Episodes
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Egypt has offered to send 10,000 soldiers to Somalia to assist the country with peacekeeping operations. However, this seems to have unsettled Ethiopia which has said it could not “stand idle while other actors take measures to destabilise the region.” Ethiopia has been a key ally of Somalia in its fight against the militant group, Al-Shabaab.
So what exactly has caused these tensions? And what has the Ethiopian Grand Renascence dam got to do with all this? Alan Kasujja has been exploring for Africa Daily.
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The people of Tunisia are expected to elect a new president in October. But the build-up to the election has been marred by controversy with key political leaders being arrested and some journalists leaving the country. It all started in July 2021 when president Kais Saied suspended parliament and sacked the prime minister. These events were triggered by anger over the government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak and the economic and social turmoil. President Saied defended his decision to dissolve the government saying he acted in accordance with the constitution. But now he has, once again, come under fire after sacking 19 cabinet ministers. Some say he’s attempting to cling on to power. But he denies this, saying his move was necessary for the sake of Tunisia’s national security. Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Guests: Amine Snoussi and Dr. Yusra Ghannouchi
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“Within just five years we lost almost 20 metres of the shoreline and it does not seem to be slowing with time.”
Climate experts say up to 60% of Africa’s coastal land could disappear within the next 50 years due to coastal erosion resulting from sea-level rise. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja discusses the impact of this on coastal communities, and what they need to do to avert the worst possible scenarios.
He speaks to Saida Idris, a resident of Kipini village on the Kenyan coast where 10 kilometres of dry land have been lost to the sea and a thousand people forced to relocate over the last decade.
Conservationist George Odera, who witnessed the changes as they unfolded in Kipini for over a decade, shares expert opinion.
And International development consultant and former Principal Environmentalist at the African Development Bank, Dr Hany Shalaby, gives an overview of how coastal erosion is manifesting along the Mediterranean shorelines in North Africa and on the seven thousand kilometre-long West African coastline.
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The 36-acre landfill is the only landfill serving the whole of Uganda’s capital – Kampala. A city that’s home to an estimated four million people.
It collapsed after weeks of relentless rain. The city authorities have reportedly been trying to find a new site for years. Many victims were living in unsafe conditions. An investigation has been ordered into years of neglect.
Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Ugandan Earth Observation expert Ivan Bamweyana and renowned lawyer David Mpanga.
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A couple of weeks ago Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja spoke to two farmers in Nigeria and Tanzania about the challenges around farming in Africa. They talked about deteriorating soil quality, rising prices, insecurity and unreliable weather patterns. This week these issues will be discussed at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 summit which will be held in Rwanda’s capital Kigali. Heads of state, politicians, farmers, and agricultural businesses will be there to look at ways of making the production and distribution of food more sustainable and secure. And the message this year is that young people and women must be at the heart of this. In today’s episode Alan Kasujja speaks to two experienced agricultural experts who explain how African farmers can farm more productively and affordably.
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“More than ever, the people of Burkina Faso need to remain united around the defence and security forces.”
A video showing scores of civilians shot dead in the ditches they were digging - was released by an Al Qaeda-linked group active in Burkina Faso earlier this week. It was apparent proof of a major attack it said it had conducted in the northern village of Barsalogho on Saturday.
It’s believed at least 100 people were killed, but the government hasn’t confirmed numbers. But what is clear is that it’s one of the worst attacks by Jihadist fighters the country has ever suffered.
The government often doesn’t acknowledge such attacks, but this time ministers were filmed visiting victims in hospital. They condemned the attack and called on the public to support the army in its fight against the insurgency. The leader of the military regime, Ibrahim Traore, came to power in a coup in 2022 promising to reconquer all rebel held areas - and last year declared a "general mobilisation" of the population.
But will this attack make civilians even more fearful of aiding the military?
Presenter: Alan @KasujjaGuest: Beverly Ochieng, senior analyst with Control Risks.
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“I always say to them (South Africans), these foreign nationals are developing your country. Why can’t you see that? The main guy who owned this shop was always helpful, especially to the old ladies here in our area.” – Samuel Makgowa, South African landlord Earlier this month, shops belonging to foreign nationals were, once again, shut down indefinitely in the township of Soweto in South Africa. It's a campaign sponsored by anti-migrant group, Operation Dudula. It came after a South African man was wounded during an alleged altercation with an immigrant who runs a grocery shop. But week-long raids and demonstrations against Somalis, Bangladeshis and Pakistani shop owners, only drew small crowds. Alan Kasujja speaks to reporter Mpho Lakaje who's been on the ground to understand the issue better. Guests: Zandile Dabula, Samuel Makgowa and Daphne Phakathi
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“As a person living with disability, sport gives you the purpose and the inspiration to move on with life because when you see someone who is physically worse off than you doing better than you, you get inspired and want to do more."
