Africa Daily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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