. And now, it’s South Africans who’ve been affected. Local opposition parties insist that their nation’s army lacks the intended weapons, drones and mortar groups to protect them. It comes after two of the troops were killed in a mortar strike in eastern DRC. They were part of 2, 900 soldiers deployed to that country for a peacekeeping mission. So, is South Africa up for this operation? Why does president Cyril Ramaphosa’s government feel so strongly about having a presence in the DRC? What’s in it for them? But also, who decides which countries should be part of such missions?

It’s been 10 months since fierce fighting between the Sudanese army and the parliamentary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out. A civil war that continues to heavily impact Sudan and its civilians. Earlier this month, the United Nations appealed for just over $4 billion to fund humanitarian operations in the country and neighbouring countries hosting refugees. They’ve described human suffering of epic proportions and say nearly nine million people have been displaced. More recently, Sudan has been plunged into an internet blackout. The blackout has left people in the country unable to access essential services, like transferring money. To find out more on the situation, BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Suliman Baldo who is the founding director of the think tank Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker and Buthina who was born and raised in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital. She had to relocate when the war started and now works for an international organization supporting local groups on the ground.

In Nigeria, consumers are struggling. The cost of many basic necessities like rice, yams and even onions, have doubled since last year. It follows the decision by the government of President Bola Tinubu to remove a subsidy on fuel, and to devalue the naira – which had cost the government billions of dollars. But while the policies were aimed at increasing foreign investment, they’ve seen costs rocket for consumers in Nigeria. People have reacted in a variety of ways: from protests, to food hoarding, to prayers and fasting in the hope God might just intervene.For today’s Africa Daily, Alan @Kasujja speaks to a Tolani and Femi Sarumi, who work respectively as a travel agent and estate surveyor, to find out how they’re coping – and talks through the background to the crisis with business analyst, Endurance Okafor.

World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum will be buried on Friday in his village in south-western Kenya. The 24-year-old died in a road accident two weeks ago alongside his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana.Kiptum’s death comes after several tragic incidents which have claimed the lives of Kenyan athletes in their prime. In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to former Boston Marathon champion Wesley Korir and asks if athletes are faced with greater risks outside the field of play.

“This is a cycle in Congo. It’s been almost 30 years this has been happening again and again and again. And (it) is devastating to see the same civilian populations are moving again and again.”Goma – the largest city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo - has an official population of 2 million people. But more than half a million displaced people are now also living there, following a spike in fighting between the Congolese army and the Tutsi-led M23 rebel group around the town of Sake - just over 20 kilometres away.Sake is on the main road that connects Goma to the rest of the region – meaning the city is all but cut off for supplies by road.Aid agencies say if the rebel group were to move into Goma it would be an even greater disaster for the local population.But how likely is that, and what is M23’s goal?Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja. Guests: Eric Batonon, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s country director and security analyst Alex Ntung.

Afrobeats and Amapiano are two of the most popular genres in Africa and both genres are now also being recognised and appreciated worldwide. This year's prestigious Grammy awards gave us 'Best African Music Performance’ for the first time. Out of the seven nominees- four were from Nigeria- Davido, Burna Boy, Asake and Olamide and there were two artists from South Africa, Musa Keys and the winner Tyla. The only other country represented was Arya Starr from Benin but even she lives in Nigeria. A lot of people raised the question of why this award didn’t recognise artists from other parts of Africa if it's an award created to celebrate music across the whole continent. So why does Nigerian and South African music seem to be dominating music from other parts of Africa? Guests: MC Yallah, ePianoh and Keiitumetse Maako

Back in 2015, Burundi closed its border with Rwanda, amid internal violence that erupted from the disputed re-election of then President Pierre Nkurunziza. At the time, Burundi accused Rwanda of supporting the protesters and encouraging the perpetrators of a failed coup. But the two governments seemed to put that behind them, following the election of Évariste Ndayishimiye as Burundi’s president in 2020. Two years later, the crossing was reopened and trade was back on track. But at the start of this year, diplomatic ties between the two nations suffered a new blow. Burundi, once again, shut the entry points, accusing its neighbour of hosting and training a rebel group known as RED-Tabara. This armed militia claimed responsibility for a deadly attack near Burundi's western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what will it take to end tensions between the two nations? Guests: Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo and political analyst Kwezi Tabaro Presenter: Alan Kasujja

“This is a time for us to stand very tall and stop aid in Africa. We need to find a way of nurturing our natural resources that we have in Africa and really claim back this beautiful continent that we call the Mother Africa” – Nthabeleng Likotsi, South African entrepreneur Today Alan Kasujja sits down with award-winning South African entrepreneur Nthabeleng Likotsi, to discuss how she and her team are building a mutual bank. Her country’s central bank, SARB, recently granted her organization a license to officially run their organization. It took nearly a decade for Nthabeleng to secure this crucial document because businesses first have to tick all the boxes. Her organisation, Young Women in Business Network, is the very first black women owned financial services company of its kind to be granted such a permit in her country. Nthabeleng’s is a story of relentless optimism, perseverance, the ability to learn all the time and most importantly, having the courage to pursue your dreams. The lessons don’t only apply to business. As our listener, you could use them to start anything. It could be a small initiative that helps your community or anything that makes a difference in the lives of your loved ones.

After the introduction of the first African woman referee at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in 2021, the expansion of women into football decision-making on the continent continued in Ivory Coast where a total of six women were officiating at the 2023 Afcon tournament. Zambian assistant referee Diana Chikotesha made history when she became the first female on-pitch match official to feature in a men’s Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday. She was assistant referee in the match that saw Ivory Coast crowned champions after a 2-1 win over Nigeria. In this week’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Diana along with her fellow referee, South Africa’s Akhona Makalaima.

“The government has been reacting very strongly to the possibility of famine and they’re dismissing it, but they are admitting there is drought and that millions of people are being affected.”It’s just over a year since the Ethiopian government signed a peace deal with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front – to end the brutal civil war in the north of the country.The ‘Pretoria agreement’ saw the TPLF agreeing to disarm, in return for the reopening of Tigray, to allow in desperately needed food aid.During the war hundreds of thousands of people are reported to have died – many from starvation. But now, international aid agencies are warning that people there are again in desperate need of food. And throughout the last year there have been outbreaks of violence in other regions in Ethiopia: Amhara, Afar, and Oromia. So what’s happening in Tigray and Ethiopia? Alan @Kasujja speaks to the BBC’s Kalkidan Yibeltal.

The African diaspora are viewed by many as a valuable asset for Africa on the global stage. One country trying to harness that power and influence is Rwanda. They have events around the world to connect and engage with their diaspora. This year an event was held in Washington DC in the United States where President Paul Kagame spoke. So how can Africa tap into the diverse skills, knowledge and expertise gained from years of experience abroad to further develop the continent in terms of innovation, entrepreneurship and capacity-building? BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to the spokesperson for the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo, as well as Natasha Muhoza and Maudo Jallow - two young Africans living in the diaspora who spoke about their personal experience.

“Some members will still look at you as a person who is only there to talk about disability. So every time you want to speak about a different issue, people still want to push you into the disability corner and say ‘this is not your space… If you’re not talking about disability you better keep quiet’.” Women in politics already face a lot of challenges in Africa - with some of their male counterparts questioning their ability, criticising their clothing and telling them to stick to ‘women’s issues’. But what about if you’re a woman and deaf? Or blind? Or live with another disability? Today, Alan Kasujja speaks with two women with disabilities who’ve had success in politics – but who are still pushing to make sure they are represented at the very heart of government. “Of course I can be President! Why not?!” Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guests: Ashura Michael and Laura Kanushu Opori

“When I wake up every morning my work is only to find work, yet I have not heard from any employer for the last six months,” says Abdullahi Mohammed, a young Somali graduate. He has a degree in Information Technology, a master’s in Development Studies from the UK, and has some short-term experience working with international organisations. And yet he still can’t find a job in Somalia. This is the reality for millions of young people in the country, who are well educated but who face real challenges getting work. And it is particularly difficult for women. The statistics vary wildly according to who you speak to: The World Bank says about 20% of people are unemployed, while the Somali Congress of Trade Unions says it’s as high as 70%. In this episode of the Africa Daily Podcast, Alan Kasujja speaks with Abdullahi, another graduate Fardowsa Khalif, the president of Somali Trade Unions Mohamed Osman Haji Ali, and Mohammed Adam from Somali Public Agenda, a public policy research NGO.

When the Africa Cup of Nations started, hosts Ivory Coast were on the verge of disaster after losing two of their first three matches. But they dusted themselves off and went on to reach the final. They will take on a Nigerian side who boast talented players like Victor Osimhen, who plies his trade in Italy, and Stanley Nwabili, who plays in South Africa. But the Ivorians have dangermen of their own, including Seko Fofana and Sebastien Haller. But before the final, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa will be fighting for the bronze medal. This has been hailed as one of the most captivating AFCON tournaments in recent history, with smaller nations like Namibia beating Tunisia while Equatorial Guinea shocked the hosts in the group stages, by defeating them 4-0. So, come the end of the weekend, who will be crowned the kings of African football?

Senegal has long had the reputation of being a bastion of democracy in Africa. It has been a stable democracy in a region that’s often been blighted by instability. In fact, it is the only country in mainland West Africa that has never had a military takeover. But a recent postponement of the election by 10 months has seen Senegalese take to the streets saying they are worried their country’s reputation is at risk. So how did Senegal get to this point and what next for the country? Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Senegalese journalist Borso Tall and political analyst Ibrahima Kane.

It’s a common story across the continent. A student graduates from university. They celebrate the end of their hard work with proud family members. But when they start job hunting they find they face fierce competition for a small number of jobs. The International Labour Organization say one in five African youth were not in employment, education, or training in 2021. But a similar proportion of Africa's working-age population are starting new businesses - the highest rate of any region in the world, according to the African Development Bank. So is entrepreneurship the answer to low job creation? Alan Kasujja has been looking at this issue with a budding entrepreneur who is about to graduate and a university professor who has witnessed trends in graduate employment.

"It's time to bring the decent story about Africa forward."It’s not every day you get to chat to a billionaire. But for today’s episode Alan Kasujja speaks with Mo Ibrahim - the Sudanese born businessman who’s made it his life's mission to counter corruption. His charitable organisation ‘The Mo Ibrahim Foundation’ rewards African leaders for good governance with awards of $5 million. He made his wealth by building a telecommunications company called Celtel which he sold in 2005 for $3.4 billion.In a lively conversation, Alan talks to him about celebrating Africa’s heroes, corruption – and how much cash a billionaire carries in his wallet…

In today's episode, Alan Kasujja sits down with Michayla Moss who is American-Israeli and Iyad Abu Kalusa, a Palestinian from Gaza. Both of them currently live in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conflict started on the 7th of October 2023, when Palestinian group Hamas and other armed factions attacked Israel, killing about 1,300 people - mostly civilians - and taking 240 hostages. Israel subsequently retaliated, killing more than 27,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. South Africa then asked the international Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider whether Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.So what's it like to watch a war unfold in your homeland from thousands of kilometres away?

A regional bloc is a group of countries that team up to work together on common goals, like trade or security, to benefit all members. In Africa they include Ecowas, which stands for the Economic Community of West African States, the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) amongst others. But are they always as effective as they set out to be? Recently, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso quit the West African bloc - Ecowas. The military-led countries had already been suspended from the bloc, which has been urging them to return to democratic rule.From Liberia in 1990 to the Gambia in 2017, regional groups have deployed troops to address coups, civil wars, and disputed elections. While some interventions, like the restoration of President Kabbah in Sierra Leone, were successful, others such as the intervention in the Liberian civil war, faced criticism for human rights abuses.BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to BBC Africa’s Beverly Ochieng about the role regional blocs play in Africa and how their interventions impact citizens.

Religion is a close to the heart of many Africans – closely linked as it is to identity, culture and values. So no-one will have been surprised at the ferocious response to the BBC Africa Eye documentary series called ‘Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua’ – in which a number of former followers recounted experiences including sexual abuse, rape and manipulation by the self-proclaimed prophet.But do allegations of abuse of power – levelled at a number of religious leaders over the years – suggest regulation is needed? And how can the followers of different religious groups be best protected?Today on Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja brings together two Christian theologians who’ve wrestled with this question: Bishop Zac Niringiye, who was assistant Bishop of Kampala with the Church of Uganda, and Rev Dr Kenneth Ofula, a priest in his Anglican Church of Kenya and currently Tutorial Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University.

"I was so thankful that at my age, at 18, I had discovered this. Grown men were moved to tears… it was a collective state of euphoria."Before his death in 2021, TB Joshua, the TV evangelist and founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, was often seen alongside presidents and powerful politicians. But for the last few weeks, he has been the subject of furious debate, after the publication of a 3-part documentary series which exposed his rape, abuse and mistreatment of his ‘disciples’. The former disciples accuse him of using both fake miracles and threats to win and then retain followers. His church didn’t respond to the allegations in the documentary series but said previous claims against TB Joshua have been unfounded. In the first part of a two-part series on cults, prophets and religious leaders, Alan Kasujja hears about the experiences of one of TB Joshua’s disciples – and speaks to Professor Maria Frahm-Arp from the department of religious studies at the University of Johannesburg. He discusses why prophet-led, ‘single-man’ churches are so attractive to many people – and asks how people can spot if their church is actually a cult. For more, listen to the World of Secrets 'Disciples' podcast from the BBC World Service. Or watch "Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua" on Youtube.

Table tennis lacks the glamour of football and the investment that athletics gets in Africa. However, it is played to a high standard in many countries, and in 2023, over 500 million people watched the World Table Tennis Championships in Durban, South Africa, according to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). So do the young dedicated players of today believe that their game can raise its profile, and if so, what is needed for that to happen? Alan Kasujja talks to two table-tennis playing students in Lagos, Ayuba Daniel Ikko-Allah and Ayomikun Oyenuga, about their hopes and dreams, and Latifat Ohiosumuan from the Africa branch of the ITTF to find out what needs to change to put table tennis on the map in Africa.

In November 2023, South Africa approached the International Court of Justice, to consider whether Israel is committing acts of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. It also called for an immediate ceasefire. And on Friday, the 26th of January, the UN’s top court made its interim ruling. It said, among other things, that Israel must do everything in its power to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza. But the court did stop short of ordering an immediate halt to military operations. So, what’s next? Will this ruling change anything in relation to the war in the Middle East? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje talks to Palestinian ambassador to South Africa, Hanan Jarrar, and Benji Shulman of the South African Zionist Federation. He also sits down with Dr. Hlengiwe Ndlovu from the Wits School of Governance in Johannesburg, to unpack the recent developments.

20 year old Rita Waeni was brutally murdered and dismembered. Her remains were discovered in rubbish bags at a rental apartment in the capital, Nairobi this month. The news shocked Kenya and led to uproar both online and offline with many saying that the government isn’t doing enough about violence against women.Research by Africa Data Hub shows that from 2016 to 2023, over 500 femicide cases were uncovered in Kenya. Each representing a shattered life and a broken family. These numbers, though staggering, only scratch the surface of a much deeper problem rooted in intimate partner violence and systemic gender inequality. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to politician Esther Passaris about claims that Kenya’s leaders have been quiet on this matter. He also spoke to Njeri Migwi, the founder of Usikimye, an organization working towards ending the prevalence of sexual and gender based violence. Usikimye, along with two other organisations in Kenya, have organised an anti-femicide march in multiple counties over the weekend in Kenya.

Malaria kills more than 600,000 people around the world every year. But this week, Cameroon became the first country to start a mass rollout of the world’s first ever malaria vaccine – the WHO-approved RTS,S vaccine.It is hoped that other countries will follow, in a move projected to save thousands of children's lives across Africa.But will vaccine hesitancy stop parents having their children vaccinated?On today’s Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja talks to Professor Rose Leke, an internationally acclaimed Malaria expert who’s studied the disease for decades.

We all have a beginning to our lives and we will all have an ending. At the end it is the work of morticians to look after our bodies when we die and to prepare them for burial. It is an incredibly important job, but one that most of us give no thought to. One person who is trying to change that is Filinda Wakuthi Kamau, a mortician and funeral director in Kenya. She publishes TikTok videos, using the handle @frimahkuthi, which get up to 25 million views, to demystify her work and get us talking a bit more about death. Alan Kasujja called her up at Egerton University Funeral Home where she works to find out why.

At the weekend, Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in as President of the Democratic Republic of Congo – starting his second term in office. Last week on the podcast we talked about whether democracy and the political classes were doing anything to improve the lives of normal citizens across the country. And today we’re taking a closer look at the Eastern DRC – where decades of war has left millions killed or displaced. Despite ongoing fighting between government forces and the M23 rebels and other armed groups, Tshisekedi’s government has demanded that regional and UN peacekeepers leave the region – arguing both have failed to stop the violence, and accusing the East African Community forces of colluding with the rebels. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja discusses the implications of the peacekeeping forces’ departure with Goma-based journalist Akilimali Saleh and BBC Africa’s security correspondent, Ian Wafula.

“Usually I would spend about 10,000 to 12,000 [South African Rands] on a bulk buy for the units of hair. But when I got this particular quotation, the hair on its own, the units I usually buy were at a total of 28,000 to 30,000” – Ziyanda Khumalo, South African small business owner Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja looks at how the attacks by the Houthis, a Yemen-based rebel group, are affecting Africa. He sits down with Johannesburg business owner Ziyanda Khumalo, who imports her products from overseas. He also hears from economist Joseph Busha, who explains how the events of the recent months in the Middle East are influencing the price of commodities in Africa. It all started on the 7th of October 2023, when Hamas and other factions attacked Israel. That country reported that more than 1,200 people were killed. This was followed by a barrage of Israeli air strikes and artillery on Gaza, which have so far claimed the lives of more than 23,000 Palestinians. This is according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The Houthis subsequently launched attacks of their own on vessels passing through the Red Sea. They claim to be targeting Israeli-linked ships, in protest at the war in Gaza.

A new government for the Democratic Republic of Congo will be sworn in at the weekend, and President Felix Tshisekedi will start his second term of office.The country faces many challenges: from conflict in the east, to poor infrastructure, to lack of investment in public services. There are also questions about how connected the political elite in the capital are with the rest of the country, the biggest in Africa south of the Sahara. So what are the expectations of the population for this new government? We discuss this with Fred Bauma, a civil society activist and leader of a social justice collective called ‘La Lutte pour le Changement’, known as LUCHA. For many years he has been a leading voice in the DRC calling for political participation and peaceful activism.

On the podcast in November last year we heard the terrible stories of South Africans who’d lost their loved ones to cholera. Then, the disease was sweeping across Southern Africa and was causing a public health crisis in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Cameroon. Now, just two months later – Zambia is scrambling to contain the disease with more than 9,500 people affected.Since 2023, 13 countries in the region have battled one of the worst cholera outbreaks to hit the region in years and, as of 15 January 2024, more than 200,000 cases, including over 3000 deaths, have been reported.Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja discusses with BBC Africa’s Health Correspondent Dorcas Wangira why this preventable disease is proving so hard to control.

Former president Ernest Bai Koroma is due in court on Wednesday to face treason charges and other offences in connection with an attempted coup last November. More than 20 people were killed when key sites across the country were attacked, including a military barracks and a prison where more than 2,200 inmates were set free. Ernest Bai Koroma was elected in 2007 and was president for 11 years, he has denied any involvement. In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja spoke to journalist Umaru Fofana in the capital Freetown on the charges and what this case means for Sierra Leone.

For many women and girls in Africa, getting their hair is a done is an essential ritual to feel and look good. Many find the hair salon to be one of the few places where they have time for themselves, to chat, laugh, to share good news and sorrows. But what if seeing your stylist was about something much more than getting your hair done… what if that relationship could help to save your life? In today’s Africa Daily Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Marie-Alix de Putter, the founder of the ‘Heal by Hair’ initiative. She explains why she believes that hairdressers have the under valued skills that could help African women with their mental health challenges and how her hair stylist helped her at the worst moment of her life.

“When you commit to a journey, the universe conspires to help you.“ In a surprise zoom call with student Mamadou Barry, Will Smith quoted those words from Paulo Coelho’s novel 'The Alchemist'. That story is about a boy who goes on a journey across north Africa to Egypt when he dreams of gold. In a case of real life mirroring fiction, Mamadou also gave up his normal life to undertake a long journey across northern Africa. But his dream was of studying at the Al-Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt. When he realised he couldn’t raise enough money for a flight, Mamadou decided he’d simply cycle there, and so he began a journey that was to take him four months and thousands of miles through Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger and Chad. His amazing bike ride caught the attention of strangers - who helped him to his end goal - and eventually of Will Smith who sent him a bike, a laptop and flight vouchers in Egypt to help him get back home to Guinea to visit his family.In this edition of the Africa Daily podcast, Peter Musembi speaks to Mamadou about his journey, his motivation and the unexpected attention and support he’s received.

Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja takes a look at how Ivory Coast is preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to kick off this Saturday. The host nation will take on Guinea-Bissau in a clash that promises to set the tone for the rest of the competition. Other countries to watch include title holders Senegal, 2022 finalists Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Morocco who reached the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup two years ago. But some are weary of spoilers like Zambia who defeated Ivory Coast in 2012 and South Africa who last won it in 1996. Ivory Coast is also using this sporting event for social development, having spent over a billion dollars on stadia and other infrastructure. But many street vendors in the capital Yamoussoukro are fuming after the authorities moved them from areas closer to the stadium, to make way for the visitors. This is the reason some locals say that this event is excluding the poor.

The drama, the excitement and the big talking points – every match day. Star guests join the BBC’s John Bennett for reaction and analysis. We’ll take you from the group stage all the way to the final, with everything you need to know from one of the biggest tournaments in the global game. Search for World Football, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

On the 7th of October 2023, Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and other factions, launched a surprise attack on Israel. It led to the deaths of about 1,200 people, including foreign nationals, according to the Israeli government. More than 200 others were taken to Gaza as hostages, over a hundred have since been released. Israel retaliated with a series of air and artillery strikes in Gaza. The Hamas-led Health Ministry says more than 22,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed to date. South Africa subsequently filed a case against Israel at the United Nations’ top court alleging that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza amounts to an act of genocide. But Israel has dismissed this accusation, promising to fight back. The hearing officially kicks off at the Hague in the Netherlands today.Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja has been looking at the significance of this court case.

This week, pictures of the leader of the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, better known as Hemedti, at a genocide memorial in Rwanda and in Kenya hugging President William Ruto might have confused many. That’s because a civil war has raged in Sudan since last April.It began after Hemedti and the head of the armed forces General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan disagreed on the direction the country was going in and the proposed move towards civilian rule. The most contentious issue were plans to include the Rapid Support Forces’s 100,000 troops into the army. With no peace talks in sight, why is the RSF’s leader choosing to meet African leaders instead? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to the BBC’s Africa correspondent Anne Soy and Suliman Baldo, an expert on Sudan and Executive Director of the Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker

Can you imagine life without plastic? It’s cheap and convenient – but makes up an estimated 400 million tonnes of waste every year, of which only 10% is recycled.It’s hoped ongoing negotiations could lead to an internationally legally binding treaty on ending plastic pollution by end of this year.But calls for a reduction in the production of plastics is being strongly opposed by the plastics industry as well as oil and petrochemical exporting countries like Saudi Arabia. They insist the best solution to plastic waste is recycling. In this episode of Africa Daily, Peter Musembi speaks to Dr Tiwonge Mzumara-Gawa from the Malawi University of Science and Technology, who is also a campaigner against plastic pollution. She says she's a conservation biologist by training; and an activist by passion.

The number of women studying STEM subjects in African universities - that’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – has risen dramatically over the last five decades. Female students now make up for almost 50% of the total number, a higher percentage of female representation than any other continent in the world. How has this happened and does this translate into similar representation in the job market once students graduate?Alan Kasujja speaks to Professor Verdiana Grace Masanja, the first woman to gain a Maths Phd in Tanzania, and the first female Maths professor there. When she started she was the only woman in the room and throughout her life she has encouraged young women to seize the opportunities that she herself had to struggle for.

"I don't think the Somali government is interested in a fist fight with Ethiopia."A diplomatic row broke out this week in response to a deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland allowing landlocked Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s coastline. Somalia described the agreement as an act of "aggression". Both the African Union and US have issued statements saying Somalia’s sovereignty must be respected. Somaliland seceded from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognised as an independent state.Somaliland said in a statement that in exchange for sea access, Ethiopia would "formally recognise" it.But Ethiopia said that other countries had done deals with Somaliland in the past, and it had not "transgressed" any laws.Confused? For today’s Africa Daily podcast Peter Musembi goes back to the basics – and hears about the background to this latest dispute.

Like many children in Africa, Masai Ujiri was obsessed with football as he was growing up. But one day a new love struck him and he started what was to become a lifelong love affair with basketball.He’s been a player, a scout, an agent and today he’s the president of the NBA side the Toronto Raptors, making him the first and only African-born president of a professional sports franchise in North America. He’s also the founder of Giants of Africa: an organisation that aims to empower young African boys and girls through sport and basketball. Alan caught up with Ujiri to talk about his journey and what drives him. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guest: Masai Ujiri

Peter Mutabazi is a Ugandan single dad who has fostered 38 children and adopted three of those kids. He lives in North Carolina in the US and these children come from different backgrounds and walks of life. This is something that gets him regularly noticed when he’s out with his family- he’s a black man in America raising white children. Peter was drawn to fostering and adoption because of what happened to him as a child. He was born in rural Uganda and lived in poverty without money for food, clothes or school. He ran away from home when he was 10 years old and became a homeless street kid in the capital Kampala. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Peter about growing as a vulnerable child in Uganda, life in the US and why he decided to parent so many children.

'The Beauty of Impermanence: An Architecture of Adaptability.’ Think about architecture and you probably think about tall buildings of steel and glass. But the theme of this year’s Sharjah Architecture Triennial is design influenced by scarcity – and how we can build in a way that adapts to decreasing resources and hotter climates. Africa has been disproportionately impacted by climate change. The Triennial is designed as a platform for architects from the global south – allowing them to share ideas on sustainability and reuse. Africa Daily hears from the curator of the exhibition, Nigerian architect, Tosin Oshinowo – as well from reporter Ije Ndukwe who went to the opening week of the exhibition.

2023 was full of big news, interesting personal stories and some disastrous events like floods and earthquakes in different parts of Africa. So, what does 2024 hold for countries across Africa? Guests: Anne Soy, Mpho Lakaje and Thomas Naadi. Presenter: Alan Kasujja.

2023 has been an eventful year for Africa and it's that time of the year when Africa Daily reflects on some of the things that have happened. There's so much to discuss from South Africa's Springboks winning the rugby world cup to the Nigerian elections, as well as some disastrous floods and earthquakes in different regions. Guests: Anne Soy, Mpho Lakaje, Sally Nabil, and Thomas Naadi. Presenter: Alan Kasujja.

Letsile Tebogo is well on his way to becoming an African superstar. He took the athletics world by storm when he became the first African and first man from Botswana to win a medal in the 100 metres. He won silver and ran with a race time of 9.88 seconds, making him the first man from Botswana to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds. And he’s only 20 years old. His talent is a huge topic of conversation in the athletics world and the continent. In today’s episode, we hear from the man himself on how he went from playing football to becoming fast on the track.

Buying affordable and safe medicines across Africa is often difficult. There are not enough pharmacies and the price of medicine is often too high for many people to afford. If you do get hold of the medicine you need, then there is the question of whether you can trust it; shocking statistics from the United Nations show that close to 500,000 people in sub Saharan Africa die each year due to fake or substandard medicines. So in this episode of Africa Daily we look at the journey of a packet of medicine from start to finish, to find out where the problems are, and how they can be solved. Our two experts are Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi, Director of Research at Global Health Focus, and Chimwemwe Chamdimba, the Principal Policy Specialist at the African Union Development Agency.

"The majority of the men who come into my life feel they want to be my saviours... they can say: 'I'm dating a blind girl. Guess what guys, I'm taking one for the team'."Imagine losing your sight after 31 years of clear vision. The simple tasks like attaching a file to an email, entering an office building or going for a walk unassisted now become so difficult. And what about things like dating and socialising?According to the WHO, about 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment. And even though sudden blindness cases are rare - conditions like glaucoma, where there’s increased pressure within the eyeball causing gradual loss of sight, affects over 80 million people.BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to Evelyn who - as a filmmaker – relied on her sight for work – but who lost her sight completely in 2020. She now aims to educate, inspire and 'share her daily nonsense' with people via Youtube and her social media platforms.

"Every one of us has his or her personal mountain to climb. It might not be Everest or it might not be a physical mountain. Yours might be in the boardroom, on a bicycle, in your family, at school... There's always something we need to achieve. Something big, something difficult and something meaningful... And when you get there, remember to be thankful and reach down and pull someone else up with you."Africa has its fair share of mountains ranges – the Rwenzoris, the Drakensburgs, The Atlas mountains, the Nuba, Mt Kenya, and of course Mt. Kilimanjaro. They all form a nice backdrop, but very few look at them and say: “I’m going to go and climb that mountain!” Those who do lace up their hiking boots and set out to conquer those mountains are a special group – the mountaineer extra-ordinaries. But one woman is in a league of her own. Saray Khumalo has done all there’s to do with African mountains and once that was done and dusted, she turned her gaze to Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain on earth at 8,849m. But that wasn’t enough. She recently travelled to the South Pole, and she’s now planning her trip in the opposite direction – the North Pole. Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda Guest: Saray Khumalo

On Monday, Egypt’s incumbent president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi won a third term in office with just under 90 % of the vote.This is despite ongoing economic turmoil in the country, caused by high inflation. A former army chief, Mr Sisi has ruled Egypt since overthrowing the democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, a decade ago. He will now be in power until 2029. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to BBC Arabic’s Mohamed Taha to find out why Sisi is so dominant and if he is likely to leave power after the next six years.And he discusses the impact of the country’s economic crisis on ordinary Egyptians with economic journalist Doaa Abdelmoneim

The Ubo-aka is one of Africa’s oldest musical instrument and keeping the sound of this ancient instrument alive has been challenging. Musician Gerald Eze says the number of young people playing this instrument has declined and that he wants to make sure this Igbo tradition survives by performing with the Ubo-aka and teaching people how to play it. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja met Gerald when he was in Lagos a few months ago and learned more about why this instrument and sound are important to Igbo culture.

This episode discusses difficult issues including sexual violence and suicide.“You have thousands of cases and you have one judge. So every day you go to the court, they say come back tomorrow. The families they just get tired.” Miatta Grey is a woman with a very personal mission. She’s the founder of ‘Sister’s Hand’ - an organisation in Liberia which supports victims of gender-based violence – having herself survived rape and domestic abuse. She was also badly injured through female genital mutilation - or FGM - in a ceremony that killed her sister.She – like many campaigners within Liberia’s civil society – have long been pressurising the government to improve the situation. But she says things actually got worse under the last government. So what needs to be done to protect women from sexual violence in Liberia?

Millions of people will be voting in elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo this week. President Félix Tshisekedi is seeking a second, and final, five-year term in office. It’s a country the size of Western Europe with an estimated population of more than 100 million people. It’s also a country rich in natural resources- it has 70% of the world's reserves of coltan, a mineral used to make mobile phones. But it’s also a country with many challenges, there’s been a bloody conflict in eastern DRCongo for three decades which has left millions dead. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at what’s a stake with the BBC's Roncliffe Odit in the capital Kinshasa.

Imagine paying off someone else’s debts from 30 years ago. That’s what the Somali government has been having to do, as it tried to pay off debts built up by governments in the 1990s.Five years ago Somalia was using 64% of its Gross Domestic Product – the value of all the goods and services it produces – to pay off foreign debts. Now it’s only using 6%.It’s come after a process of painful economic reforms – supported by the IMF and World Bank – which culminated in it having $4.5 billion worth of debts written off last week.For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Dr Hodan Osman, Senior Advisor & National Coordinator of Human Capital Development, in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and to Laura Jaramillo, who led the IMF teams in talks with the Somali government.

“Our ancestors, our forefathers and our great grandmothers used to come together and have discussions and sing songs and dance. This is how we would document our lives and our history and this is how we would begin very important and critical conversations” – Masechaba Ndlovu, Rainbow Nation Music Fest ambassador. Thousands of people are expected to attend the Rainbow Nation Festival in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province. It aims to bring different racial groups together and promote social cohesion.This is particularly important as the country continues to be haunted by its apartheid past, with disturbing incidents of racism making headlines from time to time. The festival will take place on the 16th of December, a public holiday known as the Day of Reconciliation. But can music really unite South Africans?

“The words ‘fossil fuels’ have never (before) made it into a COP decision. We’re finally naming the elephant in the room. The genie is never going back in the bottle again.”So the talking is over and the weary delegates have headed home. This year’s climate conference, COP28 – when world leaders, activist and lobbyists get together to discuss how to limit global warming - was certainly eventful. $700 million was pledged to the Loss and Damage fund to help poorer nations deal with the impact of climate change before the conference had even began. And the ‘elephant in the room’ – fossil fuels and how to wean ourselves off them – was mentioned in the final agreement for the first time in the history of COP… but only after a rejected first draft which took the conference into an extra 24 hours of argument and negotiation. So has it been a good or bad conference for Africa? Peter Musembi – Africa Daily’s Environment enthusiast, gets an assessment from Mohamed Adow from Powershift Africa.

Today, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje talks to Zimbabwean blueberry farmer Stuart Torr. He and his brother studied in the UK, before returning to Africa to farm. Their company is among those exporting blueberries to countries like the Netherlands, Spain, France, Germany, Singapore and Malaysia. They operate in a sector that has seen significant growth in recent years. Fruit industry analysis group, East Fruit says Zimbabwe has been increasing its blueberry exports by 63%, annually. So, what’s behind these developments? Mpho is also joined by Zimbabwean economist Prosper Chitambara.

Kenya's parliament has banned the wearing of a suit, named after the late Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, within the building. Speaker of Parliament Moses Wetangula said Kaunda suits, as well as traditional African clothes, were not welcome. And Kenya is not alone – African clothes are not permitted in many parliaments across the continent.Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Senator Gloria Orwoba about her specific challenges around being a female in Senate and historian Godfrey Sang told him more about the evolution of African attire.

Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania where more than 99% of the population are Muslim. In a community that places high value on family and marriage, being a divorcee is something that is often looked down upon, especially for women. However, one woman is breaking down those stereotypes through her culinary initiative, Mamas of Zanzibar. BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to Muskat on why she started her initiative and the impact it’s had on her life as a single mother as well as the lives of other ‘mamas’ on the island.

More than 70,000 Nigerians crossed into northern Cameroon fleeing Boko Haram attacks eight years ago. As they settled in Minawao as refugees, there was a different hostility to contend with in the form of difficult desert conditions, with nowhere to hide their heads when the sun was scorching. They however opted to join forces to plant trees and build what is now known as The Green Refugee Camp.In today’s Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja speaks to one of the refugees Isaac Luka who gives an account how step-by-step refugees embraced tree planting to counter a hot climate, and now the initiative is providing jobs, shade, health and food for hundreds of refugees and local families.Alan also speaks to the BBC’s Henry Ekambi to understand how Minawao looked before the refugees arrived, and to an expert who shares insights into what it takes to successfully plant trees in arid areas.

Artificial Intelligence is playing a growing part in modern life. We’re told it can make things faster, more efficient and cheaper.But people with disabilities can struggle to use machines which use AI because they don’t recognise their special needs and adapt to them. Instructions are often visual – making it impossible for a blind person to use without the assistance of someone else. A number of African countries have AI strategies but in Nigeria this is still being discussed – and so people with disabilities there are pressing for their needs to be recognised within any legislation.For today’s Africa Daily, Alan hears from journalist Gbenga Ogundare, Olufemi Bayode, a teacher at Kings College, and Opeolu Akinola, an ICT consultant and the co-founder of the Microsoft Experience Centre in Lagos. All three are blind.

“Families who have young brothers and sister or sons being killed didn’t even know they were in criminal environments. It caught politicians off guard. It caught everyone off guard.”Sweden’s police chief has described a spike in gang violence – including shootings and bomb attacks - as “unprecedented”. The police force in the capital Stockholm have said they are overwhelmed and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has asked the army to provide support. The police have linked the violence to a widening gap between rich and poor and drug use. More than 40 people have died in nearly 300 shootings in Sweden this year, according to official police statistics. There are many African communities in Sweden, the largest is the Somali community. Second generation Somali-Swedes say the situation has changed life for many there. Victoria Uwonkunda has been speaks to a woman who offers group therapy to young people and a journalist who has covered the story for years.

