Africa Daily

A stretch of sea wanted by Kenya and Somalia. For years now, the two countries have been at loggerheads over a slice of the Indian Ocean, thought to be rich in oil and gas. Both Kenya and Somalia desperately want it, but can’t quite agree on who actually owns it. A case was filed with the International Court of Justice back in 2014. After several delays, hearings are expected this week - though Kenya's announced it will not take part. So, how did this dispute begin? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter) #AfricaDaily

Who in Africa responded best to Covid-19?It’s been a year since the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic.At the time, many feared the virus would take a heavy toll on Africa. And in some countries, like South Africa, those fears proved to be well-founded.But other nations have done better: take Rwanda, Togo, or Morocco. All three countries have been praised for some of measures they have taken to stop Covid-19 on its tracks.So, what did they do exactly? And what lessons can the world learn from them?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

It’s been a war of narratives.Conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region has been going on for months now - and troops from neighbouring Eritrea have been accused of joining the fight.And that’s not the end of the story.The UN and human rights groups have also blamed them for some of the worst violence in the region, including potential crimes against humanity.But the Eritrean government says their soldiers couldn’t have done any of those things, because they didn’t actually enter Ethiopia in the first place.What evidence is there so far?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Young Senegalese have had enough.They’re angry about the impact the pandemic has had on their pockets, but also at the way their president has been running the country.So, when a popular opposition leader was arrested and charged with rape, they went out and protested.They said the charges were nothing more than a high-level conspiracy to stop him from running in future elections. But is there any evidence to back that up? And what do these tensions tell us about Senegal today?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

‘The world’s most dangerous seas’That’s how experts have come to refer to the seas in the Gulf of Guinea.And no, it’s not because of the currents or the weather, but because of pirates.They’ve been attacking ships in West Africa, often taking hostages for ransom. And while they mostly target oil and gas tankers, smaller boats have at times been attacked too.But how bad is the problem? And how can they be fought back?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

How do you get more women in charge so that one day they could be leading the continent? There are, of course, examples of women in charge and only recently we heard that Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Nigeria’s former finance minister, had become head of the World Trade Organisation. Not only is she the first woman but she’s also the first African to get the job. You might say though she’s a rare example so, is it time for more affirmative action? Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first democratically elected President of Africa and led Liberia for 12 years. She set up the Amujae initiative last year to help mentor women into positions of public leadership in Africa. One year on Alan Kasujja has been speaking to two women who help inspire others.

Growing up without a dad at home can be hard.And yet, this has become the norm for most black children in South Africa.According to a new report, seven out of ten have no biological father at home as they get older.Money has something to do with it, but there are other complex reasons behind this trend.So, what does it all mean for the children, for the mothers, for the fathers? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Zambia’s up to its eyeballs in debt.Late last year, it became the first African country to default on its foreign debt since the Covid pandemic began.And people across the country have started feeling the pinch: many complain about rising prices and their sudden inability to pay their bills. But Zambia’s looking for a way out: it’s been talking to the International Monetary Fund, hoping to get some sort of bailout.How did things get so bad though? And is there an easy way out of this crisis?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

They're like dark moving clouds, buzzing above your head.Swarms of locusts have been tearing through parts of East Africa… And they’re hungry.They’ve been devouring crop after crop, putting food supplies and farmers’ livelihoods at risk. These invasions aren’t new - and yet, they now seem to be happening more often than ever.Why is that? How did things get so bad? And can these locusts ever be stopped?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

The agony of not knowing. As Tigray stood on the brink of war, contact was severed between families and their loved ones in the diaspora around the world. In this guest episode, The Comb’s Kim Chakanetsa asks: what’s it like to be cut off from your family when they’re at their most vulnerable?

It’s a jab that could save your life - and yet, some people still have misgivings about Covid vaccines. They’re now being rolled out in parts of Africa, but the logistics of getting millions vaccinated are enormous. A real challenge to be reckoned with.And health authorities worry another problem might get in their way: the misconceptions and misgivings some people still have about the vaccines. Why the scepticism though? And how can people’s concerns be put to rest?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Ebola is back in West Africa. Five people have died in Guinea - the country’s first deaths since the last epidemic ended in 2016. But it’s not all bad news. Vaccines are being rolled out in hotspot areas, scientists know more about the virus and governments are better equipped to contain outbreaks. So, could this be the beginning of the end of Ebola? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter) #AfricaDaily

