Africa Daily

“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 voter

In 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 2020

A 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 audio for this episode was updated at 1500 BST on 16 May 2024

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, 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?

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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.

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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