“Look at the Middle East right now, Israel and Palestine. They could have come to terms with each other a long time ago. We were fortunate that we had a Mandela” – Roelf Meyer, former South African cabinet minister. South Africa’s first democratically elected president Nelson Mandela died on this day, a decade ago. So today, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje sits down with two of his former ministers, Sydney Mufamadi and Roelf Meyer. What was it like reporting to one of the most prominent political figures of the 21st century? But most importantly, what type of legacy did the man affectionately known as Madiba leave behind? His country is facing a mountain of problems including joblessness, power outages and persistent government corruption. If he was still alive, would Mandela associate with the ruling ANC party? These are some of the questions Mpho is asking his guests.

In November this year, 221 Malawians flew to Israel to start working on farms there. The Malawian government has a labour export deal with Israel, and says it is eventually aiming for a total of 5000 people to travel there for work. According to the World Bank, Malawi is the fourth poorest country in the world.But the deal has provoked debate in Malawi because of the current conflict in Israel. The political opposition says the scheme is putting citizens in danger, pointing out that 39 agricultural workers from Thailand were killed at the start of the fighting. The government in Malawi says they have assurances the workers will be safe.So we got in contact with one of the workers who has just arrived in Israel, Andrew Chunga, to ask him what life was really like there.

Across Africa, the impact of climate change is becoming more and more apparent. This year alone, multiple countries across the continent have been hit with an array of severe natural disasters – ranging from floods to excruciatingly high temperatures. As the United Nations Climate Change Conference - or COP28 - kicked of this week, delegates agreed to launch the long-awaited 'loss and damage' fund to pay for damage from climate-driven storms and drought. The EU, US, UAE and others immediately announced contributions totalling around $400m for poor countries reeling from the impacts of climate change.But in the past pledges for climate funding - for example to the Green Climate Fund - have far exceeded the actual amount of money that has been given.So should Africa be cautious about these new pledges?In a discussion recorded before the launch of the new fund, Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja hears why the issue of money has been so fraught in the past from our resident environment reporter, Peter Musembi - and talks over Africa's priorities for the summit with Eva Masudi, the Environment and Sustainable Development Minister for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Horn of Africa region is experiencing torrential rainfall and floods linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon, claiming dozens of lives and causing large-scale displacement. In Somalia the number of those killed by the floods has surpassed 100, and more than 700,000 have been displaced.The rains are forecast to continue battering East Africa till the end of the year.It comes as the region emerges from its worst drought in four decades after multiple failed rainy seasons that left millions of people in need and devastated crops and livestock.The current El Nino phenomenon had been predicted since the beginning of the year.In today’s Africa Daily Podcast, Alan Kasujja speaks to Somalia deputy prime minister Salah Jama, to find out why it has not been possible to mitigate the damage despite this early warning.

Brain drain is an issue across the continent but has become closely associated with Nigeria. Several surveys have found that the country has the highest proportion of young people wanting to move overseas. The tendency even has its own term – Japa – meaning to run, flee, or escape, in the Yoruba language. But does this tell the whole story? On a recent trip to Lagos, Alan Kasujja brought together a group of Nigerians with different perspectives on the topic. Among them are people thinking about leaving and those who have left but later decided to return home. Alan also heard from a couple of Kenyans, who saw an opportunity in Nigeria, the same country some want to leave, and moved there for a better life.

“The water is dirty. You can see it with your own eyes. It looks muddy. When you pour it in a glass and leave it overnight, the following day you start seeing small things swimming in the water” – Kamogelo Stock, South African citizen In this episode, we hear from people who’ve gone through the agony of losing their loved ones to cholera in South Africa. The disease is currently wreaking havoc in several parts of the African continent including Malawi, Cameroon and Mozambique. Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, is currently under a state of emergency following a deadly outbreak. Cholera is an infectious and often fatal bacterial disease which causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. It can spread in places with insufficient water treatment, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene. In today’s episode Alan Kasujja attempts to find out why so many African countries are still struggling to contain the disease.

Some people may find the issues discussed in this episode upsetting. _____________________________________________________________________ “Some of the children that I talk to who attempted suicide would simply tell me that: 'I think I’m a burden to my parents. They want me to pass, I don’t pass. I think if I die I would solve their problems.'” - Tsepiso Siseoana, Lesotho psychotherapist. Recently released data from the World Health Organisation shows that Lesotho is amongst a group of African countries with an alarming rate of suicide. The southern African nation recorded 87.5 deaths per 100 000 people. Other countries with a similar problem include neighbouring Eswatini, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. Alan Kasujja attempts to understand why Lesotho’s suicide level is so high. Please note: If you are experiencing emotional stress and would like details of organisations which offer advice and support, visit www.befrienders.org

Last week the Malian army seized the town of Kidal, in the country's north - weeks after the United Nations stabilisation mission, MINUSMA, withdrew from its base there. For the past decade, Kidal has been a stronghold of the Tuareg rebel group - and so its capture was a symbolic success for Mali’s military leaders, who seized power in 2020. They have made the restoration of territorial sovereignty a key priority. The military government has given UN forces until the end of the year to withdraw from the country - triggering a race to seize territory between the army, rebel groups and jihadists. But while the army is now in control of the military base – the question of who’s in control of the region is far more complicated. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC’s Beverly Ochieng and MINUSMA spokesperson, Fatoumata Kaba.

It’s an astonishing story of political intrigue: a man called Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the Secretary General of Zimbabwe’s opposition party – the Citizens Coalition for Change, or the CCC, has been issuing recall letters, which say they are no longer members of the party – and getting opposition MPs barred from parliament. At the time of recording, 32 MPs have lost their seats. Some already face re-election battles in December. But the opposition MPs say they have no idea who he is – and that he definitely isn’t their Secretary General. So who is this person? And how is he gradually dismantling the opposition party in Zimbabwe’s Parliament? Alan Kasujja has been talking to Zimbabwean journalist Ish Mafundikwa, as well as one of the MPs affected, Gift Ostallos Siziba, the CCC’s Deputy National Spokesperson.

12 countries in Africa will receive 18 million doses of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in the coming days. The roll out will begin in the new year. The doses are injections for children between 5 months and 2 years old. Kenya, Ghana and Malawi have already been using the vaccine in a pilot programme since 2019, but in other countries - including Uganda, Mozambique and Cameroon - this will be new. So today, Africa Daily asks how parents view the vaccine – and about how the rollout is likely to go.

The South African singer and pianist Thandi Ntuli was surrounded by music as a child – her grandfather was a key part of the musical scene in Sophiatown, a suburb in Johannesburg known for its music. She now has a new album out called ‘Rainbow Revisited’ – referring to the term coined by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu “Rainbow Nation” to describe post-apartheid South Africa – a nation where its diverse people could live together in harmony, following years of racial segregation. Now – nearly thirty years on, with Victoria Uwonkunda, Thandi explores where that optimism has gone – and what hope there is for the future.

Today, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje attempts to find out whose heritage is being preserved and whose is being sacrificed when we change the names of Africa’s roads, towns and cities. Zimbabwe for example, changed its name after independence from white minority rule in 1980. White people, however, remain very much part of that country. Neighbouring South Africa has also been doing away with public names associated with the apartheid regime. Some people are even calling for the nickname of the rugby national team, the Springboks, to be abolished because it represents “white supremacy”. Is this the way to go? Mpho is joined by Charlotte Ashamu, the Director of International Programs at Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, and Cameron Peters who runs Cape Town Heritage Tours. NOTE: edited to correct Charlotte's job title on 20th Nov 2023.

Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where individuals perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud or coercion - often by those they know. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists say the UAE is a major destination for sex trafficking. African women are forced into prostitution by illicit networks operating in the country. BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to Mary*, a survivor of human trafficking who courageously shared her story of how her life changed when she went from Nigeria to Dubai. He also speaks to the Director General of the Nigerian National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons - Fatima Waziri-Azi, for more insight on the scale of this problem in Nigeria.

“Those who are not killed are hiding”. Thousands of new refugees have crossed into Chad from Darfur in recent weeks - all describing scenes of horror as the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, establish their dominance across the region in western Sudan. The RSF was created from the feared Janjaweed militia which destroyed villages and killed or displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Darfur in 2003 and 2004. Its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo - widely known as Hemedti - used to be a Janjaweed commander. Now the RSF is expected to take the capital city of north Darfur - Al Fashar - previously a safe haven for the non-Arab population. Around 50 thousand internally displaced people had already sought shelter there earlier in the war, prompting fears of an even greater humanitarian disaster. For today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja gets the latest on the situation from Suliman Baldo of the Sudan Crisis Research Network as well as from Seif Nemir who managed to get his family out of the embattled city of El Geneina in June.

On the 16th of November, millions of people are expected to vote in the presidential election in Madagascar. Long-time political rivals Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana will take each other on, along with eleven other candidates. Rajoelina, the former DJ-turned-politician, rose to power back in 2009 when he replaced Ravalomana as head of state, following a bloodless coup. Madagascar is among the poorest nations in the world. The percentage of the population living below the national poverty line rose from 72% in 2012 to 75% in 2022, according to the World Bank. Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja has been looking at what's at stake in this election.

“Divorces were happening on these cassette tapes… And the messenger wouldn't know that there had been a divorce recorded on this cassette tape, so when they got to the partner and offered them the cassette tape and it was played they were the unwilling participant in this divorce.” Nowadays we’re so linked up - via whatsapp, email, phone calls. But how did people stay connected in the days before the mobile phone? In Somalia – from the 1970s to 90s –the cassette tape was a crucial tool for sending messages – especially to family members who had fled to other countries after war broke out. Letter tapes were used for verbal love letters, regular family updates, to plan political resistance – and even as a means of divorce. Now a Somali feminist art group called Dhaqan Collective (@DhaqanC) - based in Bristol in South West England - is using these tapes as a way to explore Somali history and culture in a project called Camel Meat & Cassette Tapes. They’ve also used cassettes as a vehicle to encourage young Somalis to record interviews with their older family members – and so to connect with their history and traditions. For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks with two members of the collective. With thanks to producer @layla_mood

Last month a ‘controlled spillage’ was conducted at the Akosombo and Kpong hydro-electric dams near the southern tip of Lake Volta. But for those living downstream it felt anything but controlled; rather residents described sudden and massive floods which took water levels to the rooftops of their houses – destroying homes in minutes which had taken them years to build. Around 26,000 people were left homeless. With water levels still high, any thoughts of rebuilding are for the future and for now the priority remains survival. The authorities say that unpredictable and heavy rains caused by climate change significantly increased the volume of water in the two dams – and that Akosombo dam had reached the maximum safe operational level. They say without the release of the water the dam could have burst creating an even greater disaster. But many local people are critical with how the situation has been handled. For Africa Daily, Victoria Uwonkunda reports.

On yesterday’s episode, Alan heard that the traffic in Lagos has become unbearable for many people. Hours spent in gridlock mean that some people aren’t spending enough time at home for a good night’s sleep. For years, commuters have been promised a new train service linking the island with the suburbs where many people live. It finally launched in September and has been a huge hit. Alan took the train for a evening commute to find out whether it is meeting expectations and can continue to match demand. #AfricaDaily

If you are visiting Lagos, you’ll likely be away for the traffic long before you arrive. People are eager to warn you about the gridlocked roads when they find out you’re travelling there. For commuters in the city, it has been an ongoing problem for years. Journeys that should take just an hour, can sometimes take over five hours. And some people have to miss out on sleep to make enough time for the commute. So, it’s no surprise that people are looking for any shortcut, even if that means stepping foot off dry land. Could boat travel be one of the answers to the travel woes in Lagos? #AfricaDaily

For many Kenyans illness and needing healthcare can result in serious financial hardship or mean those who can’t pay don’t get the healthcare they need. President William Ruto says new legislation will ensure that healthcare is affordable and accessible to all Kenyans. The changes have been described as controversial and the biggest shake-up of the health sector in more than two decades. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje spoke to the BBC’s Health correspondent in Nairobi Dorcas Wangira about what this will all mean for Kenyans and hears from a woman who struggled to pay for her medical treatment when she was diagnosed with cancer.

King Charles and his wife Camilla wrapped up a four-day state visit to Kenya last week. The visit was at the invitation of Kenya’s President William Ruto and came as the country prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence at the end of the year. This was his first visit to a Commonwealth country since the start of his reign. Kenya is where the King’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, found out she was going to be Queen after her father passed away while she was there on a private visit in 1952. BBC Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje spoke to historian Godfrey Sang about the historical ties and the lingering question of an official apology for colonial injustices including the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950’s where more than 10,000 Kenyans were killed and tortured.

On the 11th of October, the citizens of Mozambique voted in their country’s municipal elections. The authorities later announced that the ruling Frelimo won 64 out of 65 municipalities. The main opposition Renamo, however, disputed the election results saying the process was rigged, a claim that has been denied by Frelimo. Two people have lost their lives since the unrest started. The violence has been condemned by the European Union and US embassy who’ve urged all parties involved to find a peaceful resolution. Hostilities between Frelimo and Renamo go back to the 1970s when Mozambique descended into a civil war that claimed an estimated one million lives. Presenter: Peter Musembi

In his reports from Lagos this week, Alan has heard that the naira doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. Expensive exports, the removal of fuel subsidies and high inflation means that many people have less cash in their pockets. Nigerians are having to find creative ways to make ends meet. In this episode, he hears from young men who are turning to sports betting. He hears stories of people winning big when luck is on their side. But he finds that making big money isn’t always as easy as people hope. could lead to a quick win – an injection of cash if they beat the odds. For people already struggling with the cost of living, it’s risky. And there may be hidden dangers.

More and more Africans are being displaced, largely due to conflict. And that number has risen over the past year and now totals over 40 million people. For a while, the displacement crisis has been viewed as a humanitarian issue - with the burden of response largely left to international aid organisations. But that might be about to change. Business stakeholders are getting together to look into how the private sector can play a role in helping solve the refugee crisis. Africa Daily’s Peter Musembi speaks to Innocent Habyarimana and Isaac Kwaku Fokuo Jr. and gets their insights and experiences.

At Balogun market in Lagos almost everybody has something to say about the economy. Financially, Nigerians have been on a bumpy ride since the election in February. The new government removed fuel subsidies, meaning every car journey now costs significantly more. A weak naira is adding to the price of imported goods. And inflation is soaring. So, how are people coping? How are they still striving to thrive? And why aren’t people excited about a government plan to put a bit of extra cash in their pockets? #AfricaDaily

Hamas gunmen launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on 7 October, which resulted in killing more than 1,400 people and taking almost 230 hostages. Since the attack Israel has been carrying out strikes in Gaza. The Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry says more than 8,000 people have been killed. Following the surprise attack, many of Israel’s allies and others quickly condemned the assault and said they were standing with Israel. Israel then launched airstrikes into Gaza. Leaders from US, UK, EU and some African countries including Kenya, said Israel had a right to defend itself. However there’s also been condemnation of Israel and its airstrikes by South Africa. BBC Monitoring’s Beverly Ochieng tells us why certain countries took the positions they did during the UN resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza and how it sheds light on the diverse perspectives held by African Nations.

Alan Kasujja is back in Lagos. He was last there in the days before the presidential election in February. Since then a lot has changed. The country has a new government and a new president – Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing. A surprise removal of subsidies on fuel has seen prices saw at petrol stations. And inflation currently at 26% has seen the cost of many other products soar. In the first of three episodes looking at a changing Nigeria, Alan looks at how life in Lagos has changed since his last visit. #AfricaDaily

“The world wants us to constantly fight and struggle and be on the offensive. I think in those moments of sport, we become who we truly are, which is people who really wanna live with each other, be at peace with each other” – Khanyi Magubane. South Africa arrived in France and the 2023 Rugby World Cup as defending champions, with the hope to hoist the trophy for a 4th equalling time. The African nation last lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in Japan in 2019. But for South Africa, win or lose, this is not just about sport. During the years of apartheid, when white minority politically and economically oppressed the black majority, rugby was used by the ruling National party at the time as a tool of segregation. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje attempts to find out why rugby continues to be a symbol of unity in South Africa. Guests: Vata Ngobeni and Khanyi Magubane.

Often seen as the workhorse of transport in some parts of Africa, the humble bicycle is going through a change on the continent, as people start to cycle for fun and fitness. Modern bikes with more gears and the rise in popularity of taking exercise to get fit have contributed to an increase in recreational cycling. However, safety on the roads remains a major challenge, and United Nations figures from a report last year say 18 cyclists are killed on Africa’s roads every day. So with that in mind, Victoria Uwonkunda joined two cycling enthusiasts - Angela Wainaina, who is the captain of Joyriders cycling club in Kenya, and Temitope George who is the captain of Cycology cycling club in Nigeria – to ask them ‘why cycle for fun?’

A daughter complains to her father that she never gets to see him. She says she feels like they don’t spend enough time together. Craig Phakathi is a long distance truck driver in Zimbabwe and he too wants to have time with his daughter. So he invites her along and they go on the road together, with Bhule joining her dad for five days. Alan Kasujja also decides to enlist the help of his own daughter Zuri, in this chat about parent-child relationship, finding that work and life balance and what it is like having to travel for work - something both Alan and Craig know a thing or two about.

Sierra Leone has managed to reduce the number of women who die during and after childbirth by half in the last 2 years. But the maternal mortality figures are still too high, and the government has called it a ‘national emergency’. A new maternity centre is being built in the east of the country as part of the drive to improve the medical care of women and the training of midwives. And it’s being built mostly by women. Alan Kasujja hears from workers Bintu Missah and Hawa Baryoh and midwife Isata Dumbuya about the significance of this new Maternal Centre of Excellence.

Many governments around the world have been questioning how prepared they were for covid- 19 and discussing what they might do in another pandemic. But what about Africa? One of the most interesting and significant things happening on the continent is an early warning system in Nigeria which could alert Africa and the world to an emerging pandemic. It’s been developed by Professor Christian Happi, he’s the Director of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Redeemer’s University in Nigeria. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Professor Happi about the work happening at the centre and the lessons learned from covid-19.

In 2015 the price of crude oil fell and since then Nigeria has struggled with a shortage of foreign currency- dollars. It led the previous government to place restrictions on who could access dollars through the official markets – including banning the use of foreign exchange for the importation of 43 items including rice, cooking oil, tooth picks, and cement. That ban has now been lifted as part of a series of reforms introduced by Nigeria’s current government. When President Bola Tinubu came to power in May this year he criticised the past policies of the central bank and accused it of mismanaging the foreign exchange crisis. But can his policies improve the situation? For today’s Africa Daily, Peter Musembi speaks to BBC Africa’s business correspondent Nkechi Ogbonna in Lagos.

The Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Gaza is not just an international border point, but is a symbol of the complicated nature of the north African country’s relationship with the Middle East conflict. Since the 7th October 2023 attacks on Israel by the militant group Hamas, and Israel’s military response, the Rafah Crossing is back in the headlines. It’s seen as a lifeline for Gaza, but has also been closed and opened many times over the years. We discuss its significance with the BBC’s Amal Saeed from our Cairo Bureau.

Since April this year, South Africa has been hit by its worst bird flu outbreak since 2017. Known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or HPAI, it’s caused the deaths of millions of chickens and a severe shortage of eggs. Now the flu has been detected in Mozambique leading to the concern that it could become a regional problem. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje speaks to Dr. Abongile Balarane from the South African Poultry Association to understand the flu's impact and its potential risks to humans – and hears from chicken farmers and consumers in Johannesburg to see how the egg shortage is impacting on their daily lives.

In recent years, Morocco has been spending millions of dollars in developing its football. It now boasts six FIFA approved stadiums, a competitive local league and has world class transport infrastructure. Some of its investment paid off in 2022 when it reached the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. But what exactly is Morocco trying to achieve with its multimillion dollar investment in football? Can hosting the 2030 World Cup boost its economy? Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Jalal Bounouar and Brian Wesaala

It’s nearly three years since a BBC Africa Eye investigation uncovered multiple cases of children being stolen and sold for cash in Kenya. The film saw Njeri Mwangi speaking to mothers who were still looking for their children years after they went missing. Many people were shocked to see a former nurse, a hospital worker and a homeless woman caught on camera trying to sell children. In recent weeks, one of them was sentenced to 25 years in prison. But not all of them have faced justice. So, what impact did the investigation have? And what has happened to Kenya’s baby stealers in the years since?

Since the second world war, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have attempted to help countries in financial difficulties by providing low interest loans. This week the two Bretton Woods institutions have been holding their annual meetings in the Moroccan town of Marrakech - the first time they’ve been on African soil in 50 years. The two institutions divide opinion. Some people believe they have had a positive impact. But others say the organisations are dominated by the west and need reform to make them fairer to developing countries. So, what do we really know about the World Bank and IMF?

Over the past 14 years Boko Haram has wreaked havoc in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. The group gained international notoriety with the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria in 2014 which sparked the ‘Bring Back Our Girls campaign’. Their attacks also spread to Cameroon, Chad and Niger leaving thousands dead and three million people displaced according to the United Nations. Le Spectre de Boko Haram, an award winning documentary, recently screened in at the London Film Festival. It tells the story of three children living in a village in northern Cameroon, a region regularly attacked by Boko Haram in cross border raids. The film’s director Cyrielle Raingou spoke to Africa Daily’s Sharon Hemans about why she decided to tell this story and the challenges she faced as a woman film director.

Known as the ‘pearl of the desert’, Timbuktu was a spiritual and intellectual capital in the 15th and 16th centuries - the home of mosques and libraries and commerce. For years its treasures drew tens of thousands of tourists each year. But now it’s a city under siege. Attacks on civilians have spiked. An Al Qaeda affiliated group announced a blockade of the city - and in September, a rocket attack on a passenger boat led to dozens of deaths and hundreds injured. This led to the cancellation of the boat service - previously seen as the only ‘safe’ form of travel in and out of Timbuktu. So what has caused this change? For Africa Daily Alan Kasujja speaks an analyst who monitors the levels of violence – and to a man who grew up in the city – but didn’t want to be named for fear of repercussions from the military government.

“I can’t look at things, but I can see them.” The words of Winston Fani, a blind tour guide from South Africa. He shares his journey with Alan Kasujja and explains he found himself working in an industry where very few professionals are living with disability. Winston is part of about 7.5% of South Africa’s population living with some form of disability, according to government data. Alan also chats with Ugandan tour operator Amos Wekesa about how accessible tourism destinations are on the African continent. The World Bank says Uganda’s tourism sector holds the key to creating jobs and increased foreign exchange earnings.

Last week, hundreds of protesters marched in Ghana’s capital, Accra. They called for the resignation of the governor of the Bank of Ghana over billions of Ghanaian cedis lost in the 2022 financial year. The country is facing its worst economic hardship in over a generation with the high cost of living being driven by inflation of more than 40%. It has stoked tensions which have led to protests in recent months. Last month, more than 50 protesters have been arrested in Ghana for defying a police order not to demonstrate. So, what hope are protesters in Ghana hoping to provoke? #AfricaDaily

Can East Africa cope with heavier than average rainfall – predicted to possibly arrive between October and December, linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon? Forecasts show there’s an 85% higher chance of wetter-than-usual conditions across most parts of the horn of Africa this year. Scientists say areas expected to face floods will include southern Ethiopia, eastern Kenya and southern Somalia, but that parts of Uganda and South Sudan may also face drier conditions. El Nino is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It can lead to heavy rains thousands of miles away – but also drought and lack of rains elsewhere. Eunice Koech, a meteorologist with the horn of Africa’s Intergovernmental Authority on Development- IGAD has been speaking to Africa Daily about what El Nino is – and how it might affect East Africa.

For his whole life, Fallou Ngom believed his father was illiterate. It was only after he died that Professor Ngom returned to Senegal and found unusual writing samples among his belongings. Through his research, he found that the notes were written in Ajami, a modified form of Arabic used to write many African languages. But Fallou had no idea that many people of his father’s generation were using it to communicate, record debts, and write poems, prayers and stories. He says that for decades people were recorded as being illiterate if they didn’t write in French. And many people of Ngom’s generation had no idea their parents were using Ajami all along. So, what has he found out about his father and his country in the years since he started studying Ajami? Host: Alan Kasujja Guest: Fallou Ngom, Professor of Anthropology, Boston University

“The hardest thing is not being able to help someone beyond what you are able to do with the little medication you have. You examine your patients but don’t have what you need to solve their medical needs. And that has a psychological effect on me” In today’s podcast, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje hears from healthcare workers trying to assist Sudanese refugees at camps in Chad. There are more than 20 such shelters in eastern Chad, housing at least 400, 000 people. This humanitarian crisis has been triggered by a conflict led by Sudanese army head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, otherwise known as Hemedti. In 2021, the two generals staged a coup, but in recent months they have taken up arms against each other in a power struggle. The civil war has claimed thousands of lives. With the number of Sudanese refugees crossing into Chad expected to reach 600, 000 by the end of 2023, how will the country deal with the influx?

“As days passed, and bodies continued to be recovered, they became very hard to identify – and it was difficult to cope with it emotionally. Swollen bodies, bodies with fractured faces, decomposed bodies… It was the most excruciating experience, but our help was very crucial for the process. So, we had to do it.” On October 3rd, 2013 – exactly 10 years ago - a boat crammed with around 500 people caught fire and sank - just off the coast of the Italian Island of Lampedusa. The victims’ support group – the 3rd of October Committee - says 368 died that night. But to this day, many families don’t know if their loved ones were amongst the passengers on the boat. So how are the victims of the Lampedusa shipwreck being remembered? And has anything changed for people risking the sea crossing from Africa to Europe in the decade since? For Africa Daily, a survivor remembers his experiences of that night.

“In Gabon, football and paedophilia go hand in hand, we were all told the stories.” In December 2021 a British newspaper named several leading figures in Gabonese football, alleged to have sexually abused hundreds of boys over a period of decades. The former head coach of Gabon's youth teams, Patrick Assoumou Eyi - widely known as "Capello" - admitted charges of "raping, grooming and exploiting young players" and remains in prison awaiting sentencing. Three other coaches were arrested but deny the allegations made against them. But did the football authorities - in both Gabon and further afield - fail to protect these children? And are they continuing to fail them? For today’s Africa Daily, Alan@kasujja talks to Khadidiatou Cissé, the reporter who worked on the documentary. To see ‘Predators on the Pitch: Inside Africa’s Biggest Football Scandal’ go to the BBC News Africa YouTube page.

It’s been more than two weeks since devastating floods swept away large parts of the city of Derna. The government in the east of the country says more than 4000 people lost their lives in the disaster, although this number remains disputed. Many more thousands of people are still missing and displaced by the disaster. In the weeks since the floods, fear and horror has turned to anger, with people taking to the streets to demand answers. So, how are people in Libya coping and trying to rebuild their lives? #AfricaDaily

Ugandan politician and musician Rachael Magoola says she’d be flying planes if she had been paid the way she should have been paid for the success of her music. She was elected in 2021 and says her music played a big part in winning a seat in Uganda’s parliament. She’s most famous for her song Obangaina which she wrote late 1990’s but she says she did not earn as much as she should have from the song. Since becoming an Member of Parliament, Rachael Magoola has launched the Parliamentary Forum for Creative Arts in Uganda. She hopes it will push policies which will help to build a thriving creative economy in her country where artists can be paid what they are owed. She believes the success of this industry could even reduce the number of young people leaving the continent for Europe. She was in London recently with her band Afrigo, which just celebrated its 48th anniversary, and she spoke to Africa Daily’s Peter Musembi.

During Sierra Leone’s civil war in the 1990’s, child soldiers roamed mutilating and killing their victims. Economic turmoil ensued once the conflict ended, with high unemployment and poverty. And the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus left almost 4,000 people dead there. There are physical scars from the events of those years but also scars that are less visible. This year President Julius Maada Bio launched a Mental Health Taskforce to address the country’s lack of mental health resources. The initiative is being led by Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh. So what is this Taskforce going to do? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Vice President Jalloh about his government’s plans.

If you search for ‘philosophy’ or ‘philosophers’ online, chances are you’ll find lots of photos of white men. Wikipedia will tell you that historically, the main traditions include Western, Indian, Arabic-Persian and Chinese philosophy. But some people question how insightful these ideas are to life on the continent. Meanwhile, some of the oldest philosophical texts were produced in ancient Egypt. And terms from African philosophy such as Ubuntu – “I am because we are” – are influential around the world even today. A new “Handbook of African Philosophy” has been compiled by Dr Mpho Tshivhase (University of Pretoria) and Dr Elvis Imafidon (SOAS, London) and is set to be published in November. So, what are they hoping to achieve with the book? And what are the big questions for African philosophers today?

“The journey has been very difficult. It’s time consuming, it’s stressful. It hasn’t been easy”, says a mother who adopted a child with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. According to the National Library of Medicine, South Africa has the highest reported rates of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the world. It’s 111 per 1,000 people. A baby can be born with this condition if its mother drinks alcohol while pregnant. It's accompanied by all sorts of medical complications. Some people with it can’t do some of the things we sometimes take for granted, like reading and writing. Alan Kasujja sits down with Doreen Smit, a mother who adopted a baby born with the condition. He also hears from an organisation that’s trying to help mothers raising children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

“The journey has been very difficult. It’s time consuming, it’s stressful. It hasn’t been easy”, says a mother who adopted a child with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. According to a number of published medical papers, South Africa has the highest reported rates of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the world. It’s 111 per 1,000 people. A baby can be born with this condition if its mother drinks alcohol while pregnant. It's accompanied by all sorts of medical complications. Some people with it can’t do some of the things we sometimes take for granted, like reading and writing. Alan Kasujja sits down with Doreen Smit, a mother who adopted a baby born with the condition. He also hears from an organisation that’s trying to help mothers raising children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Note: This podcast has been edited and republished on 6 October 2023. The research on the high incidence of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in South Africa was conducted by JAMA Paediatrics, not the National Library of Medicine as we previously stated.

It was a shocking attack which still has implications today: in September 2013 fighters from the Somalia-based al-Shabab militant group burst into the Westgate mall in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi – taking control of the building for the next four days. At the end of the siege, 67 people were dead, with almost 200 wounded. So what impact did it have on relationships between different Kenyan communities? And why has it led many Somalis in Kenya to rethink their culture of hospitality?

In September 2013 members of the Somalia based militant group al-Shabab attacked and took control of the Westgate mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. The attack was the start of a four day siege. 67 people were killed and almost 200 people wounded. The majority of those killed or injured were Kenyans but there were several foreign nationals who died in the attack, including Ghanaian poet and diplomat Kofi Awoonor. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to his son, Afetsi Awoonor, who survived with a gunshot wound to his shoulder. And we hear from BBC editor Ruth Nesoba on the challenge of covering a story like Westgate.

Last Sunday Storm Daniel hit Libya bringing heavy rain and catastrophic flooding. Derna, a city in the east, suffered the most. A tsunami-like river of water swept through its streets when two dams burst. More than 10,000 people are missing and almost 4,000 people have been confirmed dead according to the United Nations. It’s a situation any country would struggle to deal with but in Libya, there’s an added complication because it’s a country with two rival governments. So today Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at how Libya will recover from the catastrophic floods.

Kenyans have got used to a system of political coalitions with long-term politicians forming new alliances, changing parties…. often in the run up to elections. But is this a good thing? Does it give Kenya a more consensual form of politics? Or is it just a system of patronage which rewards the political elite – and is inherently instable? For Africa Daily Alan Kasujja discusses the subject with Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s ‘Prime Minister’ – as well as about his government’s hopes for Kenya to take leadership role on the subject of food security and the environment.

"Our biggest challenge now is monetisation". Social media influencers in Africa say it’s harder for them to make money from their online content. These content creators say they don't get paid in the same way as creators in the UK, the US or European Union do. Content creators in those other countries have access to what is called a creator fund – a pot of money that pays creators for their content. So what’s being done about it in Africa and how can African creators make money from their content? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Charity Ekezie and Daud Suleman

Over the last week, Moroccans have been tested to their limits after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the High Atlas mountains south of Marrakesh. Whole villages were buried in landslides – while residents of other towns have been forced to sleep outside or in tents as their houses are too damaged to sleep in. There are fears about how they’ll manage as winter approaches. Almost 3,000 people are now known to have died in the disaster and the death toll is expected to rise. But on Africa Daily today, we also hear stories of generosity and compassion as Moroccans travel across the country with food and supplies to help their fellow citizens.

In today’s podcast, Alan Kasujja sits down with award-winning South African health practitioner professor Lucille Blumberg. She explains why she thinks she was recognized for her efforts in fighting malaria. She also tells our presenter why thousands of people across the African continent are still dying of the disease, despite the medical advancements of recent times. In addition, Alan explores the discovery of a strain of natural bacteria which promises to help fight malaria transmission. He also looks at the vaccines that are being rolled out across the continent. How effective are they?

The family-run business model is as old as business itself. Across Africa and the rest of the world, it is family businesses that dominate production and trade. From massive global brands like BMW or Nike to your local grocery store, it is a common set-up. But a family business can be difficult to manage, and often they don’t survive beyond one or two generations. Issues around money, control, who does what, are complex enough in a commercial setting, let alone with your own flesh and blood. So today we are looking at the pros and the cons of going into business with your family, with a focus on a family farm in Kenya, run by 3 generations of the Chiira family.

Every year the G20 – a group made up of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful countries - meet to discuss and make decisions on global challenges: climate change, energy security, trade and conflict. For many years there have been complaints that many of those affected by those decisions aren’t represented. So with the African Union now a member, will this mean Africa’s voice will be heard more? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to Mikatekiso Kubayi, a researcher at the Institute for Global Dialogue at the University of South Africa.

Bola Tinubu was officially sworn in as President of Nigeria just over 100 days ago. Since then, opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have alleged widespread fraud in the election. But last week, Nigeria’s Appeal Court rejected challenges to his narrow victory. The problems President Tinubu inherited are huge. There’s widespread insecurity, the cost of living crisis, high unemployment, a shrinking oil industry and high inflation. So how’s he begun to deal with those challenges? And are people happy with the job he’s doing so far? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been looking at this with the BBC’s Chris Ewokor in the capital Abuja.

This week the first ever Africa Climate Summit took place in Nairobi, to discuss ways the continent can respond to the threat of climate change . At least 23 African heads of state and government joined thousands of delegates at the summit, with a goal to influence climate commitments, pledges and outcomes. At the close of the summit on Wednesday, the African leaders adopted a joint declaration outlining the continent’s position on climate finance and green growth. In the declaration- the African leaders proposed new taxes across the world to fund action against climate change. The heads of state say the declaration will form the basis of their negotiating position at November's COP28 summit in Dubai. They've proposed taxes on shipping, aviation and the trade in fossil fuel. Although the summit was largely hailed as a success, there has been outcry over the small number of African heads of state and governments who attended. Civil society groups say they were side-lined, and claim the process of preparing the summit was hijacked by western influencers.

As the World Cup is set to start in Paris, President of Rugby Africa says investment is needed for more countries to replicate the Springbok’s success

“What I saw was really traumatizing. It was traumatic to see people jumping out of a building” On the 31st of August, a fire destroyed a block of flats in the Johannesburg inner city, in South Africa. A total of 77 people died while dozens of others remain in hospital. The police are still investigating how the fire started. The authorities say those who died in the catastrophe were living in the derelict and abandoned building illegally. This is part of what has been described as ‘building hijacking’. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg speaks to former mayor Herman Mashaba and constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos, to get an understanding of this problem.

The leader of Gabon's military junta has vowed to return power to civilians after "free, transparent" elections. However, in a speech after being sworn in as interim president, he did not give a date for military rule to end. The coup, that ended more than 50 years of rule by the Bongo family in Gabon, was welcomed by crowds of cheering civilians that turned up at the inauguration. However, some question his links to the old regime and say Gen Nguema's rule will be a continuation of the Bongo dynasty.

Young people in Zanzibar are able to pursue boxing for the first time in nearly six decades, now that a ban on the sport has been lifted. Zanzibar’s first president Abeid Karume banned boxing in 1965, saying it was inhumane and against the culture of Zanzibaris. In the years since, some aspiring boxers had to travel to mainland Tanzania to pursue their ambitions. It means that people on the island were only recently able to enjoy one of Africa’s most popular sports in person for the first time in nearly 60 years. But after all that time, are people on Zanzibar ready to lace up their gloves and embrace boxing again?