Power cuts can be such a pain, right?But, for many South Africans, they have become a part of day-to-day life: something that you’d expect, rather than something you’d be surprised by.And the problem’s got so bad, that even President Cyril Ramaphosa has had to take action – but even he says it will be impossible to fix the problem overnight. So, why exactly is electricity giving South Africans such a headache?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Times are changing for LGBT Africans.In Angola, being in a same-sex relationship is no longer a crime, thanks to a new law that has just come into force. And yet, well-rooted beliefs mean that life for the LGBT community there won’t change overnight.For long, LGBT Africans have struggled to come together and have their voices heard. But social media has finally provided them with a space to do so.In this second special episode, we hear from the people using those platforms.Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Times are changing for LGBT Africans.In Angola, being in a same-sex relationship is no longer a crime, thanks to a new law that has just come into force. And yet, well-rooted prejudices mean that life for the LGBT community there won’t change overnight.For long, LGBT Africans have struggled to come together and have their voices heard. But social media has finally provided them with a space to do so.In the first of two special episodes, we hear from Kevin Mwachiro, a journalist and queer activist in Kenya.Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Children should feel safe at school. But, in parts of Nigeria, parents are getting anxious.Just last week, dozens of students and staff were kidnapped by gunmen from their boarding school in Kagara, Niger state.This abduction was just the latest in a series of similar incidents that have made the headlines in recent years.But who’s behind these kidnappings? And what are they hoping to gain?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Getting a sandwich shouldn’t be this hard.In Sudan, a shortage of bread has meant prices have gone through the roof. There are queues outside bakeries, and some people are getting restless. Let’s not forget: in Sudan, bread and politics often go hand-in-hand. It was a hike in bread prices that, two years ago, led many people to call for the removal of President Omar al-Bashir from power.So, why is it so hard to get bread right now? And what does this tell us about Sudan’s various economic problems?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Time to ditch second-hand clothes?For decades now, African countries have imported second-hand clothes from Europe and the US. And they have proven to be a real lifeline for those of us who can’t afford brand new outfits. But the sheer amount of clothes being imported has, at times, got in the way of African businesses. Designers, tailors, or garment factories complain there’s little money left for them to make.That’s why some of them have been calling for those imports to be banned - or, at least, seriously limited. How feasible is that, though? And what impact could this actually have?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Having children through surrogacy isn’t simple.In fact, in most African countries, it’s still such a novel idea that most of them don’t actually have laws in place to deal with such cases.Take Kenya: just last week, President Kenyatta spoke about the legal void there is around surrogacy. He did it, as he rejected a law that would have given time off work to parents of adopted children or those born through surrogacy.But for the mothers and fathers going through this experience, what types of obstacles stand in their way?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Is Nigeria done with cryptocurrencies?For the last couple of years, Nigeria has built a reputation as one of the largest cryptocurrency markets in the world. On social media, there’s no shortage of “rags to riches” stories: people who, having joined the cryptocurrency bubble, made good money in the process.But the Central Bank of Nigeria is worried about the legality of this trade, as well as its lack of transparency and regulation.So, it has asked banks to close down cryptocurrency accounts – which has angered many of the “crypto-evangelists” involved in the trade.Could this be the end of cryptocurrencies in Nigeria? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Somalia’s president is out of time.His term should have ended on 8 February, but holding elections has proven difficult.Part of the problem is that politicians can’t quite agree on how different votes should happen. The government says it has always been ready to facilitate free and fair elections.But the clock is ticking - and some say this political deadlock could come at a heavy price.So, how did we get here? And what is the way out?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Accusations – and bullets – flying in all directions.It’s been 100 days since fighting broke out in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.In that time, thousands of people have been forced out of their homes. Many are going hungry. When it all began, the government said this about carrying out a “law-enforcement operation”.But, amid allegations of war crimes, it’s been hard to find out what’s actually going on.So, what do we really know about the situation in Tigray? And how did it all begin?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

It’s been a rough couple of months.Mental health has rarely been a priority for most African governments.So, when the pandemic hit, the few support services available often found themselves overwhelmed.But younger people are set on changing the way the continent talks about mental health – and they’re using social media to put the topic back on the agenda.How much difference can they make?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja)#AfricaDailyIf you are affected by any of the issues mentioned in this episode, you can find information about support organisations on the Befrienders Worldwide website: https://www.befrienders.org/

Where did it all go wrong?Not that long ago, Nigerian farmers and cattle herders used to live side-by-side in peace. But those memories seem to belong to a distant past now.In recent years, tensions have escalated between these communities - so much so, that deadly attacks have become frequent.How did it all begin then? And how can farmers and herders find peace again?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja)#AfricaDaily

It’s time for some discipline - or, at least, that’s what the Kenyan government thinks. The education secretary has openly called for corporal punishment to be reintroduced in schools across the country.He says discipline (and perhaps a little caning) is the only way to deal with unruly students – who, in recent weeks, have burnt down their dormitories and attacked their teachers.Teachers’ unions are up in arms and say they won’t accept the return to such archaic practices.So, is physical punishment really coming back to Kenyan schools?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter) #AfricaDaily