The Paralympic games start today in Paris, just over two weeks after the Olympic games ended in the French Capital. Over 4,400 athletes with various forms of disabilities will be competing in 22 sports for 549 gold medals. Africa has just over 300 para athletes representing 44 countries from the continent.
Kenya’s Asiya Mohammed Sururu will be competing in para rowing, a sport not accessed by many in Africa despite the abundant natural water bodies on the continent. The 32-year-old lost both her legs after she was run over by a train at the age of two.
In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to Asiya about the challenges African para athletes face beyond their physical disabilities.
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“It becomes scary when you see people that would normally smile at you - and all of a sudden you see so many people on the streets making those kind of chants. And you think, 'wow, what has been going on underground? This is the city that I used to know. Why should I now be extra watchful? What exactly is going on?'” - Toyyib Adelodun, Nigerian migrant in the UK The world watched in shock as police cars were destroyed and shops and properties belonging to foreign nationals targeted in the UK, earlier this month. The riots were triggered by the killing of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event for children in Southport, northern England. False rumours were spread on social media that the teenager charged with the murders was a Muslim migrant. There were similar events in the township of Soweto in South Africa recently. Shops belonging to African immigrants were forced to shut down, after a foreign national was accused of attacking a local resident. Alan Kasujja attempts to find out if these are isolated incidents or if there is a political ideology driving them. Guests: Professor Bongani Ngqulunga, Toyyib Adelodun and Wallace Musonda
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"If not now, then when? And if you don’t do it, who else will?”
Those are the two questions Sara Sabry suggests all woman ask themselves when they’re thinking through a big move… and finding they don’t have the confidence to follow it through.
And she should know. The Egyptian mechanical and biomedical engineer was the first African woman in space when she blasted off in Blue Origin’s New Shepherd rocket in 2022. She’s the founder of Deep Space Initiative, an organisation with the mission to make space and the study of space more accessible– and she dreams of one day being part of a community living on the moon and eventually ‘retiring on Mars’.
But is space travel and research really something for Africa to invest in when there are so many other priorities?
Alan Kasujja hears her thoughts.
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We all know that Africa is getting hit hardest by climate change - even though the continent contributes less than 4% of global emissions. BBC’s Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke with Kulthoum Omari Motsumi, Africa’s lead negotiator in global climate talks.
Kulthoum is on the front line, making sure Africa’s voice is heard and fighting for the support it deserves. She talks about the unique challenge of representing 54 countries with different needs and how they’re pushing for real action in the global climate battle.
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“The cost of food will just go higher and higher, because farmers like myself cannot afford to invest in farming and can’t even have their capital back at the end of the season.” More than 300 million people faced acute hunger in 2023 according to the World Food Programme. The UN body said this was caused by a number of issues including global warming, insecurity and conflict, and food and energy price inflation. Africa is home to millions of small farmers who are key to feeding the continent… so what are the issues they’re facing and how can they be helped? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to two farmers: Crescentia Mushobozi, the founder of Tanzania Viable Farms, and Gabriel Eze, the founder of Rural Farmers Hub in Nigeria, who both work to improve the lives and yields of farmers.
With thanks to the African Food Systems Forum's 'GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize'.
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“If the leadership of the minibus taxi sector is prepared to be patient and invest in research and development, absolutely, they stand a chance” – Dr. Mathetha Mokonyama, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
When international e-hailing services Uber and Bolt arrived in South Africa about a decade ago, they claimed a massive chunk of the metered taxi market.
This left local taxi operators fuming, with tensions leading to the loss of life in some parts of the country.
But now, South Africa’s main taxi associations, the National Taxi Alliance and the South African National Taxi Council, are responding with innovation of their own.
They call it Shesha, a downloadable app that enables you to order a ride from the comfort of your home.
So, today our presenter Mpho Lakaje is on the road, testing the new local service.
He attempts to find out if it stands a chance against well established players with deep pockets.
Guests: Rebecca Phala, Irene Hlabangwane and Dr. Mathetha Mokonyama.
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Just over four months ago Senegal elected a new president.
After a tumultuous start to the election- Bassirou Diomaye Faye was declared the winner and became at 44 years old Africa’s youngest head of state.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko promised a radical break from the past, an Afrocentric and nationalist agenda.