We speak hundreds of languages across the African continent. But only a small number are represented on the internet. So what future do the languages we speak at home and with our families have, if we cannot use them in a digital world? This is where machine learning comes in, Artificial Intelligence. Because there are translation tools out there, built through Natural Language Processing (NLP), which can allow you to be understood anywhere in the world. But the data needed is complex and takes a long time to create. So we brought together 3 women who work in this field and are ‘language champions’ for African languages – Salomey Osei from Ghana, Jade Abbott from South Africa, and Kathleen Siminyu from Kenya – to find out whether our African languages can have a digital future.

When South African Motswedi Modiba made her first appearance on Sing China, one of the world’s biggest TV shows, the video went viral. It wasn’t just because she sang the song beautifully or because she belted out the words in perfect Mandarin. People were also excited because she became the first black African to appear on the show. The show has more than 150 million viewers and since her audition, she’s picked up thousands of new followers across Asia.

On Sunday, Russian officials confirmed that Yevgeny Prighozin was among those killed in a plane crash last week. Prighozin was chief of the Wagner mercenary group, which has carried out operations in a number of African countries. Over the last year, many countries in the Sahel region have moved away from their former security partners in the west. And Mali, which is struggling to contain secessionists and Islamist militants, has turned to Wagner to bolster their security. So, what might Prighozin’s death mean for those countries that are relying on Wagner?

“It is not cast in stone that a military junta is always bad. What if it’s the only thing that we have?” On the 26th of July 2023, a group of soldiers in Niger ousted president Mohamed Bazoum from power. His presidential guard commander general Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta. Niger joined Sahel nations like Sudan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Guinea who are also led by army men. Some of these leaders, including Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traore, appear to be enjoying the support of the masses. So, do these developments mean that western style democracy has collapsed in the Sahel region? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Everisto Benyera and Mausi Segun

It’s been 135 days since the start of the conflict in Sudan. Four million people have been displaced since the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces turned their guns on each other, according to the UN Refugee Agency. More than 700,000 people have left the country, crossing the border to neighbours like, Egypt, South Sudan and Chad. Around 3.2 million are displaced within the country, making their way to areas that feel relatively safer. So, what has it been like for those who made the decision to leave? And how are they trying to rebuild their lives elsewhere? #AfricaDaily

On Monday, the government in Somalia announced that TikTok, Telegram and an online betting platform would be banned. They said the move would help limit the spread of indecent content and terrorist propaganda. The Minister of Communications ordered the internet companies to block the apps by Thursday night. For many people, TikTok is a light hearted escape. But creators have sometimes spent years building up millions of followers. Posting on the platform has become their livelihood. So, why is Somalia banning apps including TikTok? And how will it impact Somalia’s TikTok superstars? #AfricaDaily

We all grow up with an identity shaped by history – where we were born, how our parents and grandparents lived, what happened in our country, all these things shape us. But we also have agency, we have the ability to look at our history and the sources that shaped it, and interpret it for ourselves. The same historical event can mean many things to many people. Nigeria is a country where many communities and identities are held within one nation. And the history of that nation is the source of it’s current identity. So we’ve brought together an eminent Nigerian historian and intellectual, Dr Toyin Falola, and Fu’ad Lawal the founder of archivi.ng which is a project to preserve modern history through an online newspaper archive, to discuss how history is used to shape our identities. #AfricaDaily

As the majority of African countries work towards a tobacco free world, Tanzania - the third largest producer on the continent - is still hanging onto the crop as part of its revenue. The country’s health ministry has been discouraging smoking, with data showing 17 thousand Tanzanians are killed by tobacco related diseases each year. But the ministry of agriculture has been supporting tobacco farming, with reports indicating local politicians are key stakeholders in the tobacco industry. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja looks at why Tanzania is hanging onto tobacco farming, and why a bill prepared more than five years ago to align local legislation with the requirements of the World Health Organisation is yet to be tabled in parliament.

For the next two days, South Africa will host world leaders including Xi Jinping of China, Brazil’s Lula da Silva and Narendra Modi of India. Russia’s Vladimir Putin was initially invited, but couldn’t travel to Johannesburg due to a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC. It relates to alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Those gathered for this week’s BRICS summit, will discuss an alternative currency to the US dollar, trade and expanding the BRICS bloc. In recent months, dozens of countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Argentina, Iran, Egypt and Nigeria expressed interest to join. Some political commentators say BRICS could challenge the dominance of the United States and its western allies.

“What a lot of Zimbabweans are really concerned about at the moment is the level of joblessness. This has been a historical problem and so has been the high cost of living” - Shingai Nyoka On Wednesday, millions of Zimbabweans are expected to vote in this year’s national election. A total of eleven presidential candidates appear on the ballot paper. But Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF and the Citizens Coalition for Change of Nelson Chamisa are seen as the frontrunners. Zimbabweans will go to the polls at a time when hyperinflation pushes up the prices of basic necessities. So, what changes can the elections bring, especially considering Zanu PF's 43 year rule?

This week marked a painful anniversary for Egyptians - 10 years since the violence at Rabaa Square and Nahda Square. In August 2013, supporters of the ousted President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood had been staging protests and sit ins for almost 50 days. Hundreds of people, mostly civilians, were killed within just a few hours when Egyptian forces violently dispersed the crowds. And many more of those who witnessed the violence have faced arrests, prison terms or have fled the country in the years since. So, what has life been like for them over the past decade? #AfricaDaily

The phrase ‘sanctions have been imposed’ frequently features when countries are at the centre of a big news story. Recently we’ve mentioned that some of Sudan’s neighbours brought in sanctions after the military takeover. And the warring parties in Sudan have faced sanctions from the UK since the conflict started there. They are seen by some countries as a way of leveraging their influence to get a preferred outcome. But, what exactly are sanctions? How are they supposed to work? And do they actually have any impact? #AfricaDaily

When a firework blew up in Ubokobong Amanam’s hand, he was left with life changing injuries. He needed a prosthesis to replace the fingers he lost, but none of those on the market matched his complexion. The accident inspired his brother John to work on making something better for him. But they didn’t stop there…they now run a company making prostheses (artificial body parts) for the African market and employ 35 people. And next they have their sights on the world of robotics. #AfricaDaily

From buying goods to communicating with friends, mobile internet has completely changed how we live our lives. In the continents biggest cities, speedy 4G makes transactions quick and reliable. But in rural areas and poorer countries, data can be slower, temperamental and much more expensive. It means that many people are priced out of getting on line and are missing out on all the benefits that come with it. So, why is data still too expensive in some parts of the continent?

“If that path is clogged with trees or it’s difficult to get through but it’s the only path you have to a better circumstance, you will go a lot further through that path and you will trek a lot further before giving up than someone who has, perhaps, six or seven paths at their disposal” As the Women’s World Cup draws to a close, Alan Kasujja looks at whether or not poverty plays any part in propelling athletes to greatness. Footballers like Malawi’s Tabitha Chawinga, Sadio Mane of Senegal, South Africa’s Steven Pienaar and Englishman Marcus Rashford, grew up in tough conditions. But this did not stop them from playing the beautiful game at the highest level possible. So, what exactly is it about their background that makes them tick? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Tabitha Chawinga and Ryan Tehini

“It’s becoming a luxury now to purchase a pad.” Women in Ghana protested outside the parliament building in Accra in June chanting for ‘tax free periods’. It followed a rise in taxes on sanitary pads. And now, a BBC survey has found that of all women on the continent, Ghanaian women on low incomes have to spend the biggest proportion of their wages on even the cheapest sanitary protection – a staggering 13%. Because of the cost, many women and girls in Africa will use makeshift protection, including rags, corn leaves and even dried cow dung. And while campaigners in Kenya and South Africa have succeeded in driving down the cost – some say it’s not enough, and that women should be given access to free sanitary products. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja sits down to discuss the issues with three campaigners from South Africa, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Presenter: @kasujja Guests: @Nokuzola_SA, @anittanesh and @faleyeibrahim For more on the BBC report on the cost of sanitary ware see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-66423981

Finding a place to live can be challenging in a growing, expensive city like Lagos. But single women might find it particularly difficult. They report being turned down by landlords even when they can afford an apartment and have the funds to pay rent in advance. So, why is it so hard to find a place to stay?

“If I take one step to my right I will be in Kenya and if I take one step to my left, I will be in Somalia." A phased reopening of the border between Kenya and Somalia was meant to be happening last month. But that reopening was then postponed by Kenya's interior minister – citing security concerns. So what has the response been on both sides of the border? GUESTS: Abdikafi Adan Mohamed, Mohamed Mohamed and Waihiga Mwaura (@waihigamwaura)

Over the last few years there’s been a surge in violence between police and gangs in Haiti, with an eyewatering 80 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince under the control of gangs. The government has been calling for international intervention but its neighbours including the US have opted to keep out. So why has Kenya decided to get involved? It has offered to send 1000 police officers to lead a multinational force. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja looks at what the force will be dealing with if approved by the United Nations.

“I think my mum’s passing was a way of bringing me back to serve humanity. Maybe that’s what she’d have wanted to do for herself. Maybe I’m doing my mum’s work.” 80 million Africans are now above the age of 60. And with improved healthcare that’s a number that’s set to climb drastically in the coming years. Traditionally, elderly people have been cared for by their families, but now more young people are moving from villages to the city for work, leaving their parents or grandparents on their own. For today’s Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje investigates the issues involved, and speaks to a woman who gave up her high-powered job to become a ‘beggar for the elderly’ because she felt she'd failed to look after her own mother when she became ill and died from cancer.

Last week, President Bazoum, the first democratically elected president to succeed another in Niger, was detained by his own guards. A military junta is now running the country. Niger was one of the few democracies left in the Sahel. From Mali in the west to Sudan in the east, a whole swathe of Africa is now run by the military. President Bazoum was a key ally to western countries, which have denounced the coup. And tensions are rising between countries in the region, who are split over what should happen next. So, what does the coup mean for Niger and the wider region?

“What I’m seeing is another way of Africa rushing with a begging plate, begging saucer.” Last week, President Vladimir Putin held a Russia Africa summit in St. Petersburg. Countries in attendance included Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Uganda, Senegal and Burkina Faso. African leaders had hoped to persuade Moscow to revive the Ukraine grain deal - helping millions of people who might be affected by food insecurity. But Putin refused to entertain the proposal. He said the Black Sea Grain Initiative would be suspended until demands to get Russian food and fertilizer to the world are met. So, where does this leave Africa?

Friends and family are often called on to donate blood to loved ones in a medical emergency or ahead of routine surgery. But across the continent, there is a shortfall in blood needed for life saving transfusions. The World Health Organisation estimates that they are only meeting half the need. Aisha Dafalla and Kennedy Sanya are Kenya’s biggest donors. Between them they have donated more than 170 litres of blood. So, what do they think can be done to get more people involved?

More than 40 people died in wildfires as temperatures soared in the Mediterranean last week. The majority of those casualties were in Algeria, where 34 people lost their lives. In Tunisia more than 300 people were displaced. A team of climate scientists - the World Weather Attribution group - said this month's intense heatwave in the region would be virtually impossible without human-induced climate change. So, what can be done to prevent similar disasters in the future?

“In most cases they are doing much better than men because they have to prove to the world that they are capable. And it’s not supposed to be like that but that’s how it is.” The Women’s World Cup is getting lots of attention in Australia and New Zealand – but did you know that South Africa is currently hosting another World Cup tournament? This weekend the Netball World Cup ‘tipped off’ in Cape Town – but the trouble is even many South Africans aren’t aware of it. That’s led South Africa’s energetic deputy sports minister, Nocawe Mafu, to hit the road to enthuse people about the event. So will this encourage more interest in women’s sport – and more women to get into sport? Or will netball remain – inevitably – overshadowed by football? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to the minister and to the legendary netball player Mary Waya, who almost single-handedly took Malawi into the top five in the world for netball. And he also learns some South African netball chants and songs along the way.

“All the pursuits of capitalism in Africa have dismally failed” Exactly ten years ago, firebrand South African politician Julius Malema and his allies, established the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). It came after he was expelled from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for “fomenting divisions and bringing the party into disrepute”. At its first national election in 2014, the EFF received over 6% of the vote and went on to get nearly 11%, five years later. It’s popular among young Black South Africans for its pro-poor Marxist-Leninist brand of Socialism. As it turns ten, it will be celebrating this milestone at the iconic 94, 000 seater FNB stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje sits down with the party’s deputy president and co-founder, Floyd Shivambu for a wide ranging discussion.

“He was fearless right? Someone who would never say no in the fiercest of moments… Someone who, without even thinking or blinking in the moment, would always try to respond to the crisis which he faced.” Cameroon has only known one President during the last 40 years: Paul Biya. And for 30 of those years, John Fru Ndi was his only credible challenger. The politician from the North-west Anglophone region died in June at the age of 81 – and this coming weekend his funeral will take place at his Bamenda home. It’s a region where a violent conflict has been raging since 2016 as separatist groups fight for their own state – claiming the marginalisation of the anglophone population. More than 6000 people have died during the conflict. But while he spoke up about this marginalisation, John Fru Ndi always opposed the idea of a separate Anglophone state – something which won him enemies as well as friends within the Anglophone community. For today’s Africa Daily podcast, Mpho Lakaje discusses his legacy with his son Cornelius Fru Ndi, and analyst Arrey Ntui, and asks where his death leaves the opposition in Cameroon.

For years now, South Africa has been part a group of countries that come together to combat wildfires across the world. Their firefighters have been in Canada helping to fight wildfires that have engulfed parts of the country since late May. Three teams, in total of about 600 firefighters, have been deployed to Alberta and Quebec to help protect lives and properties. In doing so, the South Africans have also come with their now trademark of song and dance at airports as they leave and land, lifting spirit and moods as Lydia Sono and Trevor Abrahams have been telling Alan Kasujja.

To test or not to test? In Uganda, a series of high profile paternity cases has led to a very animated public discussion about whether men should do DNA tests to find out if all their children are really their own. And if they find they aren't, should that change their relationship with that child, and their responsibility for them? In response, the Ugandan government has warned people to beware home tests and unregulated businesses - saying men would be better to focus on raising their children the best they can. For today's #AfricaDaily, Alan Kasujja gets opinions from a number of residents of Kampala - and speaks to Uganda's director for public health, as well as to a lawyer about the legal rights of all involved. "For many years we've had men bringing children born out of wedlock, say 'this is our other child. We have to take care of this other child born of another woman'. So this DNA testing and the revelation that a woman can actually have an adulterous relationship and have another child and conceive it among the other children is rocking the patriarchal table."

More than 25 million people live with HIV in Africa – and the region continues to be most affected in the world, according to the World Health Organisation. But a recent report by UN AIDS says the spread of HIV can be eradicated globally by 2030. For Africa Daily, @kasujja looks at how this ambitious target can be achieved on the continent.

This week the BBC’s James Copnall has been in Calabria, southern Italy, to report on the rising number of migrants arriving by sea. The number of people arriving has more than doubled compared to this time last year. Sadly, not everyone makes it to European shores. There have been a string of disasters with hundreds of people dying in the Mediterranean this year alone. And politicians in Europe are struggling to come up with a solution. So, why are people still taking the risky journey across the waters?

“They’re some of the best footballers and athletes that I’ve ever played alongside.” The Women’s World Cup kicks off today. Zambia, Morocco, South Africa and Nigeria will represent the continent in Australia and New Zealand. They’ll all be hoping to get to the final in four weeks’ time. While women’s football has developed at a dramatic pace in the last few years, it’s still a way behind the men’s game - with players sometimes struggling for resources… and respect. So what will it take for an African team to lift the Women’s World Cup? For Africa Daily, @mpholakaje discusses the issues involved with the BBC’s sport reporter @isaac_fanin– and hears from Nigeria’s Ashleigh Plumptre (@ashplumptre) and some of the other players taking part.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games are in doubt after the Australian state of Victoria cancelled its plans to host due to budget blowouts. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) struggled to find a host before Victoria volunteered in April 2022. And Durban, which was meant to be hosting the event in 2022, had the games taken off them after the South African government said they were struggling to meet deadlines. But are the Commonwealth Games still relevant to the continent? And what does it mean if the 2026 events are in jeopardy?

South Africa has started preparing to host the BRICS summit next month. This is a gathering of a political and economic bloc compromised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. China, in particular, is expected to expand its influence. Over 30% of all major building projects in Africa are led by Chinese firms while the West makes up just 12%, according to consultancy company, Deloitte. Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja has been hearing about China’s involvement in both small and large scale business on the continent.

This week the biggest women’s football tournament on the planet kicks off. Teams from 32 countries will be playing in Australia and New Zealand to win the coveted Fifa World Cup. Africa isn’t just going to be represented by the teams competing on the pitch but also by the teams of officials refereeing at the tournament. One of those officials is Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga. As well as being among the first women referees to work in a men’s world cup in its 92 year history, she was also the first woman to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations football competition or AFCON. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje spoke to her about how she got started and what it takes to get to world’s biggest football tournaments.

Nigeria's state-owned oil company says an oil tanker capable of carrying 800,000 litres of smuggled crude has been intercepted offshore while heading to Cameroon. Nigeria's state-owned oil firm said the oil had been stolen from a well in the south-western state of Ondo. As dramatic as this finding was, it is just a fraction of the oil being stolen in Nigeria. So, what is behind it?

This week the continent welcomed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi for a three country visit. It’s a rare visit, it’s the first by an Iranian president to Africa in ten years. President Raisi’s trip began in Kenya where he was welcomed by President William Ruto and a military parade. This week President Raisi heads to Uganda and then to Zimbabwe. In recent years, western countries have imposed sanctions to make Iran’s leaders agree to limit its nuclear activities and have severely damaged Iran’s economy. So today Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at Africa’s relationship with Iran and what this renewed interest could mean for the continent.

The Children in Freedom School - which is based in Nakuru, Kenya – takes a slightly different approach to education. It prides itself on being the first “Afrocentric” school on the continent. Basically, they put African culture, identity and enrichment at the heart of everything they do in the classroom. They were recently shortlisted for the World's Best School Prize, putting them among the top 10 schools worldwide in the 'overcoming adversity' category. So, what does an Afrocentric education look like?

Kenya’s President, William Ruto, said recently that he will lift a ban on logging in the country. He said that mature trees in Kenya’s forests can now be cut down and that this will help to boost the timber industry. The ban has been in place since 2018, with the aim of protecting Kenya’s natural forests. So, what impact will change of direction have?

The stated aim of the global charity International Justice Mission is commendable: rescue millions of people from being trafficked into forced labour by the year 2030. But in the Volta Lake region of Ghana, families claimed their children had been taken from them at gun point.. BBC Africa Eye, prompted by tip offs from local sources, decided to investigate and went undercover.

Riots spread from Paris to many French cities after the killing by police of Nahel M, a 17-year-old boy of Algerian origin. The unrest has been described as unprecedented in terms of scale and intensity. While the riots were sparked by the death of Nahel, it has also raised questions about race and poverty in France. So, what can the past two weeks tell us about life in the country?

“I just wish the governments of South Africa and Lesotho would come together and help us to get the bodies” In May, 31 people believed to be illegal miners died in a gas explosion at an abandoned shaft in the Free State province of South Africa. The authorities have been trying to retrieve their remains, but high levels of methane gas is making it difficult to get them. Their relatives, who are from Lesotho, have been waiting in South Africa for two months, hoping to get an update on their loved ones. Illegal mining has been a big problem over the years, with criminals targeting sealed shafts which still have plenty of gold. They extract it before selling it on the black market, a multi-million dollar industry controlled by sophisticated criminal syndicates. Scores of illegal miners have died since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy, either in underground accidents or in territorial battles among themselves. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Mohao Mojewa and David van Wyk

Should there be a ban on the importation of the body parts of wild animals, like lion pelts, elephant tusks or zebra hides into Britain? That’s a question currently being considered by British lawmakers. Cases like Cecil the Lion - killed by an American dentist in Zimbabwe - have raised concern about the practice worldwide – and the image of white foreigners killing African wildlife disturbs many people. But the leaders of some African countries argue that trophy hunting can be GOOD for the environment. Botswana’s environment minister Philda Nani Kereng has been leading a delegation of officials from southern Africa to plead with lawmakers not to pass the law, or at least to make some amendments to it. Botswana has a population of 150,000 elephants, the largest anywhere in the world. So what are the arguments surrounding trophy hunting? PRESENTER: Alan @kasujja GUESTS: Philda Nani Kereng, Botswana’s Environment Minister. Polson Majaga, a member of Botswana’s parliament representing a community heavily reliant on proceeds from trophy hunting. Henry Smith, the British MP sponsoring the bill.

Across Africa there are moves afoot to toughen laws against the gay community. In May, President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill – giving Uganda some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world. But now Ghana’s and Kenya’s parliaments are due to soon start debating even tougher legislation. Just after the Ugandan bill was passed, MPs from a number of countries across the continent attended a networking conference in Entebbe sponsored by the socially conservative US Mormon pressure group ‘Family Watch International’. One of them was the MP behind the Kenyan bill, George Peter Kaluma. The BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga spoke to him.

“Women are not used to being open to being 100% themselves and doing what they love…. We’re still building an industry” What are the main challenges facing female Hip Hop artists on the continent? Today Africa Daily heads to Senegal to speak to two artists – Aida Sock and Sister LB (Selbe Diouf) – about the challenges they’ve faced and their hopes for the future of the industry. They also talk about their willingness to take risks in speaking truth to power.

For young people lucky enough to go into higher education, long hours of study are put in with the anticipation of a better job and life prospects. But finding work after leaving university isn’t guaranteed. In South Africa, graduate unemployment stands at 32%. Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, has suggested a stipend for unemployed graduates. And in Namibia, where more than 20% of graduates are out of work, one university is teaching courses to encourage entrepreneurship. So, could these be part of the solution to graduate unemployment?

The Uganda Wildlife Court began its work in 2017 because of concerns that crimes against wild animals weren’t getting the attention they deserved in the country’s criminal courts. Uganda has historically been known as trading hub for wildlife and its products in east Africa. But is the court achieving what it set out to? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to it’s Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanya to find out more about the court’s work and why safeguarding Uganda’s wild animals is so important to her.

The term black tax is used to describe the financial burden borne by many black people who have achieved a noticeable level of success and find themselves providing support to less secure family members. It’s a dynamic that can play out between people in the same city, or between family living on different continents. It’s a topic that divides opinion. Is it a way to give an opportunity to those still trying to find their feet? Or is it a burden on young people trying to make their way in the world

“The next building block should have been economic freedom. However, it is not his (Mandela’s) fault that it was not done. It is the fault of the generation that followed him” In today’s episode, Alan Kasujja sits down with Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela. They discuss a variety of issues including things the world probably doesn’t know about the global icon, his political thinking and how he felt about the state of South Africa. They also interrogate claims that Mandela ‘sold out’ by prioritizing racial reconciliation at the expense of economic freedom for the black majority. This conversation forms part of a short series on Africa’s intellectuals like Thomas Sankara, Julius Nyerere and Kenneth Kaunda. Yesterday Alan spoke to Kwame Nkrumah’s daughter, Samia Nkrumah. Check it out if you haven’t had a chance to listen to it.

“The thoughts, the theories, the ideas are there. But how to reach them, we have to come up with our own method and strategy. And I think one of them is that we badly need consensus on what needs to be done. The time now is for consensus building.” In today’s episode, Alan Kasujja sits down with Samia Nkrumah, the daughter of legendary Ghanaian politician, Kwame Nkrumah. They will be discussing the political icon’s leadership style, his philosophy and personal life. They will also be drawing parallels between the struggles faced by Africans today and those who lived through past decades. Nkrumah, who is celebrated for leading Ghana to independence in the late 1950s, is one of a number of intellectual giants Africa produced in recent history. Others include Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Burkina Faso’s Thomas Sankara, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo of Namibia and Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta. Alan will continue the conversation around Africa's visionary leaders with Ndileka Mandela, Nelson Mandela's granddaughter, in tomorrow’s episode.

This weekend eligible voters in Sierra Leone will be casting their ballots up and down the country to decide whether to re-elect President Maada Bio or elect a new president. President Bio’s main challenger is Samura Kamara from the opposition APC party once again. He came a very close second in 2018’s presidential election. It’s an election which comes at a time when Sierra Leone has been dealing with economic challenges which have made life almost unbearable for so many there. The campaign season has also been marred by a rising number of violent incidents and there are fears that tensions could boil over in this election. So, for a look at the ins and outs of the election season, Alan Kasujja spoke to journalist Umaru Fofana in the capital, Freetown.

Nigeria is set to introduce a new student loan scheme, intended to help more young people access higher education. The loans, which will be interest free, will be targeted at the poorest families, who may struggle to pay tuition fees. But some people are questioning if it’s the right policy and how graduates will be able to pay the the loans back, especially if they struggle to find work.

In 2003, Darfur hit the international news – and the world grew used to seeing images of burning villages and people fleeing for their lives. Hundreds of thousands died and millions were displaced. But now the people there are again suffering a horror of an eye-watering scale. With the whole of Sudan at war and the Sudanese Army pulling out of much of the region, armed militias have sprung up and villages have again been razed to the ground. But this time the city of El Geneina has also become a site of destruction, looting and despair. So how is the situation different to 2003? And can anything be done to stop the violence getting worse? For Africa Daily, Alan @Kasujja hears stories from within Darfur – and speaks to those desperate to reach their families and make sure they are safe.

On Saturday morning, Ugandans woke to unsettling news of a militant attack on a boarding school in the west of the country. Authorities say 37 students were killed. Five others, including a security guard who tried to stop the violence, also died. The militant Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) are thought to be responsible for the killing. The group originated in Uganda in the 1990s, but now conduct operations from across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. So, who exactly are these militants? And what is being done to stop them? #AfricaDaily

On a recent visit to Kenya, Colombian Vice President, Francia Márquez, announced that Swahili will soon be offered as a foreign language option in schools. The scheme will also see teachers from African countries get the chance to teach in Colombia, as well as Colombians teaching Spanish on the continent. It is rare for African languages to be learnt by people overseas. On today’s episode Alan speaks to Colombian Javier Aranzales. For him, learning Swahili as an adult changed the whole trajectory of his life. #AfricaDaily

“People come here as asylum seekers and their intention is not to stay as asylum seekers. They are actually here to run small businesses, and that’s illegal” In recent years, Malawi and South Africa have been facing similar challenges relating to asylum seekers. People are flocking into Malawi to seek refuge, fleeing conflict in the DRC and other troubled parts of the continent. In May, the government of that country arrested nearly a thousand refugees and sent them back to a camp specifically set up to house them. At the same time, South Africa is tightening its immigration rules and regulations in the small business sector. That’s because some asylum seekers have been breaking the country’s laws by setting up businesses without the relevant immigration documents.

“My father used to tell me that in one night when they went out fishing they used to come back with 70 or 80 kilos of fish, but at the moment they’re doing the same but coming back with one kilo or half a kilo.” Mida Creek, on Kenya’s coastline about two hours north of Mombasa, rightly has a reputation for being a birdwatcher’s paradise. Surrounded by mangrove forests, its beaches teem with crabs and other crustaceans – which in turn bring in migratory birds from around the world. Juvenile sea turtles hide in the safety of the roots. Fish used to flood in, tempted by the bounty of food it offered, but in recent years stocks have plummeted because of pollution – and the people living there struggle to feed their families. So a number of local people have set up groups to try to promote ‘ethical tourism’ – encouraging people to stay within the creek, use the boardwalk the community has built, and to turn to locals as tour guides. The Bidii Na Kazi women's group (meaning ‘effort and work’) receives funds to replant the waning mangroves and runs a small kitchen and restaurant. And the community also holds regular trash collections to try to keep the creek pristine. For Africa Daily, Alan @kasujja speaks to two people who grew up there: Hassan, a local tour guide whose father is a fisherman and Eunice who volunteers with the women’s group. But can they stem the tide of pollution?

The wearing of Niqabs and Burkas– garments worn by some Muslim women- has been a hotly debated topic around the world. The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear and a burqa, the most concealing of all Islamic veils, is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through. Niqabs and Burkas have been banned in several countries and the debate around them has centred around religious freedom, women’s rights and even security. Sherifah Yunus Olokodana, runs her food business SMD Natural Cooking in the biggest city in Nigeria, Lagos and wears her niqab with pride. But she says she’s subject to a lot of abuse in the streets and online. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to her about running her business and how she deals with social media trolls.

Morocco has announced that it will begin teaching Tamazight in primary schools. The language of the Amazigh people, who live in many north African countries, dates back more than 2500 years. Morocco will also recognise Amazigh New Year as a public holiday. The country is home to the largest population of the Amazigh people and has been for hundreds of years. So, why are the government recognising their culture now? #AfricaDaily

“I stand to be corrected but I think I’m the only hearing person who went to a deaf school. Don’t ask me why because even I want to know why. I did my Maths and Biology and Science in sign language” In May of this year, South Africa passed a law which will officially make sign language the 12th official language. This follows intense lobbying by activists over many years. Estimates vary greatly on the number of users: from 700,000 to 2 million. This includes hearing people who communicate with their disabled relatives, friends and colleagues. Experts say, although there are similarities, every country in Africa and the world has its own sign language, with different dialects. So, considering the influence of western cultures and communication mediums, how can native African sign languages be developed, to ensure they don’t perish? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Andiswa Gebashe and Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst

When fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces in mid April, there were just over 360 children - including many infants - living in the Mygoma orphanage in Khartoum. Like most of the population, they were trapped. In the time since, 67 of the children have died of malnourishment or illness. Those caring for them couldn’t get enough food. Some of their regular carers couldn’t reach them. And hospitals were destroyed or inaccessible. But now, all these weeks later, a coordinated effort by a number of agencies has finally got them out to safety. So what’s the story of the children of the Mygoma orphanage? For #africadaily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Unicef’s child protection expert in Sudan, Osman Abu Fatima, who was in charge of setting up their new home.

* After this episode was recorded, mobile internet was reinstated in Senegal, although access to some social media platforms may still be restricted. Last week, protesters took to the streets in Senegal after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison. The sentence could rule him out of running for president in next year’s elections. At the same time, suggestions that President Macky Sall could run for a third term has also caused anger. There have been more demonstrations amid political tensions in previous weeks. So, what’s behind it all? Alan Kasujja speaks to one of Sonko’s supporters, a government minister who wants President Sall to run again and one of the president’s former closest allies…who is now one of his harshest critics. #AfricaDaily

Some people may find the issues discussed in this episode upsetting. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Official estimates suggest that around 1,500 people took their own lives in Ghana last year… but actual deaths may be much higher – because many people will try to cover up a suicide in the family. And experts say that for every suicide there are likely to be around 20 failed attempts. In April, Ghana’s parliament changed the law so that attempting suicide would no longer be a criminal offence – allowing people to ask for help without risking jail time. But will this have any impact without a change in attitudes to mental health? For Africa Daily, Alan @Kasujja hears from the doctor who set up Ghana’s first toll-free mental health helpline, a mental health nurse and a man who attempted to take his own life.

“The level of crime in our province is completely unacceptable. It can’t even be compared to the warzone in Ukraine. We have to stop this. If we don’t, it will swallow all of us. We can’t have so many people being murdered” Violent crime has long been a problem in South Africa. Statistics released by the police recently show that over 6 200 people were murdered in the country in just three months. In an attempt to push back against lawlessness, the government of Gauteng, a province seriously affected by crime, established a unit known as the Crime Prevention Wardens. These are young men and women who’ve been trained to support the police who are overstretched. But security experts are questioning this move saying the government of South Africa should rather focus on strengthening the mainstream police force. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Panyaza Lesufi, Paul Mente and Gareth Newham

A week ago, Bola Tinubu was sworn in as President of Nigeria. Amid his inauguration ceremony he announced that the country's 'fuel subsidy is gone'. His statement caught people’s attention and many people headed to gas stations to stock up on fuel. People waited for hours in queues, often finding filling stations closed or charging much higher prices. The decades-long subsidy has kept down the price of petroleum products, hence the rush to the pumps. So, are people right to be concerned about the implications of the announcement? What might the upsides be? And how can it be that Nigeria is so oil rich, and yet has problems producing its own fuel? #AfricaDaily

“I just have love for my people… I put myself in their shoes and I’m like, 'let me reach those people'. I feel their pain.” This week Africa Daily has been looking at what it means to be a nurse in Africa. We’ve heard from those who want to leave to find work – but have been banned from working abroad by their governments. We’ve also heard from those who’ve left the continent with high hopes – only for some to fall prey to unscrupulous agencies who take a cut of their wages. But today we’re looking at what life is like for those still working in Africa – concentrating on the story of Agnes Nambozo, the nurse captured on video clambering up a rickety wooden ladder attached to the side of a mountain in order to conduct health and vaccination programmes for villagers who couldn’t otherwise access them. The video led Uganda’s health minister to label her “nurse of the year”. But many questioned why the minister wasn't rewarding nurses like Agnes - and making their working conditions safer. Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guests: Agnes Nambozo and Justus Cherop Kiplangat, President of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union.

In March this year, the W-H-O identified 55 countries as facing the “most pressing health workforce challenges”. Basically, nations where there are less than 49 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 people – the global average. Forty-one of them are in Africa. In response, some of the main destinations for emigrating heath workers – like the UK’s National Health Service – said they had stopped active recruitments from those countries. But that hasn’t quite reined in the exodus from the so-called Red List countries. Many are being approached by recruiters to work abroad in care homes. For some, it’s a path that has exposed them to abuse. Africa Daily hears from concerned players in the sector. Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guests: Justine Carter, Director of UK Charity, Unseen; Kojo Sosu, former carehome manager; Perpetual Ofori, President of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association.

“If people die in hospitals because there are no nurses and doctors and somebody who has been so irresponsible for not training their own nationals, but wanting poor countries to train for them, it’s a crime that must be taken seriously” Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga wants to make it a criminal offense for recruitment agencies to poach health workers from Zimbabwe. He says his country should not be subjected to training doctors and nurses for the benefit of other nations. However, his proposed legislation has been met with anger and frustration, with health professionals describing it as “unconstitutional”. Since 2021, about 4 000 nurses have left Zimbabwe and are scattered around the world. This is the first of three podcasts looking at challenges facing health workers across Africa and how governments are responding to the brain drain. Guests: Douglas Chikobvu and Dr. Norman Matara Presenter: @mpholakaje

The price of sugar is on the rise in Kenya and it’s really hitting people’s pockets. It’s partly due to a shortage of sugarcane in the country. In April, it was reported that some sugar mills were closing their operations, due to the lack of the raw material. Amid a dispute with millers, some farmers are moving away from sugar to other crops. So, what’s behind it all? And why are Kenyan’s paying more for their sugar? #AfricaDaily

Bola Tinubu was declared the winner of the 2023 election back in March by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. It was an election marred by technical glitches in the electronic polling system, delays which saw some voters queuing through the night, some cases of armed men attacking polling stations and voter intimidation. But it’s unclear whether these problems were enough to affect the election’s outcome. The list of challenges for his presidency is long– insecurity, economic turmoil and youth unemployment are among the many things Nigerians want dealt with. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to the BBC’s Chris Ewokor about what Nigeria can expect to see from Bola Tinubu and the legal challenges from those who say the election result should be overturned.

"We import everything and that leads to many challenges such as affordability." A gadget to help a blind person pour a drink and not spill it. Another to count up cash. And yet another to allow them to read a book in six South African languages. These are some examples of the sorts of ‘assistive technology’ now available for people living with a disability. Next week in Nairobi, the ‘Inclusive Africa Conference’ will hear about efforts to get more such technology developed in Africa – and why it’s often out of reach for many of those who need it. Africa Daily discusses these issues with some of those involved. Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guests: Calvin Mgogajane, Author and radio presenter; Bernard Chiira, Director of Innovate Now, @startupnanny; Irene Mbari-Kirika, Founder of @inABLEorg Kenya, @IreneKirika2

“Patients will complain of swollen eyelids, watery discharge, crusty eyelids, pain, light sensitivity. And if it is getting more serious, then they will complain of blurry vision.” In today’s episode Alan Kasujja investigates how Benin and Mali successfully eradicated trachoma. The announcement was made by the World Health Organisation this month. This is a disease of the eye caused by bacterial infection. It is the leading infectious cause of blindness, worldwide. Global health authorities say it is a public health problem in over 40 countries in Africa, Central and South America, Asia, the Western Pacific and the Middle East. Nations like Ghana, Malawi, Togo, Morocco and Gambia have all defeated trachoma in recent years. Guests: Kerisha Maharaj and Dr. Amir Kello

Over the past six decades, Dr Edna Adan Ismail has been a nurse and midwife. She has spent her life fighting for maternal health care rights in Somaliland and campaigning against Female Genital Mutilation- a practice which involves the partial or total removal of genitalia. It leaves many women and girls with infections, pain and complications in child birth. She’s been in the news recently because she was awarded The Templeton Prize and prize amounting to almost $1.4 million. The award honours those who “harness the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankind’s place and purpose within it”. So today Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja caught up with Dr Ismail while she was on a trip in London to talk about her life, legacy, maternal healthcare and how it feels to win over a million dollars.

“In diplomacy we always say, there’s no free lunch, there’s a catch somewhere” In this episode, Alan Kasujja speaks to Russian ambassador to Malawi and Zimbabwe, Nikolai Krasilnikov. His country donated 20, 000 tons of fertilizer to Malawi and 18 helicopters to Zimbabwe for policing, wild life protection duties and disaster management. But why is Russia appearing to be going out of its way to find friends in Africa? What’s the end game here? These developments come at a time when South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa is planning to lead an African delegation to the troubled European region. They will be meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and Russia’s head of state Vladimir Putin, in a bid to find a solution to the on-going war. Guests: Nikolai Krasilnikov and Kinsgley Makhubela

“They insulted me: ‘you’re having another boy! When they grow up they become Seleka!’. When I took him for a consultation, I preferred to put a scarf on him and disguise him as a girl. They didn't want to see boys. If they saw them, they threatened to kill them.” In March 2013, the mostly Muslim, anti-government Seleka forces descended on Bangui, the capital of CAR, and overthrew the government of President François Bozizé - killing civilians and looting everything they could lay their hands on. Later, anti-Balaka Christian forces targeted the Muslim population in revenge attacks - and the UN warned of the ethnic cleansing of Bangui. We hear a range of eye-witness accounts of what happened ten years ago – and discuss whether the country is any closer to peace and security. Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guests: Samual Murunga and Narcisse Donossio Translated voices courtesy of Médecins Sans Frontières' CAR 10 years of violence project.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition which primarily impacts people with genetic ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. It’s caused by a defective gene which alters how red blood cells grow, it mutates them and they become sickle shaped. These cells don’t live as long as healthy blood cells and they can block blood vessels. This can cause severe pain and organ failure. The main a cure is a bone-marrow transplant but anyone seeking this in Tanzania had to travel abroad for this treatment. But the opening of Tanzania’s first bone marrow transplant unit for sickle cell patients looks set to change life for people there. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at the challenges of living with sickle cell disease and how bone marrow transplants work.

It is now over a month since the conflict started in Sudan. Representatives of the Sudanese army and rival Rapid Support Forces have been negotiating in Saudi Arabia for over a week. But so far all commitments to protect civilians and allow access for humanitarian aid have been broken. In past episodes of Africa Daily, we’ve heard the story of people who’s lives have been turned upside down. Now Alan wants to find out about the two forces behind the conflict and whether either of them has an upper hand. #AfricaDaily

Women in Sub-Saharan Africa are twice as likely to get HIV as men. That’s why it was big news when the World Health Organisation approved a new method of HIV prevention in 2021: the dapivirine ring. It’s a silicone band that women insert vaginally and can leave in for four weeks. The ring slowly releases dapivirine, an anti-retroviral drug that stops HIV in its tracks. It’s been hailed as a game changer, but two years after the ring was approved, fewer than a thousand woman globally are using in. Those who can’t get it are starting to get frustrated. So why are African governments so slow to introduce this new method of HIV prevention? When will women be able to access the dapivirine ring? Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Shakirah Namwanje and Patriciah Jeckonoviah

Eugenia Kargbo is Africa’s first Chief Heat Officer. She was appointed by the government of Sierra Leone, and is responsible for helping people who are struggling from the effects of extreme heat and ‘burning, suffocating sunshine’. Sierra Leone isn’t among Africa’s warmest countries. Mali is thought to be the hottest country on the continent…and in the world. But Sierra Leone has been experiencing higher and higher temperatures in recent years. And Eugenia says it is a much less comfortable place to live today than when she was growing up. So, what solutions does she have for the heat in Sierra Leone? And could these be ideas that help people across Africa? #AfricaDaily

“There are gangs who’ve realised that gay people cannot go to the police so that makes them ‘good victims’ for blackmail... Everybody you speak to has been kitoed or knows someone has been kitoed. And that’s just how rampant it is.” Do you know what the word Kito means? Or Kitorist? Or Kitoed? In Nigeria it’s come to mean when people, usually gangs, use online dating apps to entrap gay people - and then blackmail them. It often involves the victim being attacked and humiliated on film – with the footage then shared on social media. But queer activists are attempting to fight back. For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Ian Wafula, the reporter on a BBC Africa Eye documentary on the subject, as well as to Nigerian Queer Activist, Walter. To watch the full documentary search for Kito: Blackmailing LGBT Nigeria on the BBC News Africa YouTube page.

On World Press Freedom Day last week– journalists from Burkina Faso alongside their colleagues in Mali, called for an end to all measures that undermine press freedom. The military, who have been in charge in Burkina Faso since coups they led last year overthrew the government, are dealing with a jihadist insurgency which spread over the border from Mali in 2015. Almost half of the country is currently outside state control. Journalists there say they face intimidation over what they report and are scared about the future of the media. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been speaking to Ouagadougou based journalist Ouezin Louis Oulon and BBC Monitoring’s Beverly Ochieng.

Gifty Ayoka is the mother of a child with what used to be called Autism, but is now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder. It’s caused by differences in the brain that might lead to different ways of learning, moving or paying attention. When her son was born 11 years ago, there was very little knowledge about the disorder. Gifty decided to train as a language therapist herself, to help support her son. There were just three such therapists in Ghana at the time. Now there are around 50, but is that enough? And what progress still needs to be made? #AfricaDaily

"The resounding cry from the report is these babies should have the same chance. And they can." A report out today says that globally, we’ve made no progress at all over the last decade in reducing the number of pregnancies that end with a premature birth. And in Africa - just 1 in 10 of those premature babies will survive, compared to 9 out of 10 in high income countries. So why are premature babies still dying in such numbers? And what can be done to improve the situation? For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Miriam, a nurse and the mother of two premature babies, and to Professor Joy Lawn, who’s worked in neonatal care across Africa all her life - and is the author of the “Born Too Soon” report.

Kenya imports most of its honey from countries including India, Australia and UAE. But Kenya has huge potential to produce its own honey. And it could be a hugely profitable crop for farmers or budding entrepreneurs. So how do you run a successful beekeeping and honey production business? And what are entrepreneurs in Kenya doing to take advantage of the market? #AfricaDaily

It's been a serious issue in Kenya for a long time: household air pollution caused by unclean cooking fuels. Now, a campaign is underway to persuade people to switch from charcoal, kerosene and firewood use. Pollutants from the fuels kill more than 23,000 Kenyans each year. PRESENTER: @kasujja GUESTS: Nancy Chebichi and Willah Nabukwangwa of Clean-Air (Africa)

The fighting in Sudan has continued for a third week On Thursday a new seven day ceasefire took effect, but they haven’t been fully observed in the past. Hundreds of thousands of people are continuing to leave the country. But many more are staying, either through choice or lack of choice. So, what is life like for those still in Sudan? #AfricaDaily

It’s been a case of will they? Won’t they? Speaking at an event last month, South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, said that his party, the ANC, had taken the decision to pull out of the International Criminal Court. But then, the party backtracked and said it was still under discussion. It’s all come about because of President Vladimir Putin. In March, the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. As a signatory, South Africa is expected to hand him over if he steps foot on its soil. But in August he’s due to attend a BRICS summit in Durban, attended by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. So what’s likely to happen? Will President Putin be able to visit? For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to the ANC’s Mmapaseka Letsike and Ottilia Maunganidze of the Institute for Security Studies.

A few weeks ago the United States President Joe Biden said he wants at least two thirds of new vehicles sold in the US to be electric within a decade. The government say this is about positioning America to drive the electric vehicle future forward, outcompeting China, and tackling the climate crisis. It’s a message which puts Africa in a unique position. Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have large reserves of copper and cobalt, two crucial components needed to make the batteries for electric vehicles. DRCongo is currently the world’s top producer of cobalt. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at whether this all represents an opportunity or risk for the continent.

We regularly hear about plastic pollution – but what about textile waste? An activist is swimming the length of Ghana's longest river – all 450 kilometres of it - to highlight the issue of unchecked second hand clothing imports and its impact on water pollution. Ghana imports a staggering 15 million pieces of unwanted clothing every WEEK - more than any other African country. The clothes are donated or recycled by people from the west, but 40% of the items actually end up in landfill. Many are then washed into rivers. PRESENTER: @kasujja GUESTS: Yvette Tetteh and Solomon Noi.

“There are times when you are sitting in a taxi listening to boring music. Remember, we don’t all enjoy the same type of music. But with wi-fi, you can connect to your smartphone and do something different. You can be on social networks. It’s a lovely initiative”. Over a decade ago, a South African tech start-up owned by the taxi industry came up with an idea to roll out free wi-fi in minibus taxis. This would empower millions of people who don’t have access to the internet at home, school or work. The initiative hit a series of stumbling blocks over the years, but finally took off a few weeks ago. At least 15 million South Africans use minibus taxis on a daily basis. Our producer for this episode, Mpho Lakaje, took a taxi ride around Johannesburg to see if the internet works. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Onica Makwakwa, Brian Mdluli and Cliff de Wit

Another week has gone by, and the conflict in Sudan is still ongoing. Despite a ceasefire that was in place over the last three days, the fighting has continued. Many Sudanese have found themselves with an impossible decision to make…to stay or to go. So, what has the journey been like for people fleeing Sudan? Guests: Kholood Khair - Founding Director of Confluence Advisory, a think tank based in Khartoum - @KhooloodKhair Amar Saeed - BBC Arabic Ferdinand Omondi - BBC Africa @FerdyOmondi #AfricaDaily

In a remote and hidden area in the Shakahola forest near the Kenyan coast, a grisly and distressing operation is taking place: around 60 mass graves are gradually being dug up and the bodies they contain exhumed. The authorities were called in after it was reported that members of a cult had been persuaded to starve themselves to death as a way to be accepted into heaven. So far 89 bodies have been exhumed – but the Red Cross has said that 112 people have been reported missing. When police arrived they also found 29 sick and weak survivors - but many continued to refuse food. The leader of the church - Pastor Paul Mackenzie - has been arrested. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja hears about this case from the human rights worker who first alerted the police – and also asks why people get lured into religious cults in the first place? GUESTS: Hussein Khalid from HAKI Africa and Dr Kennedy Ongaro of Daystar University in Nairobi.

An upcoming Netflix documentary film has caused drama in Egypt. The film is part of a series about African queens and one of those featured is Cleopatra, the Egyptian Queen. So many movies about her have been made over the years, but there’s one difference with this new film – Cleopatra is played by a Black actress. Alan Kasujja is looking at why a Black actress playing Cleopatra has enraged a nation, and he’s been speaking with the BBC Arabic Trending reporter, Fairouz Hosny. He also spoke to Dr. Zahi Hawass, an Egyptologist and historian, to look back into Cleopatra’s heritage.

“Other people want to teach us about conservation. They do not understand we are conservationists par excellence. Wildlife is not all we have. Nature is all that we are.” Today on Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja considers the question of whether the conservation industry is fit for purpose when it comes to Africa. For years, critics have complained that it has been dominated by foreigners – and they say problems remain, including the blackwashing of organisations and a lack of respect for local knowledge. So should conservation be remodelled to better benefit the continent? Presenter: @kasujja Guests: Dr Mordecai Ogada, author of ‘The Big Conservation Lie’, Dr Maurus Msuha, Director of Wildlife for Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. Adams Cassinga of Conserv Congo

“We found out in the middle of an operation that the guy were trying to arrest was related to the hotel owner and we were locked in the hotel… We had to use a weapon at that stage – to disperse the crowd but also to break the padlock and get scot free.” What does a wildlife investigator do and what part do they play in conserving Africa’s natural heritage? For today’s Africa Daily podcast, Alan speaks to Adams Cassinga, the founder of Conserv Congo. Its more than 100 members work undercover to catch poachers and smugglers using fake personas and sting operations. They also have a network of informants in local communities. So how does such an operation manage with meagre resources? And how did Adams, who used to work in the mining sector, get involved in this work? PRESENTER: Alan Kasujja @Kasujja GUEST: Adams Cassinga @ConservC

Africa is facing a power dilemma – it needs to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, but renewable energy sources currently produce very little power on the continent. This is why some governments are looking seriously at nuclear power as an alternative. There is currently only one commercial nuclear power station on the continent, but there could soon be more. Questions of cost and safety will have to be addressed, and there are strict international regulations that take years to fulfil. So today Africa Daily is looking at what it takes to become a nuclear powered state, and which countries in Africa are considering it. Alan Kasujja speaks to Dr Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of Nuclear Power Ghana, nuclear scientist Senamile Masango and nuclear policy analyst Dr Olamide Samuel.

Alan Kasujja is in conversation with former Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe and popular African commentator Christophe Bongo. He’s trying to understand why a country like South Africa, for example, with world class stadiums and football academies, finds it difficult to dominate the Africa Cup of Nations. But it’s not the only one. Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria haven’t been doing well either in recent years, despite churning out great players for global teams. This conversation comes as qualifiers for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations are set to continue in the coming weeks.

There are reported to be tens of thousands of mercenaries belonging to the Wagner Group fighting for Russia in Ukraine. This group has been present in Russian military operations not just in Ukraine but around the world. In Africa, they work in Mali, Mozambique and the Central African Republic. They also have a presence in Sudan where in the last few days fighting between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has left almost 200 people dead. In today’s Africa Daily Alan Kasujja has been looking at the Wagner Group and why some African governments have invited them.

This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence Over the past few days there has been heavy fighting in Khartoum and other areas of Sudan. The UN believes as many as 180 people have lost their lives in the violence. The fighting is the result of a vicious power struggle within the country's military leadership. Members of a paramilitary force - Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - and regular soldiers have found themselves on opposite sides. In this episode, Alan speaks to people in Khartoum who paint a vivid picture of the violence and how people are coping. And he asks how tensions reached such a point in Sudan. #AfricaDaily

Since 2021, the United Nations has recorded more than 30,000 teenage pregnancies, every month in Uganda. In the East African nation, the age of consent for sex is 18, which means some of these girls are victims of defilement – a term for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Alan Kasujja speaks to BBC’s journalist Paul Bakibinga who’s been investigating this. He also spoke to Pamela Angwech, Executive Director Of Gulu Wormen Economic Development and Globalisation, as well as Eunice La Carabel Latim, a legal counsel with Caritas, a Catholic charity, to look at how this unfortunate trend can be reversed.

Artificial intelligence is the science behind human intelligence in machines. It makes simple acts like sending a text or an email, even e-banking easier. But there is a downside to it, if used for spreading disinformation or committing crimes from scams to hacks and cyberattacks. And this is where regulations and policies to safeguard against such types of negative AI use come in. But how is Africa getting on, how prepared for AI is the continent and what are governments doing? Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Nanjira Sambuli, Fellow, in Tech and International Affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Protests have erupted in Ethiopia over the last five days. Demonstrators have taken to the streets and several people have blocked roads and burnt tyres, in an attempt to prevent the military from travelling around. The protests were ignited by a recent government announcement that the country’s 11 regional security forces would be integrated into the federal army or police force. The government say this will promote national unity across the country. The decision has faced strong opposition in Amhara, with huge protests in cities and towns taking place across the region. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to BBC correspondent Kalkidan Yibeltal about the situation there.

Last December, military leaders in Sudan agreed to hand back power to civilian groups. It was seen by many as a move toward ending the ongoing political crisis there. Military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Buran said at the time "The military belongs in the barracks." A transitional two-year period led by civilian leaders was agreed in the deal. But last week the agreement on the transition to civilian rule was postponed and it’s unclear when this will finally happen. Sudan has been gripped by crisis since the army overthrew long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to the BBC’s Lukwesa Burak about a recent conversation she had with three women who live in the capital Khartoum about life there.

“When you look at the entire integration in the region, be it economic, be it social, all of it sounds like a pipe dream. But it’s a dream that is quite possible” In the 1800s, a conference attended by Europe’s prominent states in Berlin, took a decision to partition Africa. It resulted in social, political and economic marginalisation of Africa’s citizens. With colonialism, came the borders that exist to this day. Now, a movement of Pan-African activists have launched what they describe as a “borderless Africa” campaign. They want Africans to travel within their continent without border restrictions. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Hardi Yakubu, Sanele Sibiya

When former journalist, Joseph Bayanga, witnessed the death of three generations of a family on a Kampala road - a mother, daughter and grandchild – he decided enough was enough. More people die on Uganda’s roads – 14 every day – than anywhere else in East Africa. Kampala’s Mulago National Referral Hospital even has a special ward just for the drivers of boda bodas who account for the highest number of deaths. Boda bodas are the motorbike taxis which weave precariously through the traffic at every junction with one, two or even three passengers on their backs. So Joe reinvented himself as a road safety campaigner ‘Joe Walker’ and walked 340 km in just 10 days from Kampala to his home town of Bushenyi to raise awareness on the subject. Today Alan Kasujja revisits this episode as he takes a drive round Kampala’s roads with Joe and asks: can anything be done to make Uganda’s roads safer? Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guest: Joe Beyanga @akeda4

Today we’re revisiting an episode from a few months ago which seemed to really resonate with people. Alan was reporting on an article which ranked the countries with the best cuisine in the world. Taste Atlas, who describe themselves as a ‘’world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants” caused quite a stir online when they published their 2022 list. A lot of people weren’t happy because Algeria, South Africa and Tunisia were the only three African countries to make it to the top 50. Taste Atlas say rankings are based on audience votes for ingredients, dishes and beverages. Italy, Greece, Spain, Japan and India were the top five countries on the list. This episode looked at what’s stopping a wider range of African cuisine from getting international recognition. As you’ll hear at the beginning of the episode, it got a lot of people talking and sharing their tips for the best dishes on the continent. #AfricaDaily

The online economy is offering more opportunities than ever before. But not everyone is getting equal access. Last month we heard how women are less likely to access the internet across the continent. This digital gender gap has been found to weaken the economy overall. So, what might politicians do to close the gap? #AfricaDaily

Today is Independence Day in Senegal, but not everybody is celebrating. The day is being snubbed by the Yewwi Askan Wi opposition coalition. Last week, opposition supporters staged protests ahead of the trial of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. On Sunday, he was found guilty of libel against Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang, who he had accused of embezzlement. Sonko was given a two year suspended jail term. But he has accused the country's president of leading a "strategy of terror" to drive out political opponents. Shortly after this episode was recorded, President Macky Sall told the nation he is open to dialogue in a televised speech ahead of the independence celebrations. So, what’s behind the political unrest in Senegal?

“I think we should never ever get to a point where we are talking about building a wall between any of our neighbouring countries” In February and March this year, the authorities in Lesotho and South Africa hosted meetings to push back against increasing incidents of cross-border crimes. These include human trafficking, money laundering and cattle rustling. The police ministry in South Africa tells Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja that the gatherings resulted in “game-changing” strategies. The question now is, will they bring tangible results to the citizens of the two nations?

“For me to leave a place of security, a place that’s been good to me and my family, to go back and get harassed - I’m not prepared to do that.” In the early 2000s, at least 4,000 white Zimbabweans were kicked out of their farms to make way for their black counterparts. Robert Mugabe, who was president at the time, argued only this could address historical injustices. During the colonial-era, much of the country's arable land was reserved for the white population while black farmers were forced onto marginal areas. But President Mugabe’s land reform policy triggered global sanctions, the impact of which is still felt by ordinary Zimbabweans, to this day. Now, with the country batting food insecurity, should white Zimbabwean farmers, who are doing well in countries like Zambia, consider going back home? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Graham Rae and Prosper Chitambara

“Some bring soil with them. They bring it from their country. We’ve found a number of these little packets that show the bond with one’s country, with Africa.” Imagine packing your bag and leaving your home for a new life. What would you take with you? Photos? Letters? A lucky charm? A group of volunteers on the Italian Island of Lampedusa have put together a collection of items lost by migrants who’ve struggled to get there, often in tiny boats. The island is the closest part of Europe to Africa, but it’s still a risky journey which thousands have died attempting. Just last weekend at least 29 more migrants died after their boats capsized. Now the BBC’s Thomas Naadi has made a documentary – a labour of love which has taken more than a year – based on his attempt to find some of the owners of the possessions. He spoke to Alan Kasujja for Africa Daily. @kasujja @Thomas_Naadi

When you think of Kenya and sport, athletics is the first thing that comes to mind. You might even think of Rugby Sevens. A group of young people are however hoping to make ice hockey a Kenyan sport. Their ambitions are as big as making it to the Winter Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey. Meet Kenya Ice Lions, the nation’s only professional ice hockey team that hopes to represent their country on international level. So, is ice hockey the next sporting success in Kenya? And with just one ice hockey rink in the country, what are the chances for the sport? Alan Kasujja has been speaking with Benjamin Mburu, the Ice Lions’ captain and Hanan Yunis, one of the team’s female players.

The collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank also known as SVB in California has dominated the news recently. But what’s it got to do with Africa? Well it’s important because African start-ups leave a lot of their money in US banks. SVB was a major player in the tech industry and invested in start-ups around the world. The bank’s demise at the same time as another lender has been described as the biggest bank failure in the US since the 2008 financial crisis. This week, SVB’s assets and loans were bought by another US bank. The situation has drawn attention to the reliance Africa’s tech entrepreneurs place on banking abroad. Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja probes the impact of SVB's shutdown on Africa’s start-ups, in conversations with the creator of the Big Tech This Week newsletter, Fatu Ogwuche and Eche Emole, co-founder of African start-up, Afropolitan.

In the past year, Senegal men’s teams won four major football trophies, including the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. It had been so long without any silverware, football commentators and fans started calling Senegal the “almost” nation. But something changed and the Teranga Lions started coming out of the shadows of giants like Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria and others. Since being crowned African champions in Cameroon last year, the men’s teams followed up with three other major trophies. So what’s the secret behind this recent success in football? Alan Kasujja speaks to BBC Sport Africa’s Babacar Diarra in the capital Dakar to get a sense of what turned the fortunes for Senegal football.

This episode contains description of violence and sex. ___________________________________________________________________________ Two women in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, have spoken to the BBC about how they got drawn into the underground world of sex work. Both say they became caught in a world of parties and drugs and felt they had few options open to them after being forced to leave home as young women. In Somalia’s conservative society, women are usually expected to live at home until marriage. The sex workers – who were featured in a BBC Africa online article – describe their ongoing fear of assault and rape. They say they can’t approach the authorities if they’re attacked. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja listens to their accounts, and speaks to the journalists behind the report. Presenter: @kasujja Guests: @Mohamed_Gabobe and @Layla_mood

On March 19th, nine Chinese mine workers were killed by gunmen at a site near the central town of Bambari in the Central African Republic. The attack was condemned by Chinese President, Xi Jinping and the Chinese embassy asked its nationals to not travel outside the capital, Bangui. Attacks against Chinese nationals are becoming common. Earlier this month three Chinese were kidnapped in the west of the country. So, why do these attacks keep happening and can this affect how the Chinese do business in the Central African Republic? Alan Kasujja has been speaking with journalist Tomi Oladipo and Paul Nantulya, who specialises in Chinese security firms.

Today we are discussing a topic on many people's minds lately – thanks in part to Nigeria's recent elections: why aren't there more young people in political leadership in Africa? Despite having 70% of the population under the age of 30, the average age of its politicians is almost double that, at 62 years old. Which means that the continent with the youngest citizens has the oldest rulers. But can this be changed? Alan Kasujja asks aspiring politician Serah Wanjiku Thiga in Kenya and Tanzania's veteran opposition leader Tundu Lissu whether age matters when it comes to Africa’s leaders.

In today’s episode, we introduce you to a man called Fletcher, who is in a romantic relationship with Lethabo. At the same time, Lethabo, who is bisexual, is also going out with a woman called Lunya. But then, Lunya and Fletcher are also seeing each other. Basically, the three are openly involved in the same relationship. This is known as polyamory. It’s the practice of engaging in multiple relationships, with the consent of all the people involved. Polyamorous communities in South Africa meet on online platforms. Even though they are frowned upon in some circles, they regularly host events attended by dozens of people in cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. Alan Kasujja speaks to Lethabo, Fletcher and Lunya to understand how polyamory works, especially considering that there’s a toddler in their relationship.

Kenya’s opposition leader, Raila Odinga, called his supporters out onto the streets on Monday– leading to a day of unrest and clashes in the capital Nairobi. He says the protests will be weekly – to the dismay of many business owners. Odinga claims that the presidential election was stolen from him – and that the government is failing to respond to the cost of living crisis. Meanwhile in South Africa anti-government protests were taking place, demanding that President Cyril Ramaphosa steps down over the worsening economy, power cuts and alleged widespread corruption. And then there’s Senegal…. And Tunisia… The BBC's @DickensOlewe and BBC Monitoring’s @BeverlyOchieng talk to Alan @kasujja about why people taking to the streets.

In South Africa, the Republic of Congo, Kenya and Benin the spanking of children at home and schools has been prohibited under the law. There are many African parents who see this kind of discipline as a necessary and traditional part of raising children. But there’s also a younger generation of African parents who say spanking left them traumatised, unable to speak up and unable to think independently. They don’t want this for their children and have decided on a different parenting style. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at whether we need to rethink how we discipline children with two parents from Nigeria.

Tropical Storm Freddy ripped through Mozambique and Malawi killing more than 200 people. Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has called the devastation from the storm a national tragedy. Whereas the storm hit both countries, Malawi and its commercial capital Blantyre have been worst affected. Residents there died in landslides as their homes crumbled into flood waters. So, why has the storm been so devastating? And what lessons can be learned? #AfricaDaily

When Jonathan Paye-Layleh began reporting for the BBC in 1993, Liberia was in the middle of a civil war. Jonathan filed stories from the besieged capital Monrovia, and from areas held by insurgents. Over the following decades, he reported on peace talks, a second civil war and elections. The country has changed immeasurably in the past 30 years. Whereas Liberians still face their problems, the country is now peaceful and people have an eye to the future. As Jonathan retires from journalism, he reflects on the progress Liberia has made since his first report in 1993. #AfricaDaily

“The more money you have, the more of a man you are. The more power you have, physical strength, political power. It’s all about dominating. We need to change this narrative because that’s not what makes a man” In this episode, Mpho Lakaje visits three fathers across Johannesburg in an attempt to understand what it takes to be a solid father. He sits down with Tumelo Mpanza, who is raising his son as a single parent. He speaks to Onkgopotse Motlhanke who has to juggle between running a business, being a father of two girls and a husband. He then ends his mini city tour at Craig Wilkinson’s office to discuss issues relating to fatherlessness. These conversations were inspired by a study released last month. It shows that paternity leave has quadrupled in Africa in recent times. This means, more men are now empowered to help look after their newly born babies.

“I have a home now. A second home. In the United States I didn’t feel like I had a home but I feel like Ghana is a safe place to live. They treat you like a human being over there.” At the beginning of this month, a special ceremony took place in Washington DC – when two of the last three remaining survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre - Viola Ford Fletcher, now 108, and her younger brother Hughes Van Ellis, 102 - were both given Ghanaian citizenship. During the massacre a white mob destroyed and looted a rich black neighbourhood in Oklahoma, USA - known as ‘Black Wall Street’ – killing hundreds of people. News of the event was buried, and for decades it was hidden from history, but the siblings have been part of the process of remembering – speaking to Congress to mark the centenary of the event. The citizenship was offered to them by President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2021 when they fulfilled their lifelong dream of visiting Africa. Now both say they feel grateful to have a safe ‘home’ to turn to. Akwasi Sarpong speaks to them and their grandson Ike for Africa Daily.

Africa’s biggest and most respected film festival - the biannual FESPACO recently took place in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou. Films from across the continent were screened and there was strong competition for the festival’s top prize- the coveted Golden Stallion of Yennenga. Burkina Faso has been dealing with a decade long insurgency and around 40% of the country is no longer controlled by the government. Jihadist attacks continue to increase with dozens of civilians and soldiers killed every week. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes. Africa Daily’s Akwasi Sarpong spoke to award winning Burkinabe film director Apolline Traore about why she believes cinema can bring hope to her country.

On Thursday, a draft law was tabled in the Ugandan parliament which would criminalise anyone identifying as LGBTQ+. If passed the law could mean ten years in jail for people who say they are gay. The bill also threatens landlords who rent premises to gay people with a prison sentence. It is the latest sign of rising homophobia in a country where homosexual acts are already illegal. So, what would life look like for LGBTQ+ people in Uganda? And why are some politicians so keen to pass the new law? #Africa Daily

On the 5th of February this year, the who’s who of the global music industry gathered at a venue in Los Angeles, for the 65th Grammy Awards ceremony. Among those in attendance were three South African musicians, Wouter Kellerman, Nomcebo Zikode and Zakes Banwtini. They were nominated in the Best Global Music Performance category, along with several other artists. Surprise! Surprise! Their song, Bayethe, bagged the award. As they touched down at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, they were received by hundreds of jubilant music lovers who waved their South African flags. That’s the power of music. It unites, lifts spirits and evokes feelings of patriotism especially when a nation is going through economic challenges. Presenter: @mpholakaje Guests: @nomcebozikode, @wouterkellerman and @zakesbanwinisa

The internet is becoming a more important part of life. Not only are people using it to communicate and search for information, but also to earn money. But not everyone is online. More than 2.7 billion people around the world are without regular internet access. In most countries – and here on the continent – women are making less use of the internet than men. There are many reasons behind this, from internet access and affordability, to a lack of privacy and safety online. So, what can be done to help level the playing field? And how can we get more women into the digital economy? #AfricaDaily

Countless reports by the United Nations, Amnesty International and human rights groups have detailed allegations of inhumane conditions inside Egypt’s prison cells. The government refutes the claims, saying they’re politically motivated and based on fake accounts. But it’s also refused to give numbers for the amount of people locked up. It’s now opened some new ‘correctional and rehabilitation complexes’ to house political prisoners amongst others. It says they have state of the art technology, including high tech cameras. Mpho Lakaje hears about life in prison from a young man who was imprisoned as a teenager after he was arrested during the 2013 anti-government protests, and from a human rights lawyer who says the new prisons won’t improve the situation.

Think of the Seychelles and what springs to mind? White sandy beaches, coral reefs, 5 star resorts, nature reserves? What you probably don’t think of is heroin ghettos; shattered lives; mothers burying their sons. 10% of the Seychellois population uses heroin - the highest per capita usage in the world. So what’s being done – and will the government’s ‘War on Drugs’ help or harm? Akwasi Sarpong speaks to a former heroin user, Joseph Fady Banane – known as Fady – who’s put together a documentary for BBC Africa Eye investigating the issue called 'Seychelles, Heroin and me'. Find it on the BBC News Africa YouTube page.

The head of Nigeria’s electoral commission, Mahmood Yakubu, declared Bola Tinubu the winner of the presidential election this week. It’s been an election fraught with problems. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said technical glitches meant the electronic voting system, used for the first time at national level, delivered results slower than expected. And now the losing candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have called for the election to be rerun, saying early results show there was fraud. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been looking at what this disputed presidential election means for Nigeria.

In early February this year Tunisia’s president, Kais Saied, gave a speech against illegal immigration, in which he said black Africans were threatening the social balance and culture of Tunisia. Whatever the intent, it resulted in a surge in racist attacks and abuse, with dark skinned Africans no longer feeling safe in the north African country. Mpho Lakaje hears from one of those now living in fear – a student who describes threats of violence. He also speaks to a social researcher about how history and national identity are playing into this controversy.

The footballer – who died in Turkey’s earthquake – was a supporter and regular visitor

All over the world, as life expectancy increases and people grow older, more people will have to deal with cancer. The good news is that treatment has improved and over the last 40 years global survival rates have improved dramatically. But what about when people don’t have access to medical care or preventative screening because of shortages of experts or facilities? Last year Kenya’s National Cancer Taskforce compiled a report which called for the training of more oncologists and other experts, free screening programmes and a reduction in the cost of medicine and treatment. But how have those challenges been felt by those most affected? For Africa Daily, @mpholakaje speaks to Lilian, who’s recovered from breast cancer, and Dr James Mbogo – who trained to become an oncologist after the death of his father from cancer.

In January prominent human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko was shot dead in front of his family at their home in Eswatini. He was a fierce critic of King Mswati III and had travelled worldwide to advocate for democracy in his country. Shortly after his brutal killing, rumours began spreading that he was murdered allegedly by King Mswati’s regime. But Eswatini’s authorities have told Africa Daily, they had no reason to harm him or any other activist. They say they have now launched an investigation. Some fear his killing might spark fresh violence. In 2021, the country descended into chaos when anti-monarchy protesters took to the streets. At least 37 people died in the mayhem. Africa Daily's Mpho Lakaje has been looking at what the death Thulani Maseko could mean for Eswatini.

“The country has spent so much training us – and yet we are still wallowing in joblessness right now.” According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, only around 1,000 out of the 5,000 medical students who’ve graduated in the past five years have found jobs as doctors. And yet the World Health Organisation says Kenya has a shortage of medics – and needs more if it’s to deliver the healthcare the population needs. So what exactly is the reason behind qualified doctors not being able get a job? @mpholakaje has been finding out.

There are just a few more days to go until millions of voters in Nigeria have their say on who they want to be their next president. The field of presidential candidates is crowded and dominated by men. Despite women representing half of the population, the number of women being elected to political office in Nigeria remains low. Women represent around 5% of federal lawmakers and a woman has never been elected a Governor. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to young people in Lagos who have strong opinions on the challenges women with political ambitions face.

Nigerians are heading to the polls on Saturday and security is a priority issue for many people. The incoming government will be faced with varying security challenges in different parts of the country. And violent attacks have increased in many places over the past decade. But one attack last year – on the Catholic Church in Owo – shook the country. More than fifty people were killed in the previously peaceful region. So, what have we learned in the months since the attack? And how is the community there healing? #AfricaDaily

According to the World Bank 4 in 10 Nigerians live below the national poverty line. Skyrocketing food and energy prices over the past 12 months have made life for many there much harder. So with the Nigerian presidential and parliamentary elections just days away, Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja decided to visit a food bank in Lagos to look at how the most vulnerable are being helped to feed themselves.

It’s the start of a big week in Nigeria. On Saturday people go to the polls in presidential and parliamentary elections. Alan is in Lagos to find out how young people are feeling ahead of the votes. Are they looking for change? And what are the big issues motivating them to make their voices heard? #AfricaDaily

In nine days polls open for Nigeria’s presidential and parliamentary elections. It’s one of the most hotly contested elections in years and the stakes are high. One of Nigeria’s most important demographics is young people. The country has the largest number of young people anywhere in the world- over 60% of Nigerians are under the age of 30. But do young Nigerians fell they have the power to change their country? Do they feel their voices will be heard in this election? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja is in Lagos to hear the views of young people there.

Rearing cattle is a way of life for many people across the continent. And for almost as long as people have farmed cattle, there have been cattle rustlers. But as the available weaponry has increased in recent years, they have become increasingly deadly. In Kenya, more than 100 people have been killed by bandits in the past six months. The government has now launched a joint military and police operation in the worst hit areas. But will it be enough to bring them under control? #AfricaDaily

On first weekend of February this year, there were violent clashes in the town of Shashamene in Ethiopia. It was due to a division in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. But how could a doctrinal argument in one of the oldest Christian churches in the world lead to bloodshed? The answers lie somewhere in the long history of church and state relations in Ethiopia, and in the rise of ethnic nationalism. And this is a story as much about the current state of Ethiopian society, as it is about the theological differences within an ancient religion. #AfricaDaily

Last week, the Pope visited South Sudan alongside leaders of other Christian denominations. He told leaders there that they could not remain neutral and told bishops that they must raise their voices against the abuse of power. Thousands lined streets to see him and many of the people who made the long journey, said the Pope’s presence could lead to change. But South Sudan has faced decades of conflict, both before and after becoming independent in 2011. So, can his visit make a difference? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been trying to find out.