They vowed to fight poverty and corruption. To create jobs for young people, contracts for gas, oil, fishing and defence would be renegotiated to get a better deal. And there would be an end their currency the CFA franc, which is pegged to the euro and backed by former colonial power France.
So what’s happened since they were elected?
Alan Kasujja has been hearing from people on the streets of Dakar and speaking to El Malick Ndiaye, Senegal's Minister for Infrastructure, Land and Air Transport.
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It started with the horrific killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event for children in the seaside town of Southport, in northern England.
After false rumours were spread on social media that the 17-year-old charged with their murders was a Muslim migrant who’d arrived by boat a few years before, a wave of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant protests spread across the UK. Cars were set on fire, immigrant-owned-businesses were destroyed, and the police attacked. A hotel housing asylum seekers had its windows smashed and a video went viral showing rioters stopping cars to see if the drivers were ‘white enough’ to be allowed to pass through safely.
In response, there were a number of massive counter-protests against racism – and the UK government promised swift and tough justice would follow. So far, more than 1,100 people have been arrested and more than 600 charged. But has this helped to reassure Africans and people of African descent living in the UK?
Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to BBC Arabic's Reda El Mawy, and Mohammed Idris, a Sudanese business owner living in Belfast, whose shop was destroyed in the attacks.
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The funeral of former president of Confederation of African Football Dr Issa Hayatou is taking place today in Garoua, northern Cameroon.
Hayatou died aged 77 last week in Paris, where he’d been receiving dialysis for kidney problems.
His name was synonymous with African football for nearly three decades.
He served as president of Caf from 1988 to 2017.
He is credited with expanding Africa’s participation at the World Cup and secured the financial security of African football.
But he is also criticised by others for hanging onto power- and during his tenure he faced a number of controversial allegations.
Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Guests: Steve Vickers, Harare-based sports journalist and Amaju Pinnick, former president of Nigeria football Federation (NFF).
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“These MPs were never advocates of violence. They were speaking inside the chambers of parliament. They have never joined any mass action on the streets” – Thantaza Silolo, Swaziland Liberation Movement Eswatini’s former Members of Parliament, Mduduzi Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were arrested following the anti-monarchy riots that claimed dozens of lives back in 2021. Mabuza is currently serving 25 years while Mthandeni Dube was given 18 years. They are now appealing their sentences. But human rights groups and pro-democracy activists say the pair were “silenced” for calling on King Mswati to introduce reforms. This has been denied by the government of Eswatini. Over the years, the southern African country has been marred by political dissent, with sections of the population calling for democracy. Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Guests: Alpheous Nxumalo, Eswatini government spokesperson and Thantaza Silolo of the Swaziland Liberation Movement
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“It’s a clarion call to action. It’s a recognition that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive in our effort to eliminate this threat.” Africa’s leading health body - Africa CDC – has declared the rapidly rising cases of Mpox in East Africa a public health emergency. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 14,000 cases and 450 deaths have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the most affected country. And more cases are being recorded in other African countries - including a number, like Uganda and Kenya, which are seeing the disease for the first time. So what should the global response be to what’s been called the ‘most dangerous’ strain of the disease yet? Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Guests: Dr Jean Claude Udahemuka of the University of Rwanda, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, and Ampeire Christiana, Jadrine Komukyeya, and Herbert Ssekatawa.
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Less than 50% of the world’s population have access to diagnostics, according to statistics from the medical journal, The Lancet.
That drops to 20% when it comes to Africa, where the diagnostic gap is most severe at the level of primary health care. According to The Global Health Fund, Africa bears a quarter of the global disease burden and endures over 100 health emergencies a year.
In this episode of the Africa Daily Podcast, Peter Musembi explores what needs to be done to address that acute gap in diagnostics in Africa.
Guests: Zambian health worker Constance Mudenda and Dr Allan Pamba, Executive Vice President in charge of Africa for Roche Diagnostics.
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The number of women using modern contraception in sub-Saharan Africa has nearly doubled to 66 million, thanks to methods like hormonal implants and injections reaching even remote areas.
Community health workers play a crucial role, often delivering contraceptive injections and birth control pills door-to-door.
Global health agencies have expanded family planning services to reduce child mortality and improve the education of girls. Recently, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) called on low-income countries to increase funding for reproductive health, and 44 governments have committed to raising their contributions annually.
Presenter: Mpho Lakaje. Guests: Felicia Issah and Dr. Claudette A. Diogo.
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