More than half of people across Africa are involved in agriculture in one form or another. For a long time it was seen as a more traditional pursuit – a way to get by. But younger people are looking at agriculture as a business opportunity. The African Development Bank says millennials are transforming the sector across the continent. Driven by entrepreneurs sharing their journey on social media – farming is getting a bit of a make over. So, what does it take to make a agri start-up succeed? #AfricaDaily

In May 2022, Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema submitted a bill to end capital punishment to parliament. Seven months later, he signed legislation that officially abolished the death penalty. On Wednesday he went even further, announcing that 390 inmates who were awaiting execution, would now serve life sentences. Zambia follow in the footsteps of Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Chad and Sierra Leone, who took the decision in the last two years to abolish the death penalty. But many other African nations including Botswana, Egypt, South Sudan and Somalia have chosen to keep it. Africa Daily's Mpho Lakaje has been looking at why some nations prefer to keep capital punishment. Presenter: @mpholakaje Guests: @kennedygondwe, @lindakasonde and Sidney Pilane

Last month, Kenya’s Vice President Rigathi Gachagua told local authorities in the central region that they should limit all towns in their area to one bar each. He says the drastic measure is needed to save the youth from alcoholism. But while many people agree the area has a real problem with drinking, not everyone thinks this will help. And bar owners are up in arms about the impact they’re already feeling on their businesses – even though most haven’t yet been closed down. For today's Africa Daily Alan Kasujja speaks to a bar owner affected – and someone who has a very personal interest: a former alcoholic who now helps other people to quit drinking.

Journalists in Somalia work in a tough environment. The country has suffered from decades of conflict and political upheaval. Journalists often risk their lives to tell these stories. But women in the media face additional barriers, put in place by people who don’t think they should be working at all. Bilan Media – an all-female journalism operation – is hoping to change all that. They are disrupting the male dominated industry and believe they are able to tell a better range of stories from all parts of society. #AfricaDaily

Sometimes a story catches the imagination of a nation and really gets people talking. That’s certainly the case in Ghana – after a woman took her boss to court last month for reneging on a deal in which he promised to pay her rent and buy her a car if she had a sexual relationship with him. When it all went sour, he took the car back. It’s all got people discussing what the workplace is like for young women starting their careers and the shocking power imbalance in the workplace. Many Ghanaian women have come onto Twitter saying sexual harassment is a reality they face daily. That they’re EXPECTED to look for a sugar daddy. Some young men say they look forward to a day they’re important enough to have both a wife and a young mistress. Today on Africa Daily, Akwasi Sarpong talks about the issue with two women: actress, writer and film producer, Lydia Forson; and Boakyewaa Glover, a published author and a human resources professional specialising in organisational psychology. Presenter: @akwasisarpong Guests: @lydiaforson and @boakyewaaglover

Zimbabwe’s central bank introduced a policy last year to sell gold coins in a bid to stabilise the country’s economy and combat inflation. They were meant to be an alternative to dollars as a way of safeguarding people‘s wealth – even when the local currency was losing its value. But with the top tier coin worth $2,000 and the smallest currently valued at $188 – they’re not something the average Zimbabwean can afford. So are these coins all they’re cracked up to be? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje finds out more.

Today’s guest on Africa Daily is a young woman who seemed to have it all. Noella got a job as a reporter with a local TV station in Nairobi – and then, around six years ago, she got a scholarship to study filmmaking in the US. But then she had her first manic episode and woke up in a psychiatric ward in North Carolina. She was told she had unspecified bipolar – but didn’t understand what it meant and how it would change her life. Now she’s made a film for BBC Africa Eye called ‘What is Eating My Mind’ to try and help others in a similar situation. She spoke to Mpho Lakaje about her experiences.

The debate over whether sex work should be decriminalized has been going on for years in South Africa. But the shocking discovery of the bodies of six women in October last year heightened the debate. They were believed to be sex workers – and campaigners said that only by making them legal – allowing them to seek help from the police without fear - would such people be protected. Now, the South African government is pressing ahead and changing the law. For today’s Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to a sex worker about how this may change her life – as well as to politicians on both sides of the debate. Presenter: @mpholakaje Guests: ‘Mary’, a sex worker, John Jeffrey and Marie Sukers

Burundi’s economy has been battered: first by years of conflict, then Covid-19. And so the World Bank has stepped in and provided $40 million in aid – with another $150 million still to come. Hundreds of thousands of the poorest households will receive cash – with some targeted at setting up new businesses. So, can Burundi strike a balance between handouts and hand-ups? And can the people receiving the aid eventually become self-reliant? For today’s Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje discusses this question, as well as speaking to one of the recipients of the money about how it’s changed her life.

It’s not easy being Gay, Queer or Transgender in many African countries. In some it’s illegal, in others it’s just socially unacceptable. But a BBC investigation has found how both gangs and the police are using dating apps to target LGBT people in Egypt. It came to light after a series of videos – made by gangs – were shared millions of times, showing young people stripped naked, abused and forced to say they are gay to the camera. The victims were asked for money and the videos sent to their families. Now, some of those shown on the videos have agreed to talk about their experiences. For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to the journalist behind the report, Ahmed Shihab-Eldin. Their conversation contains graphic descriptions of violence and abuse. Presenter: @mpholakaje Guest: Ahmed Shihab-Eldin @ase

Africa is home to more than a sixth of the world’s Catholics, and that share is rising. But Africans are significantly under-represented in the Vatican, and other regions such as Latin America currently have far more sway in Rome. As the Pope travels to the DRC and South Sudan this week, many Africans in the Church are hoping he is sincere when he says their voices need to be heard. And despite concerns from more conservative figures on the continent, Pope Francis seems focused on his progressive agenda. Ahead of the trip he criticised laws criminalising homosexuality, which are common in many parts of Africa. So what will this trip mean for the future of Catholicism in Africa? For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje puts this to religious thinkers on the continent…

Lebanon is in the midst of one of the most severe and prolonged economic depressions the world has seen. More than 80% of the population live in poverty and their currency has reached a record low. It’s left many struggling to afford essential goods like food, fuel and medicine. Ethiopians make up the majority of the 250,000 domestic workers there. For many of them, life has become so much worse. Migrant domestic workers operate under what’s called the “kafala system” a labour sponsorship that forces foreign workers to seek their employer's permission to change jobs or leave the country. Human rights groups describe the system as modern-day slavery. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been looking at the impact the economic crisis has had on African domestic workers who are already marginalised and often mistreated.

Since the end of last year both old and new naira notes have been in circulation. But from 31st January, the old notes will no longer be accepted as legal tender. President Buhari says the introduction of these new cash notes will help to tackle corruption, counterfeit money and the illicit hoarding of cash. Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa. It’s also often labelled the ‘cash-king’ of the African continent, because the majority of people there make payments with cash. So how are Nigerians feeling about the rollout of these new notes and the 31st January deadline? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been finding out.

In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to disruptions in the supply of gas across Europe. Germany is now looking to Africa, among other regions, for solutions. Last month, the country’s Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck visited South Africa and Namibia, to sign green hydrogen deals worth millions of dollars. Green hydrogen can best be described as a clean energy source that only emits water vapour and leaves no residue in the air, unlike coal. But the deal between Germany and the two nations is raising questions, considering that Africa is having energy problems of its own. Who stands to benefit the most from these negotiations? Africa or Europe? Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Lungile Mashele, James Mnyupe and Fausi Najjar

It’s estimated that Africa needs $3 trillion to transition to green energy – and that it needs to do it fast. Surely that’s impossible? After all, multinational development banks – like the World Bank – which traditionally lead on this type of investment hold just $1.5 trillion dollars of investment potential. But today’s guest on Africa Daily argues that it can be done, saying the continent’s natural capital – like wind, sun and hydro - could be worth $4.6 trillion by 2030. Alan Kasujja speaks to Dr Hubert Danso, one of a group of financiers in Africa who, between them, control billions of dollars of investments across the continent. “We should be asking ourselves how can we position Africa, with all of its natural and human resources, to be able to be a major manufacturing player which is one of the largest and greatest growth opportunities of our generation.” This audio was updated on 24th January 2023.

Watamu is a beautiful beach resort on the Kenyan Coast blessed with white sands, mangroves, and an abundance of wildlife including manta rays and sea turtles. But there’s trouble in paradise. Tourism was decimated by Covid-19. Plastic pollution on the beaches has increased. Fish stocks have plummeted. During lockdown and school closures, young people loitered idly on the beach. So one teacher decided to take action. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Lydia Ireri and her student Warah Kazungu about how they’re trying to make their local community ‘better than they found it’. “I lost my parents to HIV Aids when I was 11 so I grew up as a girl who was taken care of by the community. And so I feel like this is a good way to give back to the people who helped me, especially my teachers.” To see photos of Lydia and her students, go to bbcworldservice.com/africadaily

We hear a lot in the news about the treacherous journeys people take to escape conflict, violence, poverty and political instability. Thousands have drowned trying to cross the Mediterranean sea from the coasts of Libya and Tunisia. Many fleeing countries on the African continent, travel through several countries to get to the Sahara desert in order to reach the coast. It’s a route which has been described as being fraught with danger, some estimate it costs even more lives than crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The cost for taking these risky journeys is huge and for those who survive and make it to Europe, there’s also the cost to their mental health. Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja has been speaking to the BBC's Osob Elmi about her interviews with people who left Somalia in the years after the country’s brutal civil war.

On Wednesday a small group of people attempted to protest on the streets of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. They said they were dissatisfied with the East African regional force which has been deployed in an attempted to restore peace in the region. The border region in the east of the country has seen decades of violent conflict. In recent years, larger rebel groups such as M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces have made headlines. But there are hundreds of smaller groups contributing to the instability there. So, who are they? #AfricaDaily

Dozens of people were killed in a bomb blast at a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo last weekend. In Nigeria, a priest was killed and another was abducted in the last few days. By mid-January, women and children were kidnapped in Burkina Faso. These are just a few of recent incidents where people in various African countries have been targeted. What do they have in common? The Islamic State-affiliated groups in those countries have claimed responsibility for the attacks. And this is just a small snapshot of what’s been happening on the continent in recent years. A BBC analysis has uncovered that attacks by Islamic State or IS in sub-Saharan Africa are on a “steady rise“. Alan Kasujja is finding out why this rise and speaks with Abdirahim Saeed, a journalist with the BBC Monitoring. He specialises in extremist jihadist groups.

After a video of the president of South Sudan wetting himself at an official function was shared widely on social media, six journalists were arrested. The incident occurred in December as Salva Kiir stood for the national anthem - but the journalists were taken for questioning on January 3rd. But while many people assumed it would quickly blow over, the men, who all work for the national broadcaster SSBC, are still being held incommunicado two weeks later. The government’s Information Minister said that people should wait to know why the journalists were detained. So what does this mean for press freedom in South Sudan? And will this have a chilling effect on the work of the media there? For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Oyet Patrick of the South Sudan Union of Journalists.

“The resolution is there that Lesotho must be given its country back” Lesotho is a country which – seen on the map – is very unusual. It is surrounded like an island on all sides by South Africa – meaning if it imports goods by road they have to be brought in via its bigger neighbour. But Lesotho’s parliament is soon to debate whether the country should demand land back from South Africa. The motion was brought by the small Lesotho Covenant Movement party – which says it has approached the United Nations and that this is a historical matter that should have been attended to decades ago. But is this just political posturing or a serious demand? And what chance does it stand of becoming a reality? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Tseliso Monaheng, Kenneth Matee and Clayson Monyela

Children in Lilongwe and Blantyre haven’t been able to return to school after the Christmas holidays. Schools have been closed to help stop cholera spreading. Cases have surged in recent weeks and 750 people have died since the outbreak started in March. So, can these measures help bring the situation under control? #AfricaDaily

Edwin Chiloba was a rising star in Kenya’s LGBTQ community. The model and fashion designer was also making a name for himself as an activist. But last week his body was found dumped in a metal box on the roadside near Eldoret and investigations into his murder are ongoing. Initially some people feared he may have been killed due to his sexuality, but police say one of the suspects they have arrested was a friend. His death has brought about a painful time for many in the community. Host: Alan Kasujja Guest: Chris Muriithi

On the 1st of April last year a massive fire swept through the huge Waheen Market in Hargeisa. It was the beating heart of the city - the capital of the unrecognised Republic of Somaliland - and played a role in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people there and across the region. It burned for more than 24 hours - completely destroying thousands of businesses. So how has the city recovered – as well as individual traders? Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) reports for Africa Daily. Guest: Abdirashid Duale - CEO of Dahabshiil Group

If you’ve ever been stuck in Nairobi traffic, you’ll know that the emissions from cars and trucks is no joke. According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution contributes to 18,000 deaths per year in Kenya. The government is taking the issue seriously and has set targets to cut emissions by 2030. First on their hit list are older trucks, which are thought to be significantly worse polluters. The government has banned the import of trucks older than three years. And by the summer importing second hand trucks will be banned all together. So, can it help bring air pollution down? #AfricaDaily

A warning that listeners might find some of the stories being recounted too upsetting. After two long years, and in a region ravaged by a war that has left thousands dead, people in Tigray could finally travel to the rest of Ethiopia and the world last December. For the lucky ones who got tickets, this felt like a Christmas miracle. Alan Kasujja has been speaking to two sisters who were finally reunited and celebrated the Ethiopian Christmas together for the first time in almost 3 years. So, how special was this Christmas for them? For their own safety, we are not using their real names.

Fighting between rival jihadist groups in Nigeria’s Borno state was raging throughout December. One source believes as many as 200 militants could have been killed in the clashes. The so called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) started life as a splinter group from the infamous Boko Haram. Since the death of Boko Haram’s leader in 2021, ISWAP have gained dominance and sought to expand their sphere of influence in the last year. But the two groups have become fierce rivals and there are reports they are putting increasing energy into fighting each other. And with Nigeria holding presidential elections in less than two months, the security situation is at the top of the agenda. #AfricaDaily

A recent list of countries with the world’s best cuisine has generated strong debate on social media. Taste Atlas, who describe themselves as a ‘’world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants” published their 2022 list of the best 95 cuisines in the world. Algeria, South Africa and Tunisia were the only three African countries to make it to the top 50. Taste Atlas say rankings are based on audience votes for ingredients, dishes and beverages. Italy, Greece, Spain, Japan and India were the top five countries on the list. But some questioned the order of the list and why so few African countries made it to the top 50. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at what’s stopping African cuisine from getting international recognition.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento – famously known as Pelé blessed us with one of the greatest talents as he dazzled on the football pitch and took the world by storm. As Brazil said goodbye to its biggest son, the world was there alongside them especially Africans who are looking back and remembering an icon of the game. So today we are looking at how a young black Brazilian boy became a global legend. Alan Kasujja sits down with African journalists, Usher Komugisha and Oluwashina Okeleji and BBC Brazil’s Fernando Duarte to look at how Pelé become an influential figure for Africans.

News, news, news – we love it here on Africa Daily. We like to chat about what’s happening where, to whom, why…. Another man who lives and breathes the news it is Patrick Gathara. He’s a man of many talents – drawing political cartoons, but also writing editorials for international outlets like the Washington Post and Al Jazeera as well as curating the news website ‘The Elephant’ in his home country of Kenya. He’s also a big user of Twitter – posting some of the longest running threads in order to challenge the language and choices of the mainstream media houses. Victoria Uwonkunda sat down to talk to him about how he’s trying to change the narrative… one tweet at a time. Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda @msuwonkunda Guest: Patrick Gathara @gathara

In our last episode of 2022, Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja looked back on the year with the help of friends of the programme Mpho Lakaje in South Africa, Beverly Ochieng in Nairobi and Thomas Naadi in Ghana. So today – with the start of the new year, the team turn their attention to next year – and try and predict what’s to come. Never an easy task… Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guests: @BeverlyOchieng of @bbcmonitoring, @Mpholakaje and @Thomas_Naadi

What were the factors that affected your life last year? Insecurity? The cost of fuel and bread? Power cuts? Politics? The Africa Daily ‘family’ gets together to talk about some of the biggest issues which impacted the continent over the last year. “You and I, Alan, should move to Zambia – that’s where we should be man!” With presenter Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja), @BeverlyOchieng of @bbcmonitoring in Nairobi, Africa Daily’s @Mpholakaje in Johannesburg and @Thomas_Naadi, the BBC’s correspondent in Ghana.

DISCLAIMER: This episode originally aired on 23 June 2022. There’s been a noticeable change in the images of Africa we are now seeing on our screens. These pictures are so different from the ones the media has often shown of the continent. Gone are the children looking desolate and hungry with extended bellies, surrounded by flies, now it’s the images of rich, beautiful and increasingly famous people, living their best lives for the world to see. This is the new opulent and glitzy reality world of African celebrities who are unapologetic about their wealth and riches. It’s a world of reality TV shows where we are given a front seat to the fights and dramas from the private lives of African stars, just as we’ve seen over the years with American reality programmes. Reality shows in Africa aren’t anything new. The Big Brother franchise, one of the first reality TV programmes in the world, has been on-going on the continent for decades. So with shows like The Real Housewives of Lagos, Durban, Cape Town and the recent Netflix hit, Young, Famous and African, showing the opulent lives of rich Africans, is this the golden age of glitzy and glamourous African reality shows? Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Peace Hyde, Young, Famous and African co-creator and Tosin Ajibade, founder of media house Olori Super Gal

DISCLAIMER: This episode first aired on 20 September 2022 Across Africa, if you ask people how they plan to improve the lives of their children, the answer is often ‘through education’. But what if the school system isn’t set up for how their brain works? We now know that dyslexic brains work differently to those of other people – with more activity in the frontal lobe and less in other areas. This means people with the condition can struggle with reading, writing, spelling and memory. They can be punished for not trying and for perceived laziness. But in reality, it isn’t a choice and doesn’t mean they lack intelligence – and they are actually better in some areas, like thinking visually. Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Philip Ogola who was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult and is now campaigning for better understanding - and to Phyllis Munyi-Kariuki, the Director of Dyslexia Organisation-Kenya and asks: how can people with dyslexia be better supported?

DISCLAIMER: This episode originally aired on 18 August 2022. In recent years Uganda has made great progress in treating patients with kidney failure. They can now receive dialysis at several hospitals, which can sustain their health for many years. But for those who need a kidney transplant, for the time being they have no option but to travel overseas. Doctors at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala have been working to make transplants possible on Ugandan soil. But with no legal framework for organ donation in place, changing the law is also part of their plans.

DISCLAIMER: This episode originally aired on 18 July 2022 In July Alan Kasujja went on the road with Africa Daily and his first stop was Johannesburg. Alan wanted to hear from people, out and about, and - as luck would have it – he’d arrived just in time for a special day: Nelson Mandela’s birthday, when the legacy of the former President and anti-apartheid hero is celebrated in South Africa. As the country’s new President in 1994, Mandela faced the massive challenge of bringing black and white South Africans together. But not many people know that he started this task with those closest to him: his bodyguards. Alan spoke to a black former freedom fighter and a white former apartheid police officer – who both became Mr. Mandela’s bodyguards. They hated each other at first – but eventually became close friends.

Anglophone Cameroon has been ravaged by more than 5 years of conflict pitting separatist militants and the government. Naturally, it is civilians suffering the most. Many people from the Anglophone region have been displaced and are living in the French speaking regions where it’s safer or there is more work. It means some families have been separated by hundreds of miles, which makes being together at this time of year even more important. So how are people in Cameroon coming together to celebrate Christmas?

Many people across South Africa are getting ready to celebrate Christmas and New Year with friends and family. But there might not be so much to look forward to for people living on the streets. In the city of Durban, officials say there are 4000 people living without a permanent home and some NGOs believe the figure is much higher. So, what is the holiday season like for those living on the street? And how are people trying to help them? #AfricaDaily

Another global summit - COP15 – has concluded in Canada. It focused on biodiversity, which is the variety of all living things on earth. Activists, charities and ministers came together hoping to find solutions to protect and save forests, wetlands and water bodies before it’s too late. Recent studies have suggested that nearly a third of all species are currently endangered due to human activities such as logging, climate change and farming. And scientists are warning that the biodiversity clock is ticking in Africa and around the world, putting human life and wildlife at risk. So how bad is the situation and what needs to be done to protect biodiversity? Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC World Service Environment correspondent, Navin Singh Khadka.

Tunisia held parliamentary elections over the weekend. Reports show that 11.2% of the nine-million-strong electorate turned out to vote. Opposition parties accuse Tunisian President Kais Saied of reversing the democratic progress made since the 2011 Arab Spring. This has all come at a time when Tunisia has been dealing with high unemployment and shortages of basic goods like milk, cooking oil and sugar. President Saied rejected complaints about the low turnout and the legitimacy of the elections. "The situation is similar to announcing a final result of a match at the end of the first half," he said in a statement. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at what this all means for the political future of President Kais Saied. #AfricaDaily

Young Maasai recently came together during a sports competition with a goal to preserve wildlife. Hundreds played in various games in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, including spear throwing, athletics and high jump. It is part of a new tradition – the Maasai Olympics founded by their elders in 2008. Prior to this, young warriors took part in lion hunts as a rite of passage when coming of age. But as the number of large cats began to plummet in Africa, Maasai elders and environmentalists came up with an alternative. So, is it working? #AfricaDaily

President Cyril Ramaphosa is hoping to hold on to power in South Africa as his party gathers to pick a new leader. The winner will not only lead the party, but also become its presidential candidate, come 2024 general elections. He is being challenged by Dr. Zweli Mkhize – the president’s former ally and health minister, who helped him steer the country through the pandemic. Mr Ramaphosa has been caught up in an escalating political scandal over recent months. He is accused of concealing the theft of a large amount of money from his farm but denies any wrongdoing. The African National Congress has become divided over whether he is the right person to lead them any further. So, can Cyril Ramaphosa survive as leader of the party and country? #AfricaDaily

Heads of state from 49 African countries have been invited to Washington DC this week for a three-day US Africa summit hosted by President Joe Biden. The meeting’s agenda includes strengthening relations with the continent, the climate crisis, good governance, food security, global health and trade. In his speech to the gathering, President Biden said the shared benefits of closer cooperation and economic activity would be significant. So what does Africa gain from its relationship with the US? Africa Daily’s Ferdinand Omondi has been finding out.

Hadizatou Mani spent a decade as a slave, having been sold aged just 12 to a tribal chief in Nigeria, She has told BBC 100 Women that it was a terrible life: “I had no rights; not to rest, not to food, not even to my own life”. In 2005, Hadizatou was granted her freedom, but was still pressured to return and legally harassed by a man who considered himself to be her master. She was jailed for bigamy a year after she became free, because the man claimed that she was still married to him However, Hadizatou fought for her rights in the courts eventually winning a landmark case at the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States. Despite her case being instrumental in getting legislation passed in Niger, thousands of people are thought to still live in slavery there today. #AfricaDaily

Whether you're in South Africa, Nigeria or Egypt, power outages are a frequent inconvenience. As energy demands rise across the continent, generating enough power to keep the lights on is an ongoing challenge. Eswatini is one of the countries trying a new approach - a method called cogeneration. Most of the time, cogeneration uses gas or biofuels but in Eswatini, they're burning waste products from sugar production to generate power. Could it be one of the solutions to energy sustainability? #AfricaDaily

The Atlas Lions have made history to become the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. They will play world champions France in that semi-final game on Wednesday. Morocco were one of five African teams to qualify for the World Cup and for the first time all of the teams were led by African coaches. Although Morocco were the only African team to make it to the quarter finals, there were some historic wins for the continent. Cameroon beat Brazil and Tunisia won their game against France for the first time. So today Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at whether African coaches are the secret to African football success. #AfricaDaily

This week, a group of NGOs took TOTAL – the lead investor in a new pipeline between Uganda and Tanzania - to court. They’re asking a French court to protect local people and the environment from the adverse impacts of the project. TOTAL refutes all allegations and says they are protecting the rights of local communities and will make sure the project has a positive impact. Meanwhile, people in Uganda are divided over whether the project is an economic opportunity, or a recipe for disaster. #AfricaDaily

Kenya and athletics are synonymous to one another. In November the country came close to being banned from the sport it loves and excels in the most. There is no doubt that the sports is huge to the country’s image and great effort goes into it - 34 of Kenya’s 35 Olympic gold medals have come from track and field events. But with 17 Kenyan athletes suspended just this year by the Athletics Integrity Unit for a range of violations, joining another 55 who are already serving bans, the threat of a ban loomed large. So the country’s authorities made assurances to World Athletics and avoided a ban. But can Kenya run away from its doping troubles? Alan Kasujja speaks with BBC Sport Africa’s Michelle Katami in Nairobi.

Malawi is not short of scandal, especially when it comes to claims of corruption. If you look back over the years, you will find different cases. And last year the country ranked 110th out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals Corruptions Perceptions Index. So what is happening in Malawi now and how is so much of its politics caught up in it? Those claims of corruptions have been followed by charges against some of the most senior people in the country. Which in turn have been followed by denials or counter claims. The anti-corruption chief Martha Chizuma is one of the latest to be arrested and charged with making statements that could prejudice judicial proceedings. And it was Ms Chizuma’s investigation that was pivotal in the arrest of Deputy President Saulos Chilima. He has since been charged with multiple counts of corruption. His supporters say that the charges are political. He is from a different party to the country’s president. And with elections in 2025 beginning to loom, people are asking whether their alliance is fracturing. So, how has Malawi’s fight against corruption become so controversial? We’ll try to take you through this tangled web.

In November Uganda and Zimbabwe launched their first satellites – PearlAfricaSat-1 and ZimSat-1, respectively - into space. Space engineers from both countries worked and trained with their counterparts in Japan to make it possible. The two countries said the satellites would capture and send back images from space to help with advancing mineral exploration and monitoring weather patterns to help manage the impact of floods and droughts. But in Zimbabwe particularly, the launch kicked off a bit of an uproar, especially on social media, with people asking whether the resources could have instead gone to schools, hospitals and overall infrastructure. Alan Kasujja has been speaking with two African space engineers; Dr Sias Mostert, a space scientist at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and Dr Berhanu Bulcha, an Ethiopian-American NASA research engineer. In their conversation Alan asked them whether Africa needs its own space satellite programmes and if the continent can afford it.

After days of political pressure, South Africa’s President Ramaphosa has said that he does not intend to resign. The row centres on claims he kept large sums of cash on his property then covered up its theft. A panel of legal experts concluded that he has a case to answer. The top leadership of his party - the African National Congress - are meeting on Sunday and Monday to see what steps to take next. But Mr Ramaphosa’s spokesperson has said he will not resign based on a “false report”. And suggested he would seek a second term as the party’s leader. So, what’s next for President Ramaphosa? #AfricaDaily

This week a major conference organised by the UK government called The Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative took place in London. Delegates, policy makers, politicians and survivors from around the world listened to discussions on justice, reparations, accountability and ending sexual violence. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to a survivor of the 2007 election violence in Kenya on what justice looks like for her. This episode contains reference to sexual violence which you may find distressing.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the newest member of The East African Community, a regional group made up of seven countries. With a population of nearly 100 million people, vast agricultural land, and rich mineral reserves, DRC has great potential for business but an endless conflict spanning decades is threatening the region's stability. The M23 rebel group has escalated its attacks, leading the East Africa Community to sanction a regional force to help DRC forces to repel the rebels. Kenya has committed 1,000 soldiers, it’s a deployment which will cost the Kenyan taxpayer 37 million dollars in a year. But is it worth it? And can the East Africa Community finally bring peace to DRC? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to East Africa Security expert Sylvanus Wekesa.

Nowadays premature babies – born at 24 or 28 weeks - can go on to live long happy lives. But a baby’s chance of survival rests a great deal on where they’re born, the quality of medical care they’ll receive and how quickly they get it. Unicef says that in South Sudan, 40 babies for every 1000 will die within 28 days of birth. That compares with 20 in Kenya, 27 in Ethiopia and 29 in Sudan. But despite the challenges of ongoing conflict, floods and no equipment, staff at the Médecins Sans Frontières clinic in Malakal, in South Sudan’s upper Nile State, are working to save every baby they can. With no incubators, they even fill medical gloves with warm water and surround a baby with them in an attempt to keep the child warm. They’re also using a technique called ‘skin-on-skin’ or ‘kangeroo care’. The BBC’s Mercy Juma visited the clinic and has been speaking to Alan Kasujja for Africa Daily.

According to the United Nations, over 900,000 South Africans were living overseas, by the end of 2020. Many chose countries like England, the US, Australia and New Zealand for their new homes. Data from FNB, one of the country’s leading banks, reveals that 18% of homes which were sold three years ago were due to relocations. That number went down to 14% this year. While hundreds of thousands remain outside the country, other figures show that about 400,000 South Africans returned home in the last decade. Alan Kasujja has been speaking to two South Africans; Antoinette Takis and Chantel Hinrichsen, who left and have now returned home. He also heard from Dr Anthony Kaziboni from the University of Johannesburg. He’s an expert on emigration.

President George Weah left Liberia on November 1 and was meant to return this month, but has since extended his return to December 18. In his travels, President Weah’s visited a number of countries; including Morocco, Egypt, France and in early December he’s planned a trip to the US. Along the way the former footballer and Ballon d’Or winner stopped in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, where he’s been since the start of the tournament and had the chance to see his son, Timothy Weah, play for the United States. These trips have got many Liberians talking and saying the president shouldn’t be flying and leaving the country at a difficult time. Alan Kasujja spoke to Liberian journalist Jonathan Paye-Layleh, politician Karishma Pelham-Raad, as well as the President’s press secretary, Isaac Solo Kelgbeh.

For children across Uganda, Friday is the last day in school this year. They are closing their doors two weeks early in an effort to stop the spread of Ebola. The latest outbreak of the virus was identified late September and has become the deadliest in the country for more than a decade. But there are signs that the number of cases may be declining. So, is Uganda bringing its Ebola outbreak under control? #AfricaDaily

In August this year, Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health announced that there would be a ban on harmful skin lightening products. Many of them contain harmful ingredients which alter skin pigmentation and cause other health risks like skin cancer. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at whether bans on skin lightening products actually work.

Earlier this year, cases of malaria began to rapidly increase in the Ethiopian city of Dire Dawa. There were ten times the number of cases in the first half of the year, than the whole of 2019. And unlike usual, the spike was happening outside the rainy season which allows the disease to flourish. It was also spreading in urban areas, rather than mainly in the countryside. Scientists have since uncovered it was due to an invasive species of malaria-carrying mosquito from Asia. So far it’s been found in Ethiopia, Djibouti and all the way over in Nigeria, putting millions of people at risk. So, how can we respond to this new medical threat? #AfricaDaily

Whether or not a child gets treated for clubfoot – when a baby is born with twisted feet - varies across Africa. In some countries, like Senegal, only a minority of cases get treated – about 20% - though the authorities are now making a push to change this. In others countries, like South Africa, the majority of children with clubfoot will be treated. But campaigners say the ‘gold standard’ treatment is actually relatively simple and low cost – no longer involving surgery. It’s named the Ponseti method after the Italian doctor who devised it. Now the first ever African conference on the condition is being held in South Africa – organised by a long term campaigner whose own son was diagnosed with clubfoot 20 years ago – and treated by Doctor Ponseti himself. Alan Kasujja reports for Africa Daily. Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guest: Karen Mara Moss @Steps_SA

There was weary applause at the close of COP27– as the environment conference was FINALLY wrapped up in Sharm el-Sheikh with a deal at 4.15am on Sunday morning. The global agreement was meant to have been signed on Friday. African delegates had lobbied heavily for a ‘loss and damage’ fund – to compensate countries suffering climate related disasters - and this did make the final text. But efforts to set tougher targets for cutting fossil fuels failed. So was this a victory for Africa – on paper at least? For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje gets the thoughts of leading African environmentalist Wanjira Mathai. Presenter: @mpholakaje. Guest: @MathaiWanjira

The football World Cup is set to kick off in Qatar on Sunday. Africa will be represented by teams from five countries – Cameroon, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal and Ghana. On Thursday it was confirmed that Sadio Mane, Senegal’s star forward, would miss the tournament due to injury. It’s a blow to their chances in Qatar. But what about the rest of the African teams? Can they triumph at the 2022 World Cup? #AfricaDaily

Health experts recommend vasectomy as one of the approved family planning methods. The surgical procedure permanently seals the tubes carrying a man’s sperm – making conception impossible. Around the world, vasectomy is much less common than surgical procedures to prevent women from having children. And whereas as many as 21% of men have had a vasectomy in some countries – across Africa that figure stands at less than 1%. So, why do so few men see vasectomy as an option? #AfricaDaily

Today Africa Daily meets the peace-makers: Betty Bigombe walked alone into the jungle to meet the notorious warlord Joseph Kony of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) – who had a reputation for cutting off the limbs or lips of his victims. Paul Nantulya worked alongside Nelson Mandela on the Arusha process – which ended the civil war in the country. He describes watching the South African president berate both leaders and rebels for being an ‘embarrassment to Africa’. So with ongoing talks happening in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo – Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja asks them: what are the key ingredients for finding, and keeping, peace? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) With thanks to: She Stands for Peace podcast

In 2009, Morgan Tsvangirai was inaugurated as Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister, following a controversial election. Robert Mugabe remained president. Their parties, the MDC and Zanu-PF formed what came to be known as the Government of National Unity. Although it brought a sense of stability to the troubled nation, it never lasted long. South Africa is another country that has, in recent years, been testing coalition governments in various cities nationwide. But these political arrangements don’t appear to work. The mayors of two metropolitan areas, including Johannesburg, were sacked through a vote of no confidence, only to be reinstated a few days later. Even president Cyril Ramaphosa recently acknowledged that power sharing leads to instability. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja). Guests: Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe’s former Finance Minister and Boniface Dulani, Associate Professor at the University of Malawi.

Where are the Greens in Africa? We’re now half way through the COP27 environmental conference in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt – where political and business leaders and activists have been haggling over how best to limit climate change. African leaders have taken to the podium to castigate richer nations for causing global warming, and then not helping the continent to deal with its impact. But despite the environment rising up the agenda – Green parties are still failing to cut through at election time. For Africa Daily Alan Kasujja speaks to three Green party candidates and activists about the challenges they face. “Bigger parties try their level best to keep the smaller parties low. The bigger parties will make sure you stay small and small and small… Most of the candidates have to carry all the burden of self-sponsorship.” Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: @kagendolucy and @tbkentos

This week Ramon “Hushpuppi” Abbas, the notorious Nigerian fraudster, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison in the US. He pleaded guilty to money laundering and other cyber crimes that cost his victims more than $24 million in losses. He had many aliases, but he was best known as Hushpuppi. He also liked to refer to himself as the “Billionaire Gucci Master”, alluding to his acclaimed wealth and love for designer goods. He styled himself as a man who went from humble beginnings to a life of unimaginable wealth. From the slum he was born in in Lagos, to the ostentatious lifestyle of his later years in Dubai, he seemed to have it all. But it was all a lie. All the cars, mansions and designer goods had all been bought with money he scammed from people. And it all came crumbling down after his arrest in June 2020 in Dubai. Today, Alan Kasujja is looking at the fast rise and spectacular fall of a man the FBI called one “of the world's most high-profile fraudsters”. He's been speaking to the BBC’s Princess Abumere in Lagos, who's been following the Hushpupppi story from the beginning.

The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in 40 years. In Kenya the situation is forcing children to drop out of school to help their parents look for food and water. Kenyan President William Ruto recently told the COP27 summit in Egypt that this year alone, 2.5 million livestock, worth over $1 billion have died. In Somalia, charity CARE International says women, who are the breadwinners and heads of families, are now doing everything to ensure their husbands and children eat first, including sacrificing their health. So what is the human cost of climate change in Africa? Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Benson Meoli, a pastoralist and local tour guide at Kenya’s Amboseli national park and two CARE International workers, Pamela Agum and Abdikadir Ore.

On Monday, the Malian army rubbished reports that the north-eastern Menaka region is about to fall militants from the Islamic State group. They say the stories are propaganda designed to destabilise the country. And that they have been carrying out regular patrols in the region. In the neighbouring region of Gao, unions have called a strike. They are protesting the authorities response to violence that has left thousands displaced. So, what is being done to solve the insecurity in the north of the country? #AfricaDaily

For years the fight against HIV/AIDS was fought with antiretroviral drugs. But in October the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe announced that it had approved the use of a new medicine against HIV/AIDS. CAB-LA is long-acting injectable cabotegravir with the aim of preventing HIV. The World Health Organisation welcomed the step taken by Zimbabwe. This is particularly important considering the high HIV prevalence rate in the southern African country. The news of CAB-LA approval came shortly after a report published by the United Nations suggested that a young woman in Africa is infected every two minutes. So will this new injectable drug make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the stigma that comes with taking antiretroviral drugs, taken in pill form? Mpho Lakaje has been speaking to two men with long experience with the disease. Farai Masekela is with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and explained how this new drug works. Ntimbwe Mpamba is 40 years old and has been HIV positive since birth. He shared his long journey living with the disease.

This week the global environment conference COP 27 begins in Egypt. The world is warming because of the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. Activists say what’s needed is hard cash – for Africa and other heavily impacted areas to manage the impact of climate change. In 2009 industrialised nations promised to provide $100 billion each year from 2020 to help poorer nations. At last year’s COP in Glasgow it looked like that fund was finally going to become a reality. But at the very last minute the deal fell through. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been looking at whether a COP hosted in Egypt will be more successful for Africa.

It’s two years since the conflict started in Ethiopia. The war has taken it’s toll on people in the affected areas with tens of thousands of people dead. And the World Health Organisation estimates 90% of people in the Tigray region are in need of food aid. This week, negotiators from the opposing TPLF and government forces signed a ceasefire agreement. A disarmament plan and commitment to restore service to Tigray have also been agreed. So, is there hope for peace in Ethiopia? #AfricaDaily

The economic aftershocks from the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine are being felt by economies around the world. Many countries have seen their currencies lose their value and a rapid rise in inflation. This is being felt acutely in many African countries where the falling value of many currencies is causing economic hardship because money isn’t buying as much as it did at the beginning of the year. Africa Daily’s Ferdinand Omondi has been looking at the cause and solutions to this economic turmoil.

Brazil, the land of samba and football. It’s also a country with close ties to Africa, through long years of slavery, centuries ago. It currently has the largest black population outside of Africa. With the imminent return to power of Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula, some may wonder what his win means for Africa. When the left wing leader was president from 2003 to 2010, Brazil-Africa relations blossomed. Trade to Africa ran into the billions of dollars from 2000 to 2008, and much of this came from mining, infrastructure, construction and agriculture. But then the relationship declined. So what happened? What changed and what lies ahead? These are some of the questions Ferdinand Omondi got into with Dr. Alex Vines, Managing Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, a think tank in the United Kingdom.

People in Mogadishu are in mourning once again. At least 120 people were killed when two car bombs exploded outside the Ministry of Education on Saturday. The government says the militant group al-Shabab were behind the attack - their deadliest for five years. President Hassan Sheik Mohamud says he will wage a full war on those responsible. So, what is behind the latest attack? And what can be done to stop the militants? #AfricaDaily

Earlier this month, a mass grave containing 25 bodies was discovered in Malawi. Investigators there are still working to find out exactly what happened to these people. But the government believes they were Ethiopian and that it is possible that they were being trafficked. The possibility has put a spotlight on migration routes from north to southern Africa and the conditions people face along the way. People have been making similar journeys for many years though. So why are people migrating? And what is it like for those on the move? #AfricaDaily

Climate change is on people’s mind, and with the climate summit - COP27 - about to kick off in Egypt, it continues to be a hot topic. And some of the little decisions we make every day are helping to fuel the rapid climate changes. Even those that you might not give a second thought – hair, for example. Experts say synthetic hair, which is found in extensions and wigs, worn by millions around the world, harms the environment, especially in Africa where synthetic hair is big business. So today for Africa Daily podcast, Alana Kasujja is look at what impact the flowing weaves preferred by many are having on the environment and what possible solutions there are out there. He hears from consumers, experts and someone who’s trying to find a solution – Juliet Tumusiime, an entrepreneur with a hair venture - Cheveux Organique – that is making hair from banana fibre.

Famo is often described as Lesotho’s “traditional music” and is the country’s leading music genre. In recent times, rivalry among Famo artistes has led to bloodshed. Some music experts say this recent behaviour mirrors some of the US hip hop rivaly in the 1990s; the so-called East Coast v West Coast beef. Many Famo artists are divided into two warring factions, Terene and Seakhi. Terene members are known for draping their distinct yellow traditional blankets over their shoulders. Those who belong to Seakhi, prefer blue and black blankets. The two have been clashing for years, leading to the deaths of dozens of people. But what’s behind the battles? Alan Kasujja speaks to Famo’s experts and local musicians.

Travelers from African countries are more likely to need a visa to travel overseas. Lengthy applications asking for bank statements and marriage certificates can make planning a trip more difficult. But even with a visa in your hand, making it to your destination might not go smoothly. Recently high profile officials have complained of being treated poorly while trying to pass through immigration at airports. So, what’s the reality of trying to travel on an African passport? #AfricaDaily

12 months ago today the Sudanese military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, took control of the government in a military coup. The prime minister and his cabinet were arrested, the government dissolved. Sudan's economy, which had already been in crisis with high inflation and food, fuel and medicine shortages, plunged further. Thousands of civilians took to the streets to voice their opposition to the military takeover. Before the coup, military and civilian leaders had been sharing power in a transitional government. This union was fragile and had been formed after mass protests in 2019, which eventually led to the end of President Omar al-Bashir’s rule. So today Alan Kasujja has been looking at how much has changed in Sudan since the military coup in 2021.

In Uganda it’s not unusual to send children to boarding school – in a tradition that dates back to colonial times. But now a Professor of Psychiatry, Professor Seggane Musisi, has spoken out against boarding schools – warning he’s seeing more children reporting mental health problems like depression and suicidal thoughts because of overwork and tiredness. Many schools get children up at 4 or 5am to start lessons early – and Professor Musisi says some students report being got out of bed at 2am. Another concern he raises is bullying by both children and staff. So should Uganda take another look at its boarding school system – and the welfare of the children who go through it? Alan Kasujja – himself a boarder from the age of 9 – gets the thoughts of both experts and students.

In Uganda it’s not unusual to send children to boarding school – in a tradition that dates back to colonial times. But now a Professor of Psychiatry, Professor Seggane Musisi, has spoken out against boarding schools – warning he’s seeing more children reporting mental health problems like depression and suicidal thoughts because of overwork and tiredness. Many schools get children up at 4 or 5am to start lessons early – and Professor Musisi says some students report being got out of bed at 2am. Another concern he raises is bullying by both children and staff. So should Uganda take another look at its boarding school system – and the welfare of the children who go through it? Alan Kasujja – himself a boarder from the age of 9 – gets the thoughts of both experts and students.

Félix Tshisekedi is President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s a country known to be one of the lungs of the world, but also wracked by conflict. The president sat down with the BBC’s Victoria Uwonkunda after more than three years in office. He recognises that DR Congo’s natural habitat is vital to the world’s environment. But he says it would be unfair to those in his country living in poverty not to use its natural resources. He explains why he doesn’t want Rwanda to be part of the fight against M23 militants. And says that relations with President Paul Kagame are still cold. Everybody needs time to relax. So, who does President Tshisekedi support on the football field? #AfricaDaily

A few years ago, Africa was tantalising close to eliminating Meningitis type A - thanks to vaccination campaigns which started from 2010 onwards. But the World Health Organization says the Covid-19 pandemic delayed vaccinations for more than 50 million children across the continent - which means a heightened risk of outbreaks of the disease next year. So – in a race against time, the organisation is frantically campaigning to implement vaccination before the start of the meningitis season in January 2023. But what exactly is meningitis and how does it affect people? Alan Kasujja speaks to one man about his terrifying experience of suffering from the killer disease – as well as doctors about what’s being done. #AfricaDaily

Seasonal flooding is not uncommon in Nigeria, but this year has been the worst for a decade. At least 27 out of the 36 states have been affected. More than 600 people have died and more than a million have been displaced. There are now fears that the disaster could impact food security at a time when the country is already going through a cost of living crisis. #Africa Daily

Although Africa has been dealing with HIV/AIDS for more than thirty years, sometimes the statistics are still arresting. A report recently published by the United Nations suggests that a young woman is infected every two minutes on the continent. More than that, they are three times more likely than young men aged between 15-24 to acquire the virus. The world has come a long way over the decades in the battle against HIV, with more knowledge and tools to prevent its spread than ever before. So why are young women still so vulnerable? And what can be done to help them protect themselves? #AfricaDaily

Power cuts. They’re the bane of most South Africans’ lives… and a massive political headache due to their disruptive, ongoing and frustrating nature. The causes are myriad: including ageing infrastructure, faulty power plants and deliberate sabotage. But where there are challenges there are always entrepreneurs ready to take advantage, and many new businesses are springing up – providing solutions based on technologies like solar power and inverters, which store electricity the same way a mobile phone power bank does. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja takes a look at those finding light – and business opportunities – amongst the blackouts.

There’s a World Cup in Qatar. Yes, the one everybody already knows about – the FIFA World Cup. But there’s another one happening now with less known names and stars. The Street Child World Cup 2022. It happens every 4 years and takes place ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which this year kicks off in November in Doha. The Street Child World Cup aims to highlight the conditions of children living on the streets across the world, raising awareness of the dangers of sexual and physical violence they may face. This year there are 28 teams, representing 24 countries, among which seven are African; Burundi, Egypt, Mauritius, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. To understand more about the Street Child World Cup, Alan Kasujja has been chatting with Victoria Uwonkunda who’s been following this tournament and who’s spoken to two young people taking part in Doha. 17-year old Burundian Cedrick Iramboma and 15-year old Ruth Chantel James from Zimbabwe.

Burkina Faso has been in political turmoil in 2022, with two coups since the beginning of the year. But while attention has been on political manoeuvres in the capital, a crisis has been quietly building in the north of the country. The town of Djibo has become the focus of a jihadist insurgency that has been developing since 2015. People there have found their town blockaded and largely cut off from the rest of the country. When a convoy was attacked on route from the capital Ouagadougou recently, it cut off one of the only sources of food and supplies. Now more than 200,000 people are relying on air drops to keep going? But is enough support reaching them? #AfricaDaily

During the last election, 44 % of seats in Senegal’s parliament were occupied by women, making it the parliament with the largest percentage of women in West Africa. Amongst the countries with the lowest number of women represented- under 15%- are The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Benin and Sierra Leone. And according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Nigeria, has just 13 women amongst 360 members of its House of Representatives. So what’s stopping more women in West Africa from getting involved in politics? To understand the challenges, Alan Kasujja spoke to three women from Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia about their political careers.

Kenya has recently lifted a ban on the cultivation and import of genetically modified goods. The country is facing the worst droughts for 40 years and there are concerns that millions could be at risk of food insecurity. These GMO’s - genetically modified organisms - are species that have been scientifically altered in a lab to achieve a specific result…such as drought resistant maize. But they are currently only approved in eight countries on the continent. And some people have concerns that they might not be a sustainable solution for farmers. #AfricaDaily

In September the Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC) told students who had been studying in Ukraine that their studies were at risk of being rejected. In the letter, the body said any medical and dental degrees from Ukraine from 2022 will “not be honoured forthwith by the Medical and Dental Council, Ghana, until when normal academic activities resume”. This sent waves among the hundreds of students who had been in Ukraine and who had stopped their normal schooling because of the Russian invasion. One of them is Nana Agyemang, whom we first spoke to in March on the day he landed back home in Ghana after fleeing the war. Seven months on, his and other students’ futures are in limbo as the GMDC reassesses their papers for possible reintegration into the Ghanaian system. Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Nana, his father Major Dr Ebenezer Kwakye Agyemang to hear how they feel about this decision. He’s also been hearing from Ghana Medical and Dental Council registrar, Dr Divine Banyubala to find out how they came to that decision.

For the best part of this year, the Kwacha, Zambia's currency has been doing exceptionally well. Some economists have described it as among the best performing currencies against the dollar. This might not be good news for exports, which will be more expensive to buy in other countries. But it has been welcomed by Zambians who are paying lower prices for food and services than this time last year. So, while many countries around the world are facing a cost of living crisis, is Zambia managing to buck the trend? #AfricaDaily

BaSotho are heading to the polls on Friday in an election that will choose the next prime minister. The country of just two million people will chose between more than 60 political parties hoping to gain power. It has been a rocky decade in Lesotho’s politics. The coalition government formed in 2012 was challenged when Prime Minister Tom Thabane fled the country claiming to be the target of a coup. The Southern Africa Development Community had to intervene when two law enforcement agencies were found to show favour to political parties. There have been multiple leaders since then. So, can Friday’s election help to restore political stability? #AfricaDaily

WARNING: This episode contains description of violence and death which some people may find distressing. “There could have been a dissenting voice saying no, no, no – don’t do that. Nigeria is a place where people don’t seem to have value for human life”. Ten years ago, the deaths of four young men – who became known as the ‘Aluu 4’ – shocked Nigeria, after they were viewed by thousands of people on a viral video. The men, in their late teens and early twenties, had been falsely accused of theft. After a mock trial they were brutally beaten and killed. The families of the men have been speaking to the BBC about their memories of that time – and their subsequent fight for justice. Despite mass calls for change at the time of the deaths, ten years on similar killings are still taking place - with more than 200 such deaths in the last three years. So can anything be done to change the culture? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Alan Kasujja) Reporter: Nduka Orjinmo (@ndukaorjinmo)

Burkina Faso is no stranger to coups. It’s had seven military takeovers since its independence from France in 1960. On September 30, a group of junior soldiers toppled a fellow military ruler in Burkina Faso. Announcing their takeover on national television, the putschists accused Lt. Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba of failing to quell jihadist attacks in the country. Damiba had been in charge since he and the military toppled President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré in January. This time the interim leader is 34-year-old Ibrahim Traoré. So, two coups in just eight months, with both leaders claiming to want to sort out the issues in Burkina Faso, but clearly not finding the right solution. Just yet. Alan Kasujja is asking whether Burkina Faso can solve its political instability. He’s been speaking to Burkinabé journalist Ouézen Louis Oulon and Niagalé Bagayoko, a security expert on the Sahel region.

When Alan visited Johannesburg in July, the city was reeling after a mass shooting at tavern in Soweto. Sixteen people were killed by gunmen while socialising with their friends. It a spotlight on increasing violence at drinking spots across the country. That month 25 people died in such incidents. Last week, five people appeared in court in relation to the shooting in Soweto. But the people Alan spoke to at a tavern nearby said they had little confidence that the police could keep them safe. Is that the case?

In the early 2000s, African Union members adopted what is known as the Yamoussoukro Decision. The treaty was designed to open up air transport between African countries by promoting fair competition among airlines. However, World Bank says this hasn’t really taken off, as African countries are still restricting their markets to prefer state owned carriers. But now, South Africa seems to be taking a different approach. Not only is it opening up its skies to fellow African airlines, it’s even striking deals with foreign carriers like Air Belgium. Is this the start of a fresh approach to air travel? And could open skies help body African economies? #AfricaDaily

Uganda is facing an Ebola outbreak which has reportedly infected more than twenty people. And five people have died since the virus was detected last week. The association of medical workers in Uganda has called for the affected region - Mubende - to be quarantined. But on Wednesday evening, President Museveni said quarantines were not being considered as part of the response. He tried to reassure Ugandans that the government will be able to stop the virus spreading, citing experience gained with previous outbreaks. So, can Uganda contain its Ebola outbreak?

The United Nations Security Council is tasked with ensuring international peace and security. It has five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It also has 10 other members who are elected on a regional basis for a term of two years, and among those there at the moment representing Africa are Gabon, Ghana and Kenya. At the recent UN General Assembly – UNGA – among the many topics that were discussed, the question about having a seat on a permanent basis for Africa – which is the only world regions that’s not represented permanently - was raised. Today Alan Kasujja is asking why doesn’t Africa have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. He’s been speaking with Professor Carlos Lopes, who’s held various UN roles over the years, including policy director for former and late Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He’s professor in the Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Content warning: This podcast includes vivid descriptions of the sinking of the Joola which some listeners might find distressing. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Twenty years ago, news of terrible event began to spread throughout the city of Ziguinchor in the south of Senegal. A passenger ferry – carrying more than 1,800 people from Casamance to the capital Dakar in the north – had gone down in a storm with the loss of almost everyone on board. Amongst the dead were 444 children. Just about everyone in the small city knew someone who’d died. In the months and years that followed enquiries blamed a number of shortcomings including overcrowding and a lack of safety measures and radio equipment to call for help. But despite the scale of the disaster – with hundreds more deaths than in the Titanic – those affected say they now feel abandoned and forgotten. They want the boat – and the remains of their loved ones - to be raised from the seabed. Now a BBC documentary has heard from two of the just 64 people who survived – as well as from those who lost family members. Victoria Uwonkunda spoke to Efrem Gebreab, one of the documentary's producers, for Africa Daily – and listens to some of the testimonies of those affected. ‘The Joola: Africa’s Titanic’ can be seen on BBC Africa Youtube. Producers: Efrem Gebreab, Wahany Sambou and Frederic Tendeng. Director: Nicky Milne Camera: John Wendle

Within ten days of being sworn in as Kenya’s 5th president, William Ruto found himself attending two of the largest global events this year with other heads of state - Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) - a gathering of leaders and NGOs and activists alike in the US state of New York. Away from the glitzy streets of New York and the UN, loads await the new president back home. A struggling economy, now made worse with the cost of living crisis, unemployment is still a struggle for many and these are some of the top issues President Ruto and his government have to tackle. Away from the big tasks at hand, there’s also that now infamous fallout between him and his former boss Uhuru Kenyatta, who snubbed him and instead supported another candidate during the election. So when Alan Kasujja sat down with him in New York during the UNGA to find out what Kenya’s new president, William Samoei Ruto, has been up to in his first couple of weeks in charge, there was plenty to talk about.

Mahmood Mattan was born in 1923 and was a young man when he left his home in Hargeisa, in what later became Somaliland, to live in Cardiff in Wales. He settled in a community called Tiger Bay, worked as a seaman, got married and had three children. In 1952 he was accused of murdering Lily Volpert, a local businesswoman. He was found guilty and executed by hanging in prison. For years Mahmood Mattan’s family maintained his innocence and his conviction was quashed in 1998. Last week, 70 years after Mahmood Mattan’s execution, South Wales police apologised and admitted the prosecution was "flawed". In today’s Africa Daily, Victoria Uwonkunda has been finding out more about the life and death of Mahmood Mattan from Danielle Fahiya, the presenter/producer of a new BBC podcast called Mattan: Injustice of a Hanged Man.

When former journalist, Joseph Bayanga, witnessed the death of three generations of a family on a Kampala road - a mother, daughter and grandchild – he decided enough was enough. More people die on Uganda’s roads – 14 every day – than anywhere else in East Africa. Kampala’s Mulago National Referral Hospital even has a special ward just for the drivers of boda bodas who account for the highest number of deaths. Boda bodas are the motorbike taxis which weave precariously through the traffic at every junction with one, two or even three passengers on their backs. So Joe reinvented himself as a road safety campaigner ‘Joe Walker’ and walked 340 km in just 10 days from Kampala to his home town of Bushenyi to raise awareness on the subject. For Africa Daily Alan Kasujja takes a drive round Kampala’s roads with Joe and asks: can anything be done to make Uganda’s roads safer? Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guest: Joe Beyanga @akeda4

Tanzania’s Information Minister Nape Nnauye has warned against the dissemination of online messages, cartoons and short videos which he claims promote same-sex relationships. He said anyone posting such messages risked prosecution. And it’s not just Tanzania. In Kenya and Uganda gay people have been harassed, bullied and threatened online. In today’s Africa Daily, Ferdinand Omondi speaks to James, Executive Director of LGBT Voice Tanzania and Frank Mugisha, a Human Rights advocate in Uganda whose fight for rights of the LGBTQ community earned him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

Across Africa, if you ask people how they plan to improve the lives of their children, the answer is often ‘through education’. But what about if the school system isn’t set up for how their brain works? We now know that dyslexic brains work differently to those of other people – with more activity in the frontal lobe and less in other areas. This means people with the condition can struggle with reading, writing, spelling and memory. They can be punished for not trying and for perceived laziness. But in reality, it isn’t a choice and doesn’t mean they lack intelligence – and they are actually better in some areas, like thinking visually. So in today's Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) speaks to Philip Ogola (@PhilipOgola) who was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult and is now campaigning for better understanding - and to Phyllis Munyi-Kariuki, the Director of Dyslexia Organisation-Kenya and asks: how can people with dyslexia be better supported?

Later today world leaders will gather at Westminster Abbey in London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who died peacefully on Thursday the 8th of September. Last week on this podcast, Alan held robust discussions with different guests and interrogated the queen’s legacy in Africa. He also heard – in passing – about the very special relationship she shared with the former South African president Nelson Mandela. Queen Elizabeth visited South Africa in 1995, a year after independence. So we thought it would be appropriate, today, to hear more about their friendship. Mpho Lakaje speaks with two key people from President Mandela’s close circle, his chief bodyguard Rory Steyn and his personal assistant Zelda Le Gange, and gets their memories of the times the Queen met Madiba.

Last month Emirates Airlines announced it was halting flights to Nigeria – saying it was owed millions of dollars. The plight of passengers suddenly forced to find creative and expensive ways to travel thousands of miles grabbed the world’s attention – and within days of the crisis, Nigeria said it would release some of the money owed to foreign airlines: $265 million. But the reason WHY the airline took the drastic step actually highlights a more widespread problem for Nigeria: a shortage of dollars to pay for foreign services – and two competing exchange rates: the official rate and what Nigerians can get on the black market. This has left the Central Bank of Nigeria – or CBN – technically subsidising travellers – and foreign companies being underpaid for their services. For Africa Daily, @kasujja speaks with Oluwatosin Olaseinde, an account and money expert who set up Money Africa, a financial literacy platform. “You’re seeing a higher cost of living, you’re seeing a reduction in the revenue of the government, so it’s just a whole lot of different (elements) mixed together in this dance.”

It’s been a big week for Kenya’s new president William Ruto. On Tuesday he was sworn in and immediately started reversing some of his predecessor’s policies. Straight after the ceremony he appointed six new judges – who’d been rejected by the former president Uhuru Kenyatta. He also announced that operations would revert back to the port of Mombasa. So what will his presidency mean for Kenyans and the surrounding region? Alan Kasujja speaks with International Relations analyst, Dr. Adhere Cavince, and Sylvanus Wekesa, an expert on African leadership.

Tanzania’s government is now preparing to build a Liquefied Natural Gas plant to process its vast natural gas. This comes after President Samia Suluhu Hassan said her administration had attracted $30 billion in foreign investment. Once it’s been liquified, the gas which forms naturally underground over many years, is expected to be exported to countries in Europe and Asia. The government say this will create thousands of jobs and help to ease some of the financial burdens on Tanzanians who’ve been dealing with hikes in fuel prices. In April prices across the nation hit a new record high. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Modestus Lumato and Salum Awadh

After the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96, African leaders lined up to pay tribute. After all, her passion for the continent, and dedication to the Commonwealth were both clear to see. But because of her role as a figurehead of a former colonial power, many Africans have found the tributes difficult. For them, processing her death is far more complicated. So how is the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II seen across the continent? Alan Kasujja discusses the subject with BBC Monitoring’s Beverly Ochieng and Professor of history, Macharia Munene.

Queen Elizabeth II was actually Princess Elizabeth when she first visited Africa with her parents. And she was in Kenya – staying in the famous Treetops hotel – when the news of her father’s death arrived and she became queen. During the 70 years that followed she visited the continent many times and shook the hands of countless African leaders. But what was it like to actually meet the queen in person? For Africa Daily @Kasujja speaks to the former president of Botswana, Ian Khama, and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation, who share their memories. “He announced me as the President of Zimbabwe… she said to me ‘don’t worry about that introduction, he’s new and I think he just got overwhelmed by the occasion’… She knew I wasn’t the President of Zimbabwe, she knew who I was. She made a nice, pleasant excuse for him”.

Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96. Her 70- year reign ran parallel with significant events in Africa. At the time of her coronation, she became the ruler of 14 territories across Africa, as part of the British Empire. And her decades on the throne were a period of immense change. One after another, each African country became independent and took their own path in the world. So, who was Queen Elizabeth to Africa? And what did her life and reign mean for the continent? #AfricaDaily

Edward Enninful is the editor in chief of British Vogue, a magazine which is revered in the world of fashion. He was appointed in 2017 and became the first black man to do the job. He sits in the front row of catwalk shows from the world’s biggest designers – Dolce and Gabbana, Versace and Armani. Beyonce, Rihanna and Oprah Winfrey are close friends. But despite the glitz and glamour of the circles he moves in now, he had a very humble beginning. He came to UK as a refugee from Ghana when he was 13 years old. Now he’s telling his story in a new memoir - A Visible Man. His interview with Alan Kasujja contains discussion of violence that some people might find disturbing. #AfricaDaily

Africa is the most entrepreneurial continent according to the African Development Bank. And sometimes it seems like everyone is talking about starting a business or a side hustle. But starting a business and having it succeed are two separate things. As many as 80% of new businesses fail due to lack of funding according to investment advisors Shikana Group. So, are new businesses getting the funding they need? And what can entrepreneurs do to make sure their venture attracts investment? #AfricaDaily

Kenya’s election process has concluded with the Supreme Court declaring that William Ruto was duly elected as the country’s 5th president. Mr Ruto will be sworn in on 13th January after the Supreme Court dismissed the election petition submitted by his main opponent, Raila Odinga. Raila lost even though he was backed by the outgoing president Uhuru Kenyatta, who has promised a smooth transition to his deputy, Ruto. What lessons can Africa gain from Kenya’s hotly contested, yet most peaceful election process to date? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Beverly Ochieng (@BeverlyOchieng) Sylvanus Wekesa (@SylWekesa)

One year ago Guineans poured into the street to celebrate the ousting of Alpha Conde in a military coup. The increasingly unpopular president had changed the constitution to allow himself a third term – and had put down protests against him with a heavy hand. So many members of the main opposition grouping which had organised the protests – the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution, or FNDC – joined the celebrations. But fast-forward a year and the FNDC has been banned by the military junta – and many of its leaders arrested. It’s called on people to come out today – Monday 5th September – to mark the one year anniversary of the coup – and urge a faster handover to civilian rule. Meanwhile the leader of the coup – and the current military government – Colonel Mamady Doumbouya failed to give an expected address to the nation on Sunday night. Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) discusses Guinea’s turbulent year with the BBC’s Alhassan Silla, who’s been reading the mood on the street in Conakry.

Many people across the continent rely on generators when the electricity supply is unreliable in their countries. Blackouts or planned loadshedding have become common in Zimbabwe and South Africa, leaving families without power for hours at a time. But neighbouring Botswana is hoping to change all of that. Botswana Power Corporation – the state owned energy provider – has been working to generate additional power for some time. And the government in Gaborone is hoping to sell it to neighbouring countries. So, could this be a mutually beneficial arrangement for countries in southern Africa? #Africa Daily

Correction: We re-uploaded this episode to clarify the $1.5 trillion mentioned in the conversation was China's global loans, not just to Africa. At a recent summit attended by African officials, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that China would be forgiving 23 of its loans to 17 African countries. But it’s worth pointing out that these were debts that were at zero interest. According to data from the Global Development Policy Center, China has lent Africa as much as $160 billion. Much of this money has gone into building infrastructure, such as airports, roads and sea ports. But analysts have raised the alarm, saying there’s a looming debt crisis if the continent continues to borrow this heavily from China. So amid the ongoing economic crisis sweeping through the world, what does this relationship with China and a large debt profile mean for Africa? Alan Kasujja has been speaking with Zawadi Mudibo, the BBC Africa Business Editor to make sense of this relationship.

More than 21,000 members have graduated into a united armed forces in South Sudan. Many of the troops previously belonged to rival factions, but on Tuesday they pledged allegiance to their country rather than a single leader. The peace agreement signed in 2018 required all fighters to lay down their arms and join a united state army. But the deadline for this has been extended many times. A joint transitional government was formed in 2020, with plans to hold elections in December, but these have also been postponed until 2024. So, what does the achievement of a united armed forces mean for the country? #AfricaDaily

Since March this year there’s been a humanitarian truce in the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia - and so the 22-month conflict has slipped down the international news agenda. But for those who have relatives within the region it’s been a painful time due to lack of access to their loved ones or news about their welfare. Financial services have been blocked – and an internet and phone blackout imposed. During the conflict, tens of thousands of civilians have died, with the World Food Programme saying that almost half of Tigray's 5.5m population is in "severe" need of food. But now the truce has been broken – with reports of air strikes and increased fighting. So why is this happening now – and what does it mean for ongoing efforts at peace talks between the warring parties? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

A single dose of vaccine can give children strong protection against Measles. But low vaccination rates in Manicaland in eastern Zimbabwe has led to an outbreak there in which nearly 160 children have died – and many more have become seriously ill. The government and medical experts say they believe the source of the outbreak may have been a mass gathering of a local religious sect which discourages people from going to hospital. They also say the emphasis on fighting Covid-19 over the last two years meant a previous vaccination drive fizzled out. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Africa has had more UN peacekeeping missions than any other region in the world. Today more than fifty thousand troops are deployed with UN operations on the continent. Despite this, violence still continues in some of these areas and in some places, there is anger over the UN's continued presence. Just last month, anti-UN protests erupted in Goma and Butembo, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, when citizens accused the UN of failing to contain violence by armed groups. While in Mali, UN troop rotations were suspended for a month after the government arrested 49 soldiers from Ivory Coast, saying they had arrived in the country without permission. Ivory Coast said the soldiers were part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. So, what is the future of UN peacekeeping in Africa? Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Dr. Cedric de Coning, a research professor at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and Senior Advisor at the African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes and Dr. Yvan Yenda Ilunga, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Salve Regina University.

“It’s quite challenging, because some people have been here and they were not going home…. And there are no jobs in Zimbabwe.” Yesterday Africa Daily spoke to some of the Zimbabweans affected by a decision to end the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit scheme by December this year. The permits allowed nearly 180,000 migrants to live, work and study in South Africa – but from now on they will need to prove they possess critical skills that are needed in the country – meaning unqualified workers will not be able to stay. Many of them have been in the country for 12 or more years. In this second part of a two-part series, Alan Kasujja finds out more about the court challenge that has now been brought, in a bid to reverse the government’s decision. He also speaks to a spokesperson for Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF about what’s being done to give Zimbabweans opportunities back in their own country – so they don’t need to look to other countries for work.

“The future now doesn’t look so bright for us.” Thousands of Zimbabweans – many who’ve lived in South Africa for the last decade – are facing mass deportation when the government ends a special permit scheme at the end of this year. Nearly 180,000 people are legally working or studying in the country thanks to their Zimbabwe Exemption Permits. But the documents are now being terminated – with migrants having to prove they possess critical skills that are needed in the country before they are allowed to stay. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to some of the people who are now facing an uncertain future, in this first podcast of two on the subject. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

On Wednesday 24 August, Angola will head to the polls. The two frontrunners are current president, João Lourenço, from the MPLA, who will be seeking his second term in office and Adalberto Costa Júnior, representing the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). These two groups have had a rivalry that has dominated Angola’s politics since independence in 1975 and battled for power during a civil war that ended in 2002. While it’s been the MPLA in power for nearly half a century, political analysts say that this will be the country’s closest election to date, with Angola’s young population looking for change. So what’s at stake in this year’s election? Alan Kasujja speaks to journalist Israel Campos and Claudio Silva, a political commentator in the capital Luanda.

A recent survey of more than 4,500 young people in Africa, aged 18-24, found more than half of them are thinking about emigrating in the next few years. Many participants said they believed that because of the lack of opportunities, they could only improve their lives by leaving the continent. Others cited security and poor healthcare as reasons for wanting to move abroad. So, on a recent trip to his home country of Uganda, Alan Kasujja sat down with a group of young people at the Uganda Christian University, just outside of the capital Kampala to see if they too felt the same way.

Last week, the Sierra Leone government introduced two new laws that have been hailed by some NGOs as ' the most progressive land reform laws in the world'. These new laws will give communities the power to block mining, farming and industrial projects on their land, restrict the amount of years companies can lease land for and will ban industrial development in ecologically sensitive areas. Currently over 20% of Sierra Leone's land is leased to foreign businesses for mining, large-scale agriculture and other development ventures – leading to protests against some projects in recent years. However, some members of the business community have voiced concern about the new laws, saying that it could put off foreign investors. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

In recent years Uganda has made great progress in treating patients with kidney failure. They can now receive dialysis at several hospitals, which can sustain their health for many years. But for those who need a kidney transplant, they have no option but to travel overseas. Doctors at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala have been working to make transplants possible on Ugandan soil. But with no legal framework for organ donation in place, changing the law is also part of their plans. #AfricaDaily

Kenya’s electoral commission has named William Ruto as the winner of last weeks presidential election. However, four of the seven commissioners have refused to back the result. And Raila Odinga, Mr Ruto’s challenger for the top job, has rejected the result. He says he will challenge the election in the courts. So, what will happen next? And what does it mean for Kenyans? #AfricaDaily

Zama Zamas are young, mostly illegal miners who are taking advantage of the mining industry in South Africa. They have been in the news recently after being linked to a series of violent crimes. On yesterday’s episode, Mpho Lakaje heard about the gang rape of eight women near Johannesburg, which the Zama Zamas have been linked to. He also heard that this is not the first such violence they have been accused of. On today’s episode, Mpho hears from South Africa’s National Police Commisioner to hear what can be done about the situation. And with many Zama Zamas reportedly coming from neighbouring Lesotho, he hears from the communications minister and asks whether they can help South Africa with a solution. #AfricaDaily

The term Zama Zama is a slang word in isiZulu, one of South Africa's official languages and loosely translates to ‘someone who is trying’ or a ‘hustler’. They are young miners, largely illegal, who take advantage of the lucrative mining industry in South Africa. They are back in the news after a gang rape of eight women near Johannesburg. The women had been shooting a music video at an abandoned mine, when they were attacked by a group of men, both locals and police say are the Zama Zamas. So who are these people who are striking fear in many communities in South Africa? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been speaking to Frans Baleni, a former Secretary General of the National Union of Mineworkers with extensive knowledge on the Zama Zamas. He also heard a personal account from a victim and local councillor, Kenny Moeng on how communities are coping.

Kenya’s presidential election has been dominating the headlines this week. And while we still don’t know there results, there’s still plenty to talk about. The Kenyan constitution gives all citizens living overseas the right to vote in elections. This year their options have been expanded, with embassies in 12 countries opening their doors for people to cast ballots. But that has still meant long and expensive journeys for people wanting to cast a ballot. And although around four million Kenyans live overseas, only around then thousand were registered to vote. So, is Kenya leading the way on diaspora voting? Or does more need to be done? #AfricaDaily

With a population of 15 million, Lagos is the biggest city on the continent. But by the end of the century, it’s predicted to become the most populous city in the world. And it isn’t the only rapidly growing city in Africa. It’s predicted that by the turn of the century, Africa will be home to 13 out of the 20 biggest cities. And many of these will be megacities - urban centres with a population of more than 10 million people. But what will life be like in these places? And can we cope with such rapid urban growth? #AfricaDaily

Two of East Africa’s big countries and economies have voiced ambitious plans to get in on the electric vehicles revolution. Only last week Kenya Power announced it’s investing in a network of charging stations for electric vehicles across the country. In a recent interview with Africa Daily, Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni revealed his country had started to assemble their own electric vehicles to reduce their reliance on imported fuel. But despite these plans, a few challenges remain, for example Africa has some of the world's most unreliable and expensive electricity, and charging infrastructure remains scarce. So how ready is East Africa for the transition from diesel fuelled cars to electric vehicles? And how long might it take to get there – are we talking decades? Victoria Uwonkunda speaks to Peter Mwangangi, BBC business reporter in Nairobi, Edna Odhiambo, a climate change lawyer and Moses Nderitu, the Chief Revenue Officer for BasiGo, a Kenyan e-mobility start-up to find out.

The World Health Organisation is sounding the alarm – obesity is on the rise. Latest figures from the WHO show that more than 1 billion people in the world are obese – meaning they have abnormal or excessive body fat. In Africa, numbers are rising too. One in five adults in Kenya, Libya and South Africa are predicted to be obese by December 2023. Earlier this year Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, called this rise in obesity on the continent a ‘ticking time bomb’. So why is obesity on the rise in Africa and what can be done to fight it. That is what Victoria Uwonkunda is discussing today on Africa Daily. Guests: Sam Mohau (@MohauSam), fitness enthusiast Dr Adelheid Onyango (@Ad_Onyango), Director of the Universal Health Coverage at the WHO

Polygamy is said to be legally recognised in more than 25 African countries. But though the practice is not legalised in the rest of the continent, you still get situations where a man has more than one wife. And so recently when an MP in Ivory Coast suggested a bill to legalise polygamy, it caused a commotion. And the debate continues. He says if polygamy is legalised, women will be better protected. However women’s rights groups argue this is not the case. Today we are asking how is polygamy dividing opinion? Host: Victoria Uwonkunda Guests: Ivorian MP, Yacouba Sangare, BBC’s correspondent Lalla Sy and women’s rights activist Hala Al-Karib

After a week back in his home country of Uganda, Alan has spoken to people from all walks of life. He’s met people struggling to get by, doctors trying to make a difference and students trying to decide whether to build a life there or move overseas. In the second part of his interview with President Museveni, Alan focuses on the questions Ugandans are asking about the future. Can the government bring the cost of living under control? What is the role of the opposition? And who does Mr Museveni think might run the country next? #AfricaDaily

Last week Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, visited Uganda’s capital. He met with President Museveni as part of a tour to bolster support among African countries. Uganda is one of many countries on the continent that have refused to condemn the war in Ukraine. But on Thursday, Linda Thomas-Greenfield – the US ambassador to the United Nations – is visiting the country. She is likely to deliver a very different message to Mr Museveni. Amid all the high profile visits, Alan is also in town. He sat down with President Museveni to ask how Uganda is navigating the turbulent relations between two of it’s allies. #AfricaDaily

While 2000 of the world’s languages are African, African languages are barely represented in technology. Part of the reason for this is that many of these African languages are classed as 'low-resource'. This means there is a lack of data existing for these languages - and this is the data needed to teach machines how to speak and understand them. As a result, technology has been unavailable to large swaths of the continent. However, there are signs that things are starting to change. This year, Google Translate announced it would be adding 10 more African languages. Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Dr Ignatius Ezeani, a senior researcher on Natural Language Processing and Nana Ghartey, founder of Ghanaian voice assistance app, Abena, to find out how artificial intelligence can better serve African languages.

Kenya, one of Africa's leading economies, will be electing a new president on 9 August. The main contenders seeking to replace President Uhuru Kenyatta are his deputy William Ruto and his long-time rival, now turned ally Raila Odinga. The election comes at a hard time for many Kenyans who are facing a surge in the cost of living, unemployment and severe climate change challenges, among others. But whoever takes over and becomes Kenya’s fifth president will also work to make sure Kenya remains a key political and economic player in the region and in Africa. On today’s Africa Daily Ferdinand Omondi sits down with BBC colleagues and fellow Kenyans; Beverly Ochieng and Dickens Olewe to discuss candidates vying to becoming Kenya’s new president and look at whether Kenyan election should matter to the rest of the continent. Host: Ferdinand Omondi (@FerdyOmondi) Guests: Beverly Ochieng (@BeverlyOchieng), Dickens Olewe (@DickensOlewe)

Alan is on the road in his home country Uganda. Last week he visited Kampala’s markets – talking to customers concerned at a spike in the cost of food. Many prices have more than doubled in recent weeks – whether it’s for sweet potatoes, a bag of cement or a litre of petrol. It’s meant people choosing to drive less as they struggle to balance their budgets. Now, in a discussion recorded live in front of an audience in Kampala, Alan asks whether there is a solution to the cost of living crisis? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kassuja) Guest: Raymond Mujuni (@qataharraymond)

When Alan arrived in Kampala this week, the first thing he noticed was fewer cars on the road. With petrol prices rising, people are thinking twice about using their cars. And the impact is being felt in the markets too. The cost of staple food has shot up in recent months, with some prices almost doubling. So, in the first of two episodes looking at the cost of living, Alan went down to the market to find out how people are adapting to price hikes. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Political dynasties are an ongoing debate as Kenya elects a new president on August 9. President Uhuru Kenyatta will leave office after 10 years in power. He comes from a strong political legacy. His father was Kenya’s first president after independence – Jomo Kenyatta. Among those vying to replace him are also familiar names on the Kenyan political scene. The main contenders are Raila Odinga, whose father, Oginga Odinga, was Kenya’s first vice president. The other main man in pursuit of the higher office, William Ruto, has been President Kenyatta’s deputy for 10 years. But on the continent, Kenya isn’t alone or unique in having legacies and dynasties in politics. Today on Africa Daily, Ferdinand Omondi is discussing the influence of powerful political families on African democracies. Presenter: Ferdinand Omondi (@Ferdyomondi) Guests: Sylvanus Wekesa (@sylwekesa) and Nerima Wako (@NerimaW)

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is in Ethiopia today. It’s the last stop on a tour trying to bolster support amongst African countries. Much of the continent has been badly affected by grain shortages caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. But Mr Lavrov denies the country’s role in the global food crisis. And Moscow is keen to strengthen ties with this continent where many countries have been reluctant to take sides and condemn the war in Ukraine. On Tuesday Mr Lavrov was in Uganda, where Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja was able to attend his joint press conference with President Museveni.

While he’s on tour in South Africa, Alan noticed that taverns are making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. When he visited one in Soweto, he found a warm, welcoming pub at the centre of the community. But he heard that there aren’t as many people drinking there as usual. It seems they have heard reports of shootings at taverns across the country. Just five minutes up the road, sixteen people were killed by gunmen a few weeks ago – the most deadly mass shooting since democracy in the country. So, are taverns still a safe place to hang out in South Africa? #AfricaDaily

This episode contains frank discussion about underage drinking, as well as subjects like sexual assault and abuse. ********************************************************************************************************************************** “In the neighbourhood I come from, drinking is very popular. Maybe it’s the way people are brought up. They don’t see it as a big problem. But obviously it is from what has happened.” Uma, 17 years. Last month, 21 teenagers died at a tavern in the city of East London. Some were as young as 13. The eldest was 17. The tragedy has ignited a debate about why many young people are consuming alcohol on a regular basis – and what can be done about it. Africa Daily is currently on tour and in Johannesburg – and so for the podcast’s first ever live recording, Alan Kasujja discusses the issue in front of an audience of young people – and asks them for their thoughts. He also hears from a man who grew up, regularly drinking, in a township – ending up in and out of prison between the age of 13 and 26. He now counsels young people about how to make good choices about their lives and alcohol. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Yethembe Uma Chasokela and Thapelo Masokoane (@SurpriseThapz) Sound Engineer: Moses Molapisane With special thanks to Protea Glen Secondary School 2, Gabriela Pomeroy (producer) and the Humanities Department at Wits University.

Cycling is popular in Africa. Wherever you travel across the continent, the young and old are commuting on bikes. Countries like Rwanda, Cameroon and Burkina Faso have their own tours. But it seems to be an uphill climb for African riders to make it to the top of the most famous cycling competition; Tour de France. Very few Africans have made it to the Tour and no African has won the competition. Louis Meintjes is the highest African finisher at the Tour de France twice finishing 8th. And he’s one of only two African riders out of over 170 riders who are taking part in this year’s Tour. So what’s stopping Africans from racing to the top at the Tour de France? That’s what Victoria Uwonkunda is discussing with South African Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, who’s aiming for a spot on the final podium at the Tour de France Femmes, the first women’s Tour.

“People can’t go to work, can’t cook. We aren’t even sure if the water that’s brought in by trucks is clean. Enough is enough.” Residents of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa have been dealing with water shortages for months. A long drought and ageing infrastructure are both impacting on supply – with around 30% of water being lost because of leaking pipes. And it’s not the first time South Africa has dealt with a crisis of this nature. A few years ago, residents in the coastal city of Cape Town also faced water shortages. What can President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government do to mitigate against natural disasters like drought, and collapsing infrastructure? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Malaria is still one of the biggest killers for children under five in Africa. But in Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous island part of Tanzania, there have been huge efforts by the government and development partners since the early 2000s to eliminate the disease. Their efforts have seemingly paid off and in the last decade, Zanzibar has maintained a malaria prevalence rate below 1%. It is particularly impressive when just across the island on mainland Tanzania, the rate of malaria remains much higher. But it isn’t all optimistic. The World Malaria Report showed that malaria cases in Zanzibar in 2021 were once again on the rise. To find out more, Alan Kasujja has been speaking to one of those who spearheaded Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Shija Joseph Shija, to find out how the island has drastically reduced malaria cases. He also spoke to malaria researcher, Dr. Lwidiko Mhamilawa, to learn more about the recent resurgence in cases.

Africa Daily is on the road in Africa… first stop: South Africa. And Alan has arrived just in time for Mandela day – a celebration of the former president’s birth. When Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994, he was a hero in his own country, and an inspiration across the world. But 28 years after the fall of apartheid, some, particularly those who are younger than 28, are beginning to question Mandela’s legacy. The South Africa of today is struggling with high poverty levels, shortages of clean water and disruption of its electricity supply. Eight million people are jobless, in a country of 60 million. Today, for Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja is Johannesburg and brings together people from across the generations in Mandela’s former home. He hears from some young people who blame his political decisions for some of the country’s current problems…and those who say he’s still their hero. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

After 18 months of recording the podcast in his spare room, Alan Kasujja is on the road with Africa Daily… and his first stop is Johannesburg. Alan wants to hear from people, out and about, and - as luck would have it – he’s arrived just in time for a special day: Nelson Mandela’s birthday, when the legacy of the former President and anti-apartheid hero is celebrated. As South Africa’s new President in 1994, Mandela faced the massive challenge of bringing black and white South Africans together. But not many people know that he started this task with those closest to him: his bodyguards. Alan speaks to a black former freedom fighter and a white former apartheid police officer – who both became his bodyguards and who hated each other at first – but who eventually became close friends. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Jason Tshabalala and Gert Barnard

The National Football League – NFL – touched down in Ghana recently, with their event called “NFL Africa: The Touchdown”. At present, the NFL says there are over 100 players of African descent in the league. But what’s a sport known as America’s game, which only has professional teams in the United States doing on the continent? The American football league was in Accra scouting young African talent. Could the next NFL superstar come from Africa? Alan Kasujja has been speaking with two men who know much about this multi-billion dollar sport. One of the men is a big name in the sport – former player Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants and was part of the team that recently travelled to Accra for the NFL event. He first spoke to the BBC’s Sport reporter Isaac Fanin about the game in general.

Mali and Ivory Coast have been locked in a dispute since the beginning of the week when news broke of the arrest of 49 Ivorian soldiers at the airport in Mali’s capital Bamako. Mali accused the soldiers of being illegally in their country, calling them mercenaries. Ivory coast insisted the soldiers were part of a UN peacekeeping mission, which has been in Mali since 2013. The mandate for the UN mission has been to support Malian authorities in their fight against Islamist militants and insecurity in the country. So today Alan is speaking to Lalla Sy, the BBC’s reporter in Abidjan and finding out what’s going on between Mali and Ivory Coast.

Casamance has seen a long-running conflict between the Senegalese government and rebel groups, which want independence. This unrest in Senegal's coastal region of Casamance has been ongoing since 1982. The last attempt at a peace deal was in 2004 and in 2014 the leader of the rebel movement declared a unilateral ceasefire. But some fighting keeps happening in the area. Casamance is separated from the capital, Dakar, by The Gambia. It is home to numerous ethnic groups, including Christians, while northern areas are dominated by three, largely Muslim communities. Today Alan Kasujja is asking what’s behind the long running conflict in Casamance. He’s been speaking with the BBC’s reporter Thomas Naadi who recently visited Casamance, the border area between Senegal and The Gambia about the conflict, the people affected by it and the future of Casamance.

Over the past few years, people in South Africa have been questioning the role corruption has played in their country's recent fortunes. In June, the Zondo commission - an inquiry named after it's chairperson Chief Justice Raymond Zondo - reported widespread corruption during the presidency of Jacob Zuma. It found that ANC leaders, including former and current government ministers, allegedly participated or encouraged looting at a massive cost to the country. Mr Zuma is standing trial on allegations of corruption which he denies. But the ANC has expressed its appreciation to the commission and said it would engage with its findings and take steps to address them. Chief Justice Zondo also suggested that electoral reform is needed to stop corruption in the future. He wants South Africans to directly elect their president, rather than voting for a political party which picks the head of state. So, could this be part of the answer? #AfricaDaily

Coconuts. Such a versatile product. You can eat them, you can drink its fresh sweet juice. You can even use it on your skin and hair. But as Alan has been finding out they can also be made into coco-peat and they can produce energy. So a very handy crop. And this is why Nigeria, despite growing plenty of them, last month, the country launched a coconut planting initiative in the southwestern town of Badagry in Lagos. It's part of a drive to promote the fruit as a cash crop and help the country become self-sufficient, as today Nigeria still imports 70% of the coconuts it needs from countries like Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Alan Kasujja sits down with BBC Business reporter Ijeoma Ndukwe to find out why Nigeria is nuts about coconuts and how the country can become self-sufficient in coconut production?

A decades-long civil war has killed thousands and displaced millions in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi have also been sucked into the conflict. DR Congo accuses Kigali of sponsoring the M23 rebels, which have recently escalated the conflict after a period of calm. Rwanda denies this, but President Kagame recently acknowledged he was preparing for the worst…with many people suggesting he meant a possible armed confrontation. However, on Wednesday leaders of the two countries met in Angola and agreed to de-escalate the situation. So is there hope of bringing the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo under control?

Earlier this year, Ons Jabeur, from Tunisia, became the first Arab woman and African woman to win a WTA 1000 title - a major title in the women’s game. Now at number two in the world, she is the highest ever ranked African player. She’s been in great form and is playing her first ever semi final at a grand slam – and not the least at Wimbledon - widely regarded as the most prestigious tennis tournament. Although the continent has had several tennis players reaching the highest levels of the sport, such as Kevin Anderson and Amanda Coetzer, Africa has often had few stars in the tennis world. Now, there are several promising juniors on the rise. Angella Okutoyi from Kenya recently made history at the Australian Open junior grand slam event, while Isabella Kruger from South Africa is on a winning streak in this year's junior Wimbledon. But requiring funding, facilities and equipment, tennis remains a difficult sport to access for many. Alan Kasujja speaks to sports journalist Reem Abulleil and Secretary General of Tennis Kenya, Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani to find out how how Africa can produce more tennis stars.

For many years people in South Africa have been dealing with rolling blackouts. But in recent days the outages have increased to six hours per day, causing unprecedented disruption. The state-owned power company Eskom has blamed the most recent ‘load shedding’ on striking workers. On Tuesday afternoon they reached an agreement with unions that could ease the supply issues, but warned that things could take time to get back to usual. In the meantime, South Africans must live with the disruption and plan their days around power availability. The BBC’s Mo Allie says that the frustration is having an impact on people’s mental wellbeing. #AfricaDaily

Across the continent, Covid-19 cases rose by 36% on average last week. Those figures might have sounded scary a couple of years ago. But the World Health Organization expects Covid related deaths to drop by 94% this year. Many countries have dropped restrictions related to the pandemic. In Botswana though, a mask mandate remains in place. The US Centre for Disease Control raised concern about the number of cases there in June. So, is Covid-19 still a serious threat for Africa? And when might Botswana be able to drop it’s last restrictions? #AfricaDaily

In June 2022, the US Supreme court overturned “Roe v Wade”, a landmark case which legalised abortion in 1973. It came after a young woman challenged the criminal abortion laws in Texas. Her case was heard on appeal in the US Supreme Court. The court ruled that a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy was protected by the US constitution. But now nearly 50 years later, America’s most senior legal body has overturned that right, which means laws in individual states will now determine whether women have access to abortion. There has been a huge reaction to the decision in the US and around the world, including on the continent. But should US court decision matter to people in Africa? What impact could it have on the debate on abortion on the continent? Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Rhoda Odhiambo, BBC correspondent Ann Kioko, anti-abortion campaigner at Citizengo Nelly Munyasia, Reproductive Health Network in Kenya Mallah Tabot, International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa

In 2018 Nigeria were crowned champions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the continent’s biggest football competition, for the ninth time. And they have only been to the tournament 11 times. With the 12th edition getting underway in Morocco from July 2, after it was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic, the defending champions start their quest for a tenth title. Nigeria go into the tournament as firm favourites and the Super Falcons have proven themselves as the queens of women’s football on the continent. On the eve of the first whistle of the tournament, Alan Kasujja kicks off with a burning question - why has Nigeria’s women football team dominated in Africa? Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Janine Anthony, journalist and Jean Sseninde, former Ugandan women football player

Hope has been a midwife in Cameroon’s anglophone region for 27 years. Recently, she worked with a mother to quadruplets and sadly, only two of the babies survived. Providing care to the mother and babies was made even more difficult by the ongoing security crisis. The region has seen years of violence between separatist militants and government forces. For people living there, it has made every aspect of life more challenging. So, how are people coping in Cameroon’s anglophone region? #AfricaDaily

For more than 20 years she’s been co-chair of the world’s largest private foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which works with projects aiming to fight poverty, inequality and infectious diseases. For years the foundation has poured billions of dollars into global health, education for girls among many others. And at a recent gathering in Kigali, The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation committed money to a $4 billion pledge to help eradicate malaria and neglected tropical diseases – NTDs - which haven’t received as much attention in the past. In a wide raging interview, Alan Kasujja speaks with Melinda French Gates to learn more about the causes close to her heart, who she is and what drives her. Host: Alan Kasujja Guest: Melinda French Gates

Police in South Africa are examining how 21 teenagers died at a drinking tavern in the city of East London. The youngest to have died on Saturday night was just 13 years old. The minimum drinking age in South Africa is 18, so they should not have been in the spot. There were no visible injuries on the bodies of the victims, so police have said that a crush is unlikely. There have been reports that the victims may have been poisoned. Whatever happened in the early hours of Sunday morning, people in South Africa are keen to make sure it can not happen again. #AfricaDaily

An investigation by BBC Africa Eye has found young people living with disabilities being trafficked from Tanzania to Nairobi. They found that they are then being forced to beg on the streets to bring in cash for the traffickers. Njeri Mwangi travelled to Tanzania and met parents who were tricked into letting their children move away, with the promise of a better life. And she joined Kenyan police as the information from her investigation led to arrests of alleged traffickers in the capital. She joins Alan Kasujja to talk about how her reporting unfolded. Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Reporting: Njeri Mwangi (@njerikan) #AfricaDaily

This week you may have been hearing about a big meeting in Rwanda, as the heads of the 54 Commonwealth nations gather in Kigali. But for many, the Commonwealth, with its roots in the British Empire, feels like an outdated organisation – despite representing 2.5 billion people. The last member to join it was Rwanda, this year’s host. So what are the main issues arising? For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to two friends and former colleagues about their experiences of the meeting so far.

There’s been a noticeable change in the images of Africa we are now seeing on our screens. These pictures are so different from the ones the media has often shown of the continent. Gone are the children looking desolate and hungry with extended bellies, surrounded by flies, now it’s the images of rich, beautiful and increasingly famous people, living their best lives for the world to see. This is the new opulent and glitzy reality world of African celebrities who are unapologetic about their wealth and riches. It’s a world of reality TV shows where we are given a front seat to the fights and dramas from the private lives of African stars, just as we’ve seen over the years with American reality programmes. Reality shows in Africa aren’t anything new. The Big Brother franchise, one of the first reality TV programmes in the world, has been on-going on the continent for decades. So with shows like The Real Housewives of Lagos, Durban, Cape Town and the recent Netflix hit, Young, Famous and African, showing the opulent lives of rich Africans, is this the golden age of glitzy and glamourous African reality shows? Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Peace Hyde, Young, Famous and African co-creator and Tosin Ajibade, founder of media house Olori Super Gal

In much of the world, social media platforms are the number one source of information for young people. So it’s disturbing that several reports have been released showing that Kenya’s social media space is being flooded with misinformation, fake reports and distorted truths – all aimed at misleading voters ahead of the general elections this August. The latest includes findings by the Mozilla Foundation which discovered manipulated TikTok videos spreading political lies and ethnic hatred - viewed over four million times before the platform took them down. In the previous 2017 campaign, Cambridge Analytica did the same through Facebook, curating content in favour of the political party which eventually won the election. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja hears from the fact-checkers and crusaders fighting to keep the online space honest… as well as from a young social media user trying to sort truth from fiction Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

"I ask: where are my father's bones? My brother's bones?" In April 1972, Hutu rebels in the south of Burundi launched an assault on the Tutsi led government. Their aim was to overthrow the administration of then president Michel Micombero. In the ensuing chaos, at least a thousand people, including government officials, were brutally murdered. But the country’s army quickly contained the insurgency and attempted coup. This was followed by more than three months of revenge killings against the Hutu ethnic population. By the time the carnage came to an end, a reported 200 000 people had lost their lives. This year marks exactly 50 years since the massacre in Burundi, and the nation continues to seek answers. It set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 2018, to shed light on ethnic tensions since the country’s independence in the early 1960s. The TRC says it has, so far, uncovered more than 4 000 mass graves, with tens of thousands of victims identified. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Jeanine Ntihirageza and Pierre-Claver Ndayicariye

“Here in our culture when you don’t see the body of someone, for the woman you can’t go back to sleep on the bed. You have to stay on the floor all the time. So this is what the family has gone through. For them that tooth is the body of their father”. Patrice Lumumba is a national hero in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. He became the country’s first prime minister at the age of just 35, after it won independence from Belgian rule in June of 1960. But less than a year later, he was overthrown, jailed and killed by factions reportedly supported by Belgium and the US. Now a tooth, believed to have been stolen as a trophy by a Gendarme when his body was destroyed, is being returned to his family and the DRC. Last week the Belgium monarch, King Philippe, expressed his ‘deepest regret’ for colonial era abuses – but stopped short of formally apologising or offering reparations. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

For several decades, the Maasai community in Loliondo in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro district have been involved in a land dispute with the government. Thousands of Maasai have lived for years on the fertile 1,500 square km piece of land – using its abundant water sources for their livestock. But the authorities no longer want the Maasai living there, as they say land and wildlife is being put at risk because of the rapidly expanding human population. The situation came to a head recently when authorities started marking out the protected land - sparking protests from the Maasai. The police have been accused of using bullets and teargas against the protesters. One police officer has been killed in the clashes. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja asks if a peaceful resolution can be found to Tanzania’s land disputes? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Budget airline Ryanair recently introduced a policy that forced South African travellers to the UK to do a test in the Afrikaans language. This, it said, was aimed at proving the passengers’ nationality, in an effort to weed out those using counterfeit passports. The quiz contained questions such as ‘what is South Africa's international dialling code?’, ‘what is its capital city?’ and ‘who is the current president?’. Anyone who failed this test was refused travel and refunded the cost of their ticket. This policy caused a furore, with many non-Afrikaans speaking South Africans saying they were being discriminated against. The low-cost airline has now abandoned the policy. Afrikaans is a language associated with a long and painful history of racial segregation in South Africa. On June 16, South Africa marks Youth Day and remembers the 1976 Soweto Uprising that saw students take to the streets, in a protest many say changed the socio-political landscape in the country and paved the way that led to the end of the white minority rule. One of the things the students were demonstrating against was the directive from authorities to make Afrikaans, alongside English, compulsory as a medium of instruction in schools. Today Africa Daily is looking into why Afrikaans, as a language, can be seen as divisive to some. Host: Alan Kasujja Guest: Oupa Ngwenya, senior South African journalist and former student activist

Fans say it’s the future of virtual money; experts say it's tamper-proof; billionaires have been made. But cryptocurrency has also led millionaires to lose everything – while Kenya’s ICT minister says last year Kenyans lost more than $120 million to crypto scams. When Bitcoin was first launched in 2009, one bitcoin was worth 0. By mid-April last year, the value of one bitcoin peaked at $60,000 US. But In the last seven months, the highly volatile online currency has lost more than 60% of its value, leaving the value of a coin at less than $25,000. So are African governments right in warning people off? Or should they just regulate the trade better? For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja takes a breath and deep dives into the murky and often confusing world of crypto with the help of Kabenda Belete, a cryptocurrency consultant and trader based in Tanzania. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guest: Kabenda Belete (@lukaskabenda)

In April the UK government announced that they had signed a deal that would see asylum seekers to the UK processed instead in Rwanda, some 6,500km away. This caused outrage, with rights groups and campaigners calling the deal cruel, saying the asylum seekers who come to the UK have already faced gruelling and treacherous journeys and shouldn’t be sent to another country for their papers to be processed. The British government argued that the plan was designed to deter people-trafficking. Rwanda said every single asylum seeker would be welcomed and get full protection under Rwandan law. But days before the first flights were due to take off from the UK, charities supporting the migrants took the British government to the courts. However they were unsuccessful as both the High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled that government's first flight taking asylum seekers to Rwanda can go ahead on June 14 as planned. So with so much happening with this UK-Rwanda asylum deal, Alan Kasujja sets out to understand why this plan is so controversial. Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Anne Soy – BBC Africa Senior Correspondent and Daniel Kyereko, Lecturer on Migration at the University of York in the UK

WARNING: Some might find the language in this episode upsetting. In February 2020 a video of African children speaking Chinese went viral. In the clip, the children are seen cheering and dancing while repeating words from an unseen male voice in the background. Some of the language used in that viral video are offensive and derogatory. In the short clip, the children, all dressed in similar red costumes with a white dragon on the front pocket, are heard saying in Chinese “I’m a black devil, and my IQ is low”. The video and words the children were made to say sparked outrage around the world. Over the past few years, video sharing platforms have exploded in popularity. And on Chinese social media, it’s become big business. An industry has developed around personalised video greetings, which can cost between $10 and $70. A BBC investigation has found out how African children are exploited in these videos. Alan Kasujja speaks to BBC Africa Eye reporter, Runako Celina, who’s been part of the team investigating this booming industry. Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guest: Runako Celina: @RunakoCelina)

Funerals have begun for some of the forty people killed after armed men burst into a Catholic church in the town of Owo in the South West of Nigeria – shooting anyone who moved, and setting off explosives. The town’s medical facility has been overwhelmed with casualties – many of whom had been shot. The authorities say they suspect the extremist group Islamic State West Africa Province carried out the attack. If confirmed, it would be the first attack by the IS-linked militants in southern Nigeria - signifying an expansion of its violence. But questions are being asked about why armed men could so brazenly attack a church in the very middle of a town, and then apparently just melt away like ‘ghosts’. Africa Daily hears the stories of those who lived through the attack – and asks, if such an horrific attack can take place in an area that’s previously been relatively safe, is there anywhere in Nigeria that’s not impacted by violence and insecurity?

Earlier this week, two brothers - Atul and Rajesh - were arrested in Dubai. For years the businessmen’s close relationship with politicians in South Africa has caused controversy. And they have been accused of allegedly bribing officials to secure lucrative state contracts during the rule of former President Zuma. The Gupta’s have always denied any wrongdoing. But South Africa is now seeking to extradite them to face charges of corruption. So, what does it all mean for South Africa…and the politicians who are reported to have been close to the brothers? #AfricaDaily

With a population of at least 20 million residents and with close to no proper city planning, Lagos is often plagued with intense traffic jams and locals often turn to commercial motorbike taxis, known locally as okada, or its 2-wheeled equivalent, keke, to get around quickly. But now due to what Lagos authorities are calling safety concerns, Nigeria’s largest city has yet again banned the okadas and kekes. This latest move to ban okadas came after the lynching of a man by suspected riders in the upmarket Lekki neighbourhood. The incident took place last month and sparked outrage. While the ban has been welcomed by some who agree with the Lagos authorities that the riders drive dangerously, others say okadas offer faster and often cheaper means of transportation around the city. So in a heavily populated city like this, will Lagos manage without its okadas? Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC’s Olivia Ndubuisi who lives and works in Lagos about what’s it like living in the city and how this ban will affect locals.

Monkeypox was first detected in Nigeria and the DRC in the 1970s. Since then there’ve been a number of cases in West African countries including Cameroon, the Central Africa Republic and Sierra Leone – but it hasn’t been a problem for much of the rest of the continent – and compared to major killers like malaria, HIV and TB, very few people actually die from it. And yet the World Health Organisation says African countries should be on alert - and prepare their response to it. So why is it a priority now? Is it just because people in western nations have been affected? Or is it really a new global threat? Alan Kasujja looks at the issue for Africa Daily.

“Great plan on paper. Poor implementation. I wish things could get better… I remember when I was growing up my Grandfather used to work for the railways corporation and it was prestigious to work for the railways. He would work across Kenya, go to Tanzania and that’s not possible now.” In 2004, an East African Community Summit announced a plan to invest in and integrate railway lines and services across the region. It followed years of under investment which had led to the near collapse of most railway services by the 1990s – and was meant to see existing infrastructure in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda upgraded and then extended into neighbouring countries. Some of the work has happened – mostly paid for using Chinese loans. But as that source of funding has dried up and concern has increased about the countries’ abilities to pay back the money, other projects have fallen by the wayside. So should we be optimistic or pessimistic when it comes to hopes for railway services across East Africa? For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Masanja Kadogosa, Director General of Tanzania Railway Corporation and BBC Business’s Peter Mwangangi. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje)

There have been a series of suicides in the Kenyan police force in the last year - at the rate of at least one or two each month. And last month, Kenya’s Inspector General of Police announced that nearly 2,000 officers weren’t fit for service – due to issues with their mental health. That's 2,000 officers who carry guns. So how can the police service tackle these issues – for the welfare of its officers, and the safety of the public? Africa Daily speaks to the widow of a police officer who took his own life - as well as a psychologist and human rights worker. Presenter: Ferdinand Omondi (@FerdyOmondi)

Since 2014, Malawi has suffered a wave of assaults against people with albinism. In that time more than 40 people with the condition have been murdered. In many of the cases, these killings are motivated by the baseless belief that the body parts bring wealth and luck. Just this week, twelve people, including a priest, a hospital worker and a police officer, appeared in court for the murder of a man with albinism. So how can people with albinism ever feel safe? Africa Daily speaks to two people living with the condition in Malawi. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Niger is reported to be building a drone base and taking delivery of Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey. The pilotless aircraft were used to great effect by Ukraine in the weeks after Russia invaded. And Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the drones will “increase the military and security capacity” of Niger. Niger is often listed among the very poorest countries in the world and is dealing with multiple threats from militant groups along its borders with Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. So, how exactly might drones help in the fight? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Reporting: Beverly Ochieng (@BeverlyOchieng)

Rebel groups and violent conflicts are far too common in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the heart of this violence are continuing wars that are fuelled by the country’s vast mineral wealth, with various groups taking advantage of the anarchy to plunder copper, cobalt, gold and diamonds. Between 1994 and 2003, millions of people were killed or forced to flee from conflicts that continuously leave death and destruction in its wake. DR Congo has had and still has its fair share of rebel groups, each fighting for one thing or other, but none has been as prominent as M23 – or the March 23 Movement. The group – a Tutsi rebellion - had long accused the Congolese government of marginalising the country's ethnic Tutsi minority and aimed to fight a DR Congo-based Hutu-majority militia group, called FDLR - The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. And this has led to bad blood between Rwanda and DR Congo, with both countries trading accusations of supporting one rebel group each. M23 was driven out of DR Congo in 2013, but now they are back and have renewed its fighting with the Congolese army. This is a complex issue and so to explain and help make sense of it, Ferdinand Omondi has been speaking with Samba Cyuzuzo, a BBC reporter who covers the region and is today asking – who are the M23 group and what do they want in the eastern DR Congo? Guest: Samba Cyuzuzo, BBC Great Lakes reporter

In their quest to try and find ways to control what they are calling an “overpopulation” of its elephants, Zimbabwe recently held a summit, in the hopes to garner support to lift the ban on the ivory trade. Zimbabwe says it’s sitting on an ivory stockpile of more than 130,000 tonnes which could net them more than half a billion dollars and which in turn could help develop the country with building of schools, hospitals and roads. They also believe the funds could help sustain conservation work. Zimbabwe also maintains the elephants are a threat to local communities whom they come into conflict with in search for space and resources. The elephants are also blamed for crop destructions and killing people, with at least 35 reported fatalities so far this year. But countries like Kenya, which is firmly against the lifting of the ban believes that by doing so it could revitalise ivory sales and lead to the resurgence of illegal markets. Trade in ivory was banned in 1989 by the Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species – Cites - in efforts to protect elephants. So on today’s Africa Daily, Ferdinand Omondi is asking why is Zimbabwe trying to get rid of some of its elephants? Guest: Tinashe Farawo, Zimbabwe national parks spokesperson

Over the last month or so, two successive floods have hammered South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province. More than 400 people have lost their lives, and roads, bridges and schools are amongst the infrastructure damaged in what has been described as the biggest natural disaster of post-apartheid South Africa. But why has the region been so badly impacted by this flooding? Is this the ‘new-normal’ because of climate change? And what can be done to protect people from future catastrophes? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje puts these questions to the KwaZulu Natal premier Sihle Zikalala and climate scientist Dr. Justin Pringle – as well as meeting a lifeguard, Mthokozisi Cele, who sprang into action to save lives the morning the floods gushed through his local area. “A lot of people were screaming inside their houses, cars were all over, sinking in the rivers. And I could see that if I don’t help them, they will die.” Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje)

In April, the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal experienced a period of heavy rainfall. It caused flooding that killed more than 400 people. Many are still unaccounted for and tens of thousands were made homeless. In recent days, the rains have returned putting more people in danger and without homes. But why has the flooding been so devastating? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has travelled to the province to find out. Host: Mpho Lakaje @mpholakaje #AfricaDaily

“I lost a schoolgirl. Eleven-year-old. My first-born daughter. She was just killed in cold blood – simply because of her ethnicity.” Marsabit in Kenya is a frontier district which borders Ethiopia. Because it’s arid, water is scarce – and over the years the two main communities living there have clashed over resources and politics. But now the violence has reached a new level: with children and city dwellers killed. There’s concern that weapons and disputes are being imported from across the border with Ethiopia. So the government has introduced a month long curfew – and a police operation, backed by the army - to search for and confiscate the illegal arms. It says it’s concerned the weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists. In response to allegations that they’ve used excessive force during the crackdown, the Kenyan Police Service has asked for the community’s patience, while the interior minister stressed that the operation would be ‘painful but necessary’. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to the BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza during his visit to the area. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Despite it being a regular bodily function, menstruation isn’t often talked about. But it’s something that is causing huge problems for many women on the continent. It’s estimated that one in ten girls miss school while they’re on their period And the cost of sanitary products can make them too expensive for many. At the end of this week, World Menstural Hygiene Day is encouraging us all to think of it as just a normal fact of life. Campaigners are calling for an end to the stigma and taboo So, do we need to talk more about menstruation? #AfricaDaily Host: Ferdinand Omondi - @FerdyOmondi Guests: Candice Chirwa - @Candice_Chirwa Emmi Erondanga - @MissKochKenya

Doormen hassling you, endless questioning and a ban on visitors. These are the challenges faced daily by single women renting in Egypt. And this is after they've managed to clinch a deal with an amenable landlord. Many refuse to let to single women, arguing it could damage their building’s reputation or ruffle its other residents’ moral feathers. And boyfriends? Out of the question. So, why is it so hard for single women to rent in Egypt? Two 24-year-old women, Menna and Fatma, talk to Alan about their bumpy rental journey. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

“None of the politicians are close to decision making today”. When Guinea’s army toppled the sitting – and unpopular – president Alpha Conde in September last year, people celebrated in the streets. Even opposition politicians expressed a cautious welcome – and supported a transition to civilian rule of over a year or more. But now, eight months on, the army has said it needs 36 months before it hands over power. It’s also banned all political protest and clamped down on opponents. So what can the opposition do? A group of 58 political parties have formed a coalition with one aim – speeding up the return to democracy. Africa Daily speaks to Thierno Yaya Diallo of the party Guinea Modern – part of the coalition. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Thierno Yaya Diallo and Alhassan Silla

They say necessity is the mother of invention… and that seems to be the case for one entrepreneur in Zambia. The country’s reliance on imported foreign fuel has led to years of price hikes and shortages at the petrol pumps – which lead in turn to panic buying. But Mulenga Mulenga kept his head and switched on his brain – using the crises as inspiration for finding a new source of fuel. It’s currently small-scale with his company producing hundreds of litres of petrol a day from waste plastic – but his plan now is to scale that up to two million litres a day. So is this a viable solution to Zambia’s reliance on foreign fuel? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Hundreds of US troops could soon be returning to Somalia after President Biden approved their deployment. It's nearly 18 months since American forces left, which was the decision of former President Trump. In that time, the militant group al-Shabab is said to have gained strength and attacks against government and peace keeping forces have increased. It has been a busy few days in Somalia, with a new president - Hassan Sheikh Mohamud - elected on Sunday. So, what do these latest developments mean for Somalia and the fight against al-Shabab? #AfricaDaily

“Is she qualified? Absolutely. Is she a good leader? Absolutely.” In the run up to Kenya’s presidential election in August, the two main candidates - Raila Odinga and William Ruto – have been making a lot of noise about making sure that ‘women are at the decision-making table’. So as deadline day approached today, most people expected them both to choose a woman as their running mate. This would have meant Kenya’s first ever female vice-president. But after a weekend of intense negotiations William Ruto plumped for a man – a strong and wealthy campaigner with a big war chest. So all eyes were on Raila Odinga as he announced his running mate…. veteran politician Martha Karua. So what impact will she have on Raila Odinga’s presidential bid? And does it matter that she’s a woman? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Wanjiru Nguhi (@Iam_Wanjiru) and Ferdinand Omondi (@FerdyOmondi)

Preparations are underway in South Africa for the coronation of Misuzulu Zulu as the new king of the AmaZulu tribe. There was high drama when his succession was announced last year on television – after one of the royal family members stood up and questioned the recognition of the new king. Chaos ensued. But now – as he prepares to ascend the throne, Africa Daily looks at the part monarchies play across the continent – and whether they’re a force for good. “The Republic of South Africa as we know it was never founded by African people. It was founded by Caucasians – people of European origin. They found us here as established kingdoms.” (Zolani Mkiva, Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa). Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

If all goes to plan, Somalis will wake up to a newly elected president on Monday morning. But they won’t have had the chance to vote for them. Their leader will be chosen by members of parliament gathered at secure location in Mogadishu airport. And those MPs were chosen by clan elders and local parliaments – not by popular vote. It means that the election process is being watched just a closely as the result. So, how exactly does it all work? #AfricaDaily

On Sunday, members of parliament in Somalia will gather in a hangar at an airport outside the capital Mogadishu. They’re meeting to decide who will be the next president. The MPs themselves were only sworn in last month, after elections were postponed for more than a year. But even with a vote about to take place, most Somalis won’t get to cast a ballot. The electoral system in Somalia is unique, with clan elders appointing MPs, who then select the president. In the first of two episodes look at the elections, Alan Kasujja asks what the delays have meant for people in Somalia. #AfricaDaily

Maryben Omollo is the CEO Greenseal Limited, a cleaning and pest control startup in Kenya. But it’s a business with a difference… only employing and supporting single parents. Maryben faced harassment and struggled to find work after she got pregnant and the father left her. She faced depression and even attempted suicide. But her mental health has improved and she’s now set up her business and is helping others in a similar situation. She’s now been named one of Africa’s top 40 under 40 entrepreneurs, an award she dedicates to single mothers and people with mental health disorders: “For me this is a dedication to everyone out there who feels they can’t make it.” #AfricaDaily Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja)

After European nations imposed sanctions on Russia, many are looking to Africa for an alternative energy supply. But while this could be an opportunity for some countries, it also highlights global inequalities when it comes to access to electricity. Alan hears from an energy expert who says funding is needed for developing renewable technologies – and from a legal expert who’s helped countries negotiate energy deals with foreign countries. “Did you know Africa’s total installed energy capacity is less than Germany’s and yet Germany has a population of about 83 million people and Africa now has about 1.3 billion?” Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guests: Jakke Cilliers of ISS Africa and legal expert, Stephen Karangizi.

"You know the African way of raising kids and raising men - we are taught you should keep it all to yourself, don't open up." Male suicide rates far outnumber female rates in Africa – that’s according to the WHO. Some health experts put this down to the stigma that surrounds men's mental health, which discourages men from speaking up and seeking help before their problems get too difficult to manage. But several men across East Africa are now trying to change this - and open up a conversation around mental health. They include Michael Baruti, who has started a podcast called ‘Men Men Men’ - a platform where men can share their struggles and challenges - and Eddy Kimani, a television personality in Kenya who has spoken publicly about his own battle with depression. They spoke to Alan about the importance of conversation and how to address the stigma. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

In recent weeks, Botswana’s former president, Ian Khama, has visited Zambia, Eswatini and Zimbabwe – having meetings with presidents and kings. Since November 2021, he’s been living in exile in South Africa – after being charged with crimes including the unlawful possession of firearms and receiving stolen property. He says the case is politically motivated. So is he working to build up support as he fights the case? And can Botswana’s current president, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, persuade South Africa to extradite Khama for trial? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Ian Khama and Mokaloba Mokaloba, University of Botswana.

In what appears to be its most significant attack on an African Union base in Somalia in years, Al-Shabab claims to have killed 173 Burundian soldier in a camp 160km north of Mogadishu. But there’s confusion over how many people died. A high ranking Burundian officer has been cited in the press as saying 30 lost their lives, while an official statement from the government said just ten were killed. What is clear is that it will trouble the AU at a time when Somalis were meant to be concentrating on preparing for elections. Today in Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Ibrahim Aydid from BBC Monitoring who tries to clear up the confusion - and tells us more about Al-Shabab and why this attack has come now Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

“The judge tells you: ‘are you really going to put your brother into prison for a monkey?’.” Around two weeks ago a Congolese man was arrested by the Ugandan authorities. They allege that he was caught with 122 endangered African Grey Parrots. He’s currently awaiting trial. His arrest follows an investigation involving a number of agencies. Africa Daily meets some of the conservationists involved – as well as others monitoring the activities of smugglers online. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja)

Each day, Africa Daily brings you fresh stories thanks to journalists from across the continent. Their ability to get to the bottom of what’s going on depends on whether they can work freely and safely. But this isn’t always guaranteed. To mark World Press Freedom Day, Alan is talking to two colleagues in countries where press freedom appears to be moving in different directions. Many journalists in Tanzania feel that reporting has become less difficult since President Samia Suluhu Hassan came to power last year. But in Ethiopia, covering the news has become even harder since conflict spread in 2020. So, what does World Press Freedom Day mean in these two countries? #AfricaDaily

This weekend Mwai Kibaki - Kenya’s third president after independence - was buried amid great pomp and ceremony. He’s fondly remembered by many for his policy of introducing free primary education for all children. It rapidly led to 1.3 million more children entering schools. But nearly 20 years on, many parents say they have to pay hidden fees – and that the scheme actually lowered standards. Alan Kasujja speaks to parents and an education analyst to get their thoughts. “You can find classes of 100 pupils with one teacher…. It’s not free. Maybe we can say it’s subsidised but it’s not free.” Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Amos Kaburu (@kaburukitui) and parents Njeri Maina and Celestine Odiwuor.

Like many people across the continent, Ghanaians have seen the cost of living rising in recent months. And from Sunday they will have to budget for a new tax on some transactions. An ‘e-levy’ of 1.5% will be applied to mobile money payments, bank transfers and remittances over 100 cedis ($13). The government says the tax will raise nearly a billion dollars this year alone. And that the funds will be used to build roads, fund education and support young entrepreneurs. But some people are worried that the tax will hit those on low incomes the hardest and force many people to return to using cash. #AfricaDaily

In mid-April two family members in Mbandaka in the north-western Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo died from the virus within days of each other. This was the country’s 14th outbreak since the very first one back in the 70s when it was discovered. So much has changed and improved in the fight against this virus since the worst outbreaks in West Africa between 2013 and 2016, which left tens of thousands of people dead in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. It’s believed that on average the virus kills about 50 percent of those infected, but it can be contained and treated, if caught early. There’s now a vaccine against it and a new rollout is underway in Mbandaka to mitigate the latest outbreak. But despite all this progress Ebola still resurges. Today Alan Kasujja is asking why Ebola keeps re-occurring in the DRC? Guests: Rhoda Odhiambo, BBC Health Correspondent Dr. Mory Keïta, WHO Incident Manager of Ebola response in the DRC

On April 27, 1994, South Africans went to the polls to elect a new president. Among them were millions of Black citizens who had never voted because of the apartheid system that prevented them from having a say in their country’s political space. That election would see Nelson Mandela, the anti- apartheid fighter, become South Africa’s first democratically elected and the country’s first Black president. The fight against apartheid was long and bloody. Many political activists disappeared while in exile and in police custody in South Africa and they’ve never been found. Today Mpho Lakaje, who was 14 years old when his country saw the fall of the apartheid system, is speaking to Bafana Nkuta, whose brother has been missing since the 1970s. He also speaks to Madeleine Fullard, who sits on the Missing Persons Task Team, a government initiative whose mission is to finding out what happened to those people who disappeared.

“We are the country which has refused to take the many turning points that have been offered to us either through very painful points in our past or through opportunities.” Most of Kenya’s elections over the last 20 years have involved some level of violence and protests. The worst was in 2007 when at least 1,000 people were killed and more than half a million displaced. So it’s not surprising that many in Kenya are looking ahead to the upcoming elections in August with a sense of nervousness. Journalist John Allan Namu tells us that it doesn’t help that some politicians are using ‘unsanitary’ language on social media, that the independent election body is underfunded and untrusted by many Kenyans, and that the recent process for nominating candidates was chaotic and controversial. So what hope is there for a peaceful election in Kenya? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guest: John Allan Namu (@johnallannamu)

Many countries in Africa have ended restrictions and lockdown measures put in place during the height of the pandemic. In South Africa, which had the highest number of Covid-19 cases on the continent, this is a welcoming move for many industries; especially the hospitality sector. According to figures, nearly 400, 000 people in the restaurant industry lost their jobs at the height of the pandemic. And the unemployment rate is said to be at a staggering 35.3%. So with all that the country has faced and with so many people losing their livelihoods, today Alan, who’s recently returned from South Africa, speaks to two businessowners about how their businesses were affected in the last two years and asks if South Africa’s economy can recover and get back to its feet. Sakhumzi Maqubela is a restaurant owner in Soweto and Thato Mothopeng runs an event management company.

Several nations in Africa have decided to relax their lockdown mandates. In Namibia, you are no longer required to wear a mask in public and visitors don’t have to provide negative PCR tests. In South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa officially ended the lockdown, two years after it was imposed – and started a transition process away from mandatory facemasks in public. But it’s clear Covid-19 is still very much with us. Total cases currently stand at 8.6 million, with over 170 thousand deaths across the continent. So is this the right time to lift Covid measures? Alan Kasujja speaks to Namibia’s Health and Social Services minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula and Dr. Mary Stephens of the World Health Organisation. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja).

Street hawkers are a common sight, plying their trade on streets across Africa. From fruit and vegetables to gadgets and clothes – they sell it all. But in Tanzania, ‘Machingas’ - petty traders - have been evicted from their stalls and told they need to go to official markets. They were given one month’s notice. President Samia Suluhu Hassan says the street traders pay no tax, block up congested roads and take customers from formal shop owners who DO pay tax. But the Machingas say the move has left them struggling to feed their families. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guest: Economist Walter Nguma. Street traders Godfrey Massima and Khamisi Mohammed

He’s got millions of fans and sold millions of records. Since 2009, Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnmuz has entertained legion of fans. First in his native Tanzania, then soon enough his popularity spilled across the rest of East Africa before he took on the rest of Africa and the world. His catchy tunes, often sang in Swahili, have captured fans beyond those who speak or understand the language. From his humble beginnings in Tandale, a low-income neighbourhood in Dar es Salaam, to Netflix where he’s one of the stars of the hit reality show – Young, African and Famous, there doesn’t seem to be an end to Diamond’s reach or talent. Africa Daily’s Victoria Uwonkunda sits down with him to find out what drives Diamond Platnumz. Guest: Diamond Platnumz (@Diamond Platnumz)

Warning: Please be advised that this episode contains open and frank discussions about topic listeners might find distressing. Across Africa’s newsrooms, sexual harassment appears to be rife. That’s according to research by Women in News - a media development programme. Half of all the women surveyed said they’d been harassed at work - and only a third had reported it. So, despite all the progress with the #metoo movement, why is sexual harassment still so widespread? And what’s being done to stop it? Hosted by Alan Kasujja Guests: Mary (not her real name) and Molly Chimhanda, senior manager at Women in News. #AfricaDaily

“You cannot rely on the rain to do farming. Either it’s recurring drought or if rainfall comes, it floods. The seasons have become unpredictable.” Last week on Africa Daily we heard about the drought in East Africa and the flooding in South Africa – both bringing misery to millions. Basic food supply becomes difficult. So today Mpho Lakaje speaks to Abdi Hashi, a farmer and entrepreneur in Somaliland who has set himself a task: to help the breakaway state – which currently imports 80% of its food – to become more self-sufficient. Six years ago he bought up a parcel of arid and unused land that some had deemed unfarmable. Now he has eight greenhouses and eight acres of thriving farmland – and trains other small farmers to become more productive and resilient, and less reliant on the rain. And with the drought worsening, he tells us how his farm has become a stopping point for nomads from as far afield as Somalia and Ethiopia who are looking for water for their cattle. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje) Guest: Abdi Hashi (@HorngardensB)

Hundreds have died in KwaZulu Natal, in what South African officials are calling ‘one of the worst weather storms in the history of the country’. In one utterly heartbreaking instance, one family is said to have lost ten members in the floods. Days of torrential rain have washed away homes, roads and bridges, prompting the government to declare a state of disaster. Mudslides have trapped people under buildings. Electricity and water have been restored to some areas and authorities say that almost 41,000 people are affected around the city of Durban. Rescue workers continue to go from house to house, desperately trying to find people who went missing. With the weather service warning of more floods expected in coming days, today, Mpho Lakaje, in Johannesburg, is asking how South Africa will cope. He’s joined by Nokuthula Nyandeni, one of those affected and Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, from a non-governmental organization helping out – Gift of the Givers.

We are looking at the state of comedy in Africa as South Sudan, a country ravaged by war and which since 2013 continues to deal with an ongoing conflict, stages its first comedy festival. Tired of seeing the constant one-sided images and news stories of a war torn country with millions of people who have been displaced, and hundreds of thousands of people said to have been killed in the conflict, one man set out to try and change this world view of South Sudan. Akau Jambo, a comedian based in Juba, wanted to show the world another side – a side that shows that South Sudan too, despite everything else, can laugh and have a good time. So Akua brought almost a dozen of comedians from across the continent to his home country and put on a show over a weekend in the beginning of April. With a diverse cast of comedians from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and South Africa in attendance, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Timothy Nyanzi, one the comedians who performed in Juba, about the festival but also the state of comedy in Africa. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@MphoLakaje) Guests: Akau Jambo (@AkauJambo) and Timothy Nyanzi (@timothyjnyanzi)

“We’re raised in a culture where these kind of things are hush hush. You don’t speak out about them. Ever since I shared my story a lot of other women I know started talking about theirs… This is exactly why I’m feeling better and I’m not feeling like it’s the end of the world.” It’s a shocking statistic: about 80% of black women will suffer from fibroids at some point in their lives. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. They can cause a number of painful symptoms, including back pain and heavy bleeding and can make it difficult to get pregnant. This can bring stigma and misunderstanding – with women blamed for having caused them in some way. Africa Daily finds out about the risk factors involved, what options are open to women – and hears from a Nigerian woman who’s dealing with the condition. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje) Guests: Stephanie Odili (stephanieodile.com) Dr Elizabeth Byakwaga (@ByakwagaE)

Somalia hasn’t seen enough rain for three consecutive seasons, and this has led to what experts are calling the worst drought in a decade. They are also warning the worst is yet to come. Hunger has been rife, as many Somalis have seen failed crops and thousands of their livestock, which many depend on for a living, dead. Hundreds of thousands people have been displaced, and the most vulnerable in society are bearing the brunt of this crisis – more than one million children are said to be suffering from severe malnutrition. Experts are warning that up to 325,000 children are at the risk of dying if nothing is done. On today’s episode Mpho Lakaje is speaking to the BBC’s reporter Mercy Juma who recently returned from Somalia’s worst hit areas. Mpho also has been speaking with Peter Ekayu, the deputy head of OCHA, (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) in Somalia about the effects the drought is having on Somalia’s most vulnerable people. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@MphoLakaje) Guests: Mercy Juma (@MercyJuma_) and Peter Ekayu

Eswatini is a small country of just over a million people which is facing big problems. Last year dozens of people died after a crackdown on pro-democracy protests– and in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic led to the economy shrinking. According to World Bank estimates, nearly 40% of its population lives on less than two dollars a day. Now the government is planning the launch of a national airline – its second such venture after its previous airline folded. So will this help boost trade and tourism – or just saddle the country with more debt? Mpho Lakaje explores the issue for this week’s #AfricaDaily. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje @mpholakaje Guests: Xavier Masule, commercial director at Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation. Sanele Sibiya, University of Eswatini.

Africa has relatively low rates of diabetes. But cases are rising faster than any other continent. The condition causes the levels of glucose in the body to become too high. Untreated it can damage the nerves, eyes, heart and even lead to death. So, why is it a growing problem across Africa? And what can be done to prevent further cases? The episode contains frank discussion about sexual health issues. This episode was first broadcast on 10 December 2021 Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Osarenkhoe Ethel Chima-Nwogwugwu (@osaethel) Professor Kaushik Ramaiya #AfricaDaily

Nigerians are well used to power-cuts – they’ve lived through hundreds, many nationwide – over the last decade. Businesses and individuals who need a reliable power source turn to private generators… and the costs for running them have gone up. The World Bank says that unreliable power costs the Nigerian economy an estimated $28 billion. So when last month the national grid collapsed twice in just two days – it led to widespread anger – and a rare apology from the President. So what’s behind this long running weakness in Nigeria’s energy supply? #AfricaDaily Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje) Guest: Dr Vincent Emodi

In recent months, many people around the world have seen their cost of living increase. Basics such as food, fuel and electricity are costing more than they used to in many countries. Recent research has tried to pinpoint the most expensive cities on the continent, by looking at the cost of these goods. The data suggests that life in cities like Dakar, Addis Ababa and Abidjan is nearly as expensive as some cities in Europe. But people are often earning much less in these African cities. So, at a time when many people are having to tighten their belts, what’s life like in Africa’s most expensive cities? Host: Victoria Uwonkunda (@msuwonkunda) #AfricaDaily

We'd like to warn you that this episode tackles themes that you might find distressing. It contains franks discussions of allegations of sexual assault and rape. We know water is important and we are taking you to Kenya and the informal settlement of Kibera, in the capital Nairobi where access to clean water is a daily struggle for the hundreds of thousands of people who live there. Many here are casual workers whose daily wages can barely stretch to cover the most basic needs and some spend as much as a quarter of their wages on water each month, so they can have enough to drink, prepare their meal, and take the occasional shower. Much of the water in Kibera is delivered by private vendors, and often have men in charge. Some women have told the BBC they feel vulnerable because of attacks and assaults they’ve faced from these men. Today Victoria Uwonkunda is joined by the BBC's Women's Affairs Correspondent, Azeezat Olaoluwa, to talk about the price some women are having to pay for water in a Kenyan slum Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda - @Msuwonkunda Guest: Azeezat Olaoluwa - @AzeezatOlaoluwa

The war in Ukraine continues to grind on into its seventh week. More than 4 million people are thought to have fled the country. Many African students have also been displaced from Ukrainian cities where they were studying. Ukrainians living in African countries have been faced with watching the destruction of their homeland from thousands of miles away. And Russians on the continent have also seen their circumstances change dramatically as sanctions bite. So, what is life like for Russians and Ukrainians living in Africa today? Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) #AfricaDaily

The “Fab Five” – Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia and Cameroon – will represent Africa at the World Cup in Qatar. And on Friday, we will learn who they will play, when the draw is made. This is a World Cup like no other both in terms of its location and timing: with it being played in November and December this year. The tournament will not see a man considered to be one of the best players in the world – Mohamed Salah and his side Egypt, after they were kicked out by Senegal, in what was a repeat of the recent Africa Cup of Nations Final in February. But it does mean another global stage for Sadio Mané. Nigeria and its array of stars, also missed out after suffering defeat to their rivals Ghana. Cameroon, clinched an 8th World Cup qualification - a record for an African side - following a dramatic game in Algeria. As Qatar 2022 World Cup awaits, Victoria Uwonkunda is joined by BBC Sports journalists, Nishat Ladha and Mimi Fawaz to discuss how the African teams might fair. Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda - @Msuwonkunda Guests: Nishat Ladha - @NishatL and Mimi Fawaz - @MimosaFawaz

On Monday afternoon, hundreds of people boarded a train to travel from Abuja to Kaduna. But the service never reached its destination. Explosives were used to derail the train and members of armed gangs opened fire on the carriages. A number of people have reportedly been killed and there are fears that more have been abducted. For some time, train has been considered the safest way to travel between the capital and Kaduna. Kidnappings had become increasingly common on the roads between the two cities. But this is the second attack on the railways in six months. So, who’s behind these latest attacks? And why are Nigeria’s trains being targeted? Host: Victoria Uwonkunda (@msuwonkunda) Reporting: Chris Ewokor (@chrisewokor) #AfricaDaily

A peace deal in 2018 ended the civil war in South Sudan – the world’s newest nation. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the war after fighting broke out in 2013 between the government forces of President Salva Kiir and those loyal to his vice president and rival, Riek Machar. So, as part of the peace deal signed to end the fighting, all these forces were to be united in one national army and police force. But this has become a sticking point – and over the past few weeks violence between the troops has flared again. And at the weekend, government forces surrounded the residence of Riek Machar in the capital Juba. So is there any hope of peace under the two rivals? And is this latest outbreak of violence a threat to the peace process? Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda (@MsUwonkunda) Reporting: Nichola Mandil (@nichdimandil) #AfricaDaily

It’s over fifty years since residents of the Chagos Islands were evicted by the British government. They were removed to Mauritius, the Seychelles and the United Kingdom. In 2002, people born on the islands were given the right to apply for Biritsh citizenship and to live and work in the UK. But, that right was only extended to their children who were born between specific years. And it didn’t apply to later generations, even though some of them had lived in the UK since a young age. In the last week, the British government announced a change to the law…offering a new route to citizenship for descendants of those born on the islands. So, what does it mean to the community living there? And what has life been like for Chagossians in the UK? #AfricaDaily

Togo is celebrating the arrival of Google’s Equiano Cable on its shores. The sub-sea cable, which will bring in 20 times more network capacity than the previous cable built to serve the region, will then go on to Nigeria, Namibia and South Africa. Its proponents say it will speed up connections, drive down costs and create jobs. Other big tech firms are also investing in infrastructure projects in a bid to improve connectivity on the continent - and to reach the 800 million people in Africa who have yet to experience the Internet. So why was Togo chosen for the landing point? And what practical difference will this cable make? Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Nitin Gajria, MD for @googleafrica (@nitin_gajria) and Sitou Yibokou (@ghislainyibokou)

The warring parties in the Ethiopian Tigray civil war have agreed to a humanitarian truce to allow aid deliveries to millions of people in urgent need of assistance. The 16 month civil war in Ethiopia’s north has left thousands killed and displaced more than two million people. More than half a million people are said to be at the brink of famine in what humanitarian groups have called the “world’s worst hunger crisis in a decade”. There are also accusations of gross abuses, including sexual assault and rape, though both parties continue to dispute these allegations. Alan Kasujja has been speaking to our reporter Kalkidan Yibeltal in Addis Ababa. He returned to Amhara, in the north of the country, the place that became the epicentre of the fighting for five months. There, he met women who shared their stories of sexual attacks. On Africa Daily, Alan and Kalkidan are talking about the long term traumas many people - especially women and girls – are suffering in the Ethiopian Tigray civil war.

Across Zimbabwe, politicians are campaigning hard ahead of by-elections on Saturday. Voters will choose who sits in some parliamentary and local council seats. They are being seen as a test of the political landscape ahead of national elections in 2023, which will decide if Emerson Mnangagwa remains president. There have been allegations of violence and police clashing with opposition supporters. But the government denies these reports and says that polling will be orderly. So, what’s at stake in Zimbabwe’s elections? #AfricaDaily A full list of candidates standing in elections on 26th March 2022 is available on the website of the Zimbabwe electoral commission.

The militant Islamist group al-Shabab has become synonymous with violence and political instability in Somalia. They have also carried out devastating attacks in surrounding countries. In response, many of Somalia’s neighbours have sent troops to help fight the insurgency. Among them are many thousands of Kenyans, some of whom have given their lives in the operation. Kenya has never acknowledged the deaths of these soldiers. And the government does not release details on how many have been killed. One family is speaking out as they bury a son killed last week. They say this has to change. #AfricaDaily

In 2019, protesters in Sudan rose up and toppled president Omar al-Bashir after almost 30 years in power. The image of Alaa Saleh leading the protests dressed all in white became one of the symbols of the struggle. And women have continued to play an important part in the movement for freedom ever since. But some of them are now speaking out about the price they have had to pay to fight for democracy. They allege that they have been targeted in an attempt to intimidate them off the streets. And that they have faced the threat of sexual assault and rape. This episode contains graphic discussion of sexual assault and violence against women. Host: Alan Kasujja - @kasujja Reporting: Catherine Byaruhanga - @cathkemi #Africa Daily

During colonialism artworks that had been protected in Africa for centuries were looted. To this day, many of them are held by museums and universities in western countries. But in recent months, institutions in the US, UK and France have said that they will return them. However, this is only a small number of artefacts. And it isn’t fully known how many are still out there, or where they are. So, could all Africa’s looted artworks soon be returning home? #AfricaDaily

One year ago, Samia Suluhu Hassan became president of Tanzania, after the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli. She’s the first woman to ever hold the position. She says she’s changing how people think about women in power – by using her brain. And while at first she emphasized how she was continuing many of the large-scale projects started by Magufuli, wiithin weeks she had also changed direction on some of the biggest issues facing the country, such as the Covid pandemic. To mark the anniversary, the BBC’s Salim Kikeke interviewed the president, who told him about her latest adventure appearing in a film promoting Tanzania, and about how she likes it when people tweet at her, as it tells her what people think. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guest: Salim Kikeke (@salym) Producer: Camilla Mills (@camilla_m_mills)

As much as 90% of Africa’s tobacco leaf production happens in East Africa. But some farmers there are turning their backs on the crop. In Migori County, 300 tobacco farmers are trying their hand at growing nyota beans – a food crop that is less labour intensive. They believe that the beans might be more profitable and avoid some health concerns that have been linked to tobacco farming. So, have Kenyan farmers found a better alternative to tobacco? #AfricaDaily

It’s one of the longest running separatist conflicts in the world that has seen the Senegalese army launch an operation against rebels in the Casamance region, in the south of the country. It’s an area that’s distinct socially and linguistically, and cut off from the rest of the country by The Gambia. The Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance – the MFDC – has been fighting the central government for the last 40 years – but the conflict is often overshadowed by more violent ones in the region including in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Chad. Thousands have died over the last four decades – with thousands more displaced and the farming and tourism industries blighted. So what’s behind this long running conflict? And what is happening now? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guest: Nicolas Negoce (@nicolasnegoce) #AfricaDaily

The idea of a single currency being used across the continent has been proposed for more than 30 years. However, the idea has never gained much traction. Some people believe it could boost trade between African countries and help unify the continent. Others think that nations on the continents are too different to make it work. South Africa has once again backed the idea, but is it realistic option? #AfricaDaily

Many Kenyans, including the president, have been left shocked by a viral video of a woman motorist in the capital Nairobi being sexually assaulted and physically and verbally abused by a group of what’s believed to be young men driving boda-bodas. Boda Bodas are the motorbike taxis often used to ferry people and goods around in East Africa. It’s estimated there are at least 1.4 million bodas in Kenya, but it’s thought there could be many more on Kenyan roads, with many still not registered. With the latest incident many, including President Uhuru Kenyatta, are once again calling for fresh regulations to help reform the industry. Alan Kasujja speaks with the BBC’s reporter in Nairobi Mercy Juma, who helps us with the background and shares her experience of boda boda riders. Together they consider whether it is possible to bring effective changes to the informal public transport industry in Kenya.

“Katiba Banat is not just a word. We were soldiers. Even we lost some of our soldiers – women like us” During the second Sudanese civil war, a group of young female volunteers formed an all-women battalion in the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army They worked with weapons or as medics and sang songs on the radio and in the bush as part of the SPLA’s recruitment drive After a few years in combat most left to get married and have children, becoming refugees and scattering all over the world as the bloody civil war rolled on They say their contribution has been ignored by those in charge of independent South Sudan But now their stories are being told by one of their daughters, film-maker Adhel Arop Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guest: Adhel Arop (@AdhelArop)

The war in Ukraine has now entered its third week. Millions of people there have seen their lives torn apart during that time. And we’ve heard the stories of African students who had to flee when Russia invaded. But in a less direct way, people across Africa may feel the impact of the conflict themselves over the coming weeks. We are starting to understand how the war might affect trade with the region and across the world. So, what might the economic impact be for countries in Africa? Host: Alan Kasujja - @kasujja Reporting: Peter Wakaba - @peterwakaba Sally Nabil - @sallynabil Ahmed Rouaba #AfricaDaily

Kidnapping is an increasing threat for people in South Africa. The number of cases has more than doubled over the past decade and 2000 incidents were reported in the last year. Initially, criminal gangs were targeting wealthy business people – they were often snatched close to their businesses or homes. But more recently, they have become indiscriminate – going after anyone with the means to pay a ransom. South Africa’s police have said they need to double their efforts to stop these gangs. So, can South Africa solve its kidnapping problem? #AfricaDaily

Last week, the United Nations passed a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But the vote split African nations: with 25 voting for, 17 abstaining and just one - Eritrea - voting against it. Disagreements over who to support in the conflict have split the general public as well. But today on Africa Daily we speak to a political analyst who says it’s time Africa stops treating the war ‘like a football match’ and instead thinks more deeply about how it will impact the continent. So how can Africa best defend its own interests and become a player on the world stage? #AfricaDaily Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Beverly Ochieng (@BeverlyOchieng) and Robert Kabushenga (@rkabushenga)

Like in many countries on the continent, prayer is a big part of school life in Kenya. Pupils at public schools will often pray at the beginning of the day. And there may be specific prayer days, where the school worships together. However, not everyone is happy with this. Some atheists are calling for a ban on mandatory prayer in public schools. They think children should have the option of whether to participate or not. So, do their ideas have much support? #AfricaDaily

An estimated million people have fled into neighbouring countries seeking safe havens, as bombs continue to be dropped over towns and cities across Ukraine. Among those who’ve left are the thousands of Africans who had made Ukraine their home away from home. On a previous episode Alan Kasujja spoke to one lucky student who had made it safely home back to Ghana. The relief of being safe and the happiness of seeing his family again were palpable. Now he hears from the students who are still in Ukraine and those who are only just reaching the border. Alan also spoke with the BBC’s Peter Okwoche who’s been reporting from Przemyśl, a city in south-eastern Poland near the Ukraine crossing point.

The war in Ukraine has entered its eighth day and in that time people have now become used to the sound of air raid sirens. Several people have been seeking shelter in bunkers while missiles hit the towns and cities above their heads. Many have left the country. The United Nations estimates that more than half a million people have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion on 24th February. Among those fleeing the war in a European country are thousands of Africans, many of whom are students. While some are still trying to reach safety in neighbouring countries, a few lucky ones have made it back to their home countries. As the war rages on, Alan Kasujja hears the stories of Africans caught up in Ukraine since the initial attack. A week after the invasion, 17 relieved Ghanaian students landed at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. Ghana was one of the first African countries to evacuate their citizens from Ukraine. Alan spoke to Ghana’s deputy minister of information, Fati Abubakar and a young Ghanaian student, Nana Agyemang, who had been living and studying medicine in Ukraine for the last five years.

Last week, Malawi recorded a case of wild polio, an infectious disease that can lead to paralysis, most often in children. It’s the first time that a case has been reported in the country since 1992. And in 2020, the whole of Africa was declared polio free after a decades long vaccination programme. The case in Malawi is thought to be linked to a strain still in circulation in Pakistan. It is yet to be determined how the disease arrived in Malawi. And people are anxious as to whether more cases will emerge. What can be done to stop it spreading? #AfricaDaily

Social media platforms have given ordinary people a platform to share our ideas and opinions. If you have a large following, you can reach a huge audience on platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Or you can exercise influence as part of an online campaign like #EndSARS or #AfricansinUkraine. But are we listening to people who don’t share our opinions? And can we find common ground with people who have different ideas? For this special episode recorded live for AfricaNXT 2022 in Lagos, #AfricaDaily asks whether we can build consensus on social media. Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Feyikemi Abudu (@fkabudu) Jola Ayeye(@jollz) Yemisi Adegoke (@briticoyemo)

Gender inequality is rife in many African countries, where women often do the vast majority of housework, childcare and look after entire families. But it doesn’t always have to be this way, at least not for some men in Burkina Faso. Men in the west African country are being offered the opportunity of attending what is known as “Husband Schools”. The aim is for men to learn how they can become better husbands and help their wives in all aspects of family life. Alan Kasujja has been speaking with a family – a husband and his two wives – who say they’ve seen changes after the husband attended the school. He also spoke to Minata Coulibaly, a women’s rights activist on her thoughts about such schools, as well as our reporter in Burkina Faso, Sasha Gankin. But first he heard from Hamady Somtore - a project assistant for the Sahel Women's Empowerment and Demographics Project - or SWEDD – which is behind these schools

The world’s attention has been focussed on Ukraine after President Putin ordered Russian troops to begin a large-scale military attack on its smaller neighbour. In Africa, the influence of Russia has been extending across the continent, leading to a range of opinions about Putin’s leadership, ambition and power. And while it might be many miles away, what’s happening in Ukraine has been a topic of debate on social media among Africans. So, how is the conflict is being viewed in Nigeria – which has a sizeable expat population in Ukraine? And which governments are relying on Russia for military support? HOST: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) #AfricaDaily

In 2018, courts in South Africa ruled that personal use of marijuana was not illegal. The law allows households to keep small stashes of the drug under certain circumstances. People are also allowed to cultivate medical cannabis. And in the last couple of weeks, President Ramaphosa has announced that the production of cannabis will be industrialised. He said he wants South Africa to realise the huge potential for investment and job creation. So, could cannabis give the economy a welcome boost? #AfricaDaily

Around 60 people were killed in an explosion at an informal gold mine in Burkina Faso on Monday. In recent years, gold has become Burkina Faso’s biggest export. Informal, artisan mining operations are becoming more common there and across the region. People in these mines aren’t employed by big mining companies. And there is often little regulation or oversight. So, can mining in west Africa be made safer? #AfricaDaily

Fifty years ago, the British government forcibly evicted all the people living on the Chagos Islands to make way for a US military base. Now, as part of a campaign by Mauritius to highlight its claim to the islands, a small group have returned for a visit – erecting the Mauritian flag there. Also on the boat was the BBC’s Africa Correspondent, Andrew Harding, who helped us pick apart all the issues involved. So was this just a publicity stunt – or might it lead to what many of the Chagossians want: for them to be allowed to go home to the islands for good? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guests: Andrew Harding (@AndrewWJHarding)

Burundi seems to be headed towards renewed relations with the international community. Earlier this month, the European Union lifted economic sanctions, following in the footsteps of the United States. The EU says its decision was inspired by what it described as “peaceful political processes”, that started with successful general elections in May 2020 which Evariste Ndayishimiye won following the death of president Pierre Nkurunziza who died from cardiac arrest. With the sanctions lifted, Burundi will once again start receiving much needed financial aid from EU, among other things to help rebuild its battered economy. There is much work to do. And some are concerned about the approach of the international community. So how is the road to recovery for Burundi? And are its residents starting to feel any benefits? Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC’s Prime Ndikumagenge and Human Rights Watch’s Mausi Segun

There have been a number of high profile campaigns to encourage more girls to study STEM subjects – that’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. But what’s it actually like for women in Africa who choose these careers? Today’s Africa Daily follows Shillah Simiyu, an infectious disease researcher, as she visits the Nairobi Academy to tell the children there about her work. But she also tells Alan about the sizeable challenges she’s faced as she’s tried to build her career – including breastfeeding between experiments, working weekends, and even having to deliver an important presentation the morning after her nanny quit. Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guest: Shillah Simiyu (@ssimiyu) #AfricaDaily