Africa’s beauty industry is soaring.Across the continent, there’s never been this many people with enough income to spend on beauty products.African companies are tapping into this growing market, but it’s not always easy for them to compete against more well-known (often European) brands.But multinationals themselves face challenges when trying to operate in a continent that they don’t often fully understand.So, what opportunities await the businesses and entrepreneurs brave enough to try and claim Africa’s market for beauty products?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Has Tanzania really dodged the pandemic?This week, their health minister announced it had no plans to roll out Covid vaccines.This hardly came as a surprise: just a few days before, President Magufuli had suggested coronavirus vaccines could harm people.No evidence was ever provided to back such claims, and yet they really worried health officials across the continent. Critics have accused the president of playing down the threat posed by the virus - but do they have a point? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

A drug that shields women from HIV. Sounds good, right?Despite advances in treatment and prevention, HIV is still rampant across parts of the continent: in east and southern Africa, more than 20 million people are living with the virus. Young women are particularly at risk.But a new device that’s just been approved by the World Health Organisation could give women a lot more control over their sexual health. It’s a silicone ring worn inside the vagina that releases an antiretroviral drug called dapivirine. But how effective is it? And who will be able to access it? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Can South Sudan be king of coffee?Years of a vicious civil war have taken their toll on the country. Oil production is not what it used to be – so, many in South Sudan are looking for alternative ways to kickstart the economy.In the Equatoria region, some farmers say coffee is the answer.But they face many hurdles to compete against big, more established coffee producers across the continent, such as Kenya, Ethiopia, or Rwanda.Can coffee really be the fix South Sudan so desperately needs?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Who’s in charge in the Central African Republic? It depends on who you ask. Rebel forces are now in control of two thirds of the country, but they’re not quite done yet.They want to see President Faustin Archange Touadéra gone. He was re-elected last December, but his opponents say he didn’t win fair and square.Meanwhile, thousands of people have already fled the country fearing for their safety.So, how did we get here? And where did this rebellion begin?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

The government says as it battles a surge in Covid-19 cases a ban on alcohol is necessary to alleviate the pressure on its healthcare system. The last ban was imposed on December 28th. But the South African government is now facing mounting legal challenges to its ban on alcohol. The brewing industry argues that legal action is needed to protect its employees, suppliers, and customers. It says the damage to the South African economy is disproportional and unlawful and takes away the right of the South African public to responsibly consume a drink in the safety of their home. It says unless the ban is lifted millions of jobs could go. So, is the government taking the right path to fight the pandemic? That's what we've been looking at in today's episode of Africa Daily. Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter) #AfricaDaily

Young Tunisians are fuming.For the last two weeks, they’ve been organising protests across the country, sometimes clashing with the police. And the unrest couldn’t have come at a more symbolic time. It’s now ten years since Tunisia got rid of its long-serving President, Ben Ali. The type of occasion that calls for a toast, right? Not quite. Many people feel their problems remain unaddressed - from the lack of jobs to police repression.So, will their voices be heard this time?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

We need to talk about periods.For many women across the continent, being unable to buy sanitary products every month means missing school or work. That’s what experts call “period poverty”.African governments are aware of the problem: Ethiopia has recently cut down taxes on sanitary products, hoping to address the issue.But some say tax cuts aren’t the way to go and that, first of all, taboos need to be broken and mentalities changed. Could they be right?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Is the worse still to come?A new variant of coronavirus that scientists think started in South Africa appears to be spreading across the continent. It seems to be more transmissible than the original strain and slightly more resistant to the existing vaccines. Compared to the rest of the world, Africa has seen a relatively low Covid-related death toll. But, in Zimbabwe, Covid cases have tripled since the start of January and doctors say hospitals are overwhelmed. How quickly is the new variant spreading – and how dangerous could it be for Africa? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Is it time to say “adieu”?France has had troops across the Sahel for years now. They’ve been fighting a number of violent jihadist groups that have spread across the region.Mali is at the centre of their operation, but some people have had enough.They want the French soldiers gone, even if insurgents are unlikely to lay down their weapons.Has the time come for Mali to wave French troops goodbye?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Feeding a continent is hard work.To produce enough food for 1.3 billion people is no mean feat, but climate change is making that job even more difficult.As the world is getting hotter, African farmers are in a race against time to find new and ingenious ways to work under increasingly extreme conditions.A Malawian farmer has an idea – but can she succeed?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#AfricaDaily

Is this Museveni’s last dance?Yoweri Museveni may have won a sixth term as Uganda’s president, but his party took a battering in parts of the country.And, as his critics are quick to point out, Museveni’s now 76 – which has led some to wonder whether this might be his victory lap. So what happens now? And what does the turmoil and controversy around the election tell us about Uganda’s future? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter) #Africa Daily

Covid is costing many of us our jobs.An African Union report says as many as 20 million could go as a result of the pandemic.Even before all this began, youth unemployment across Africa was already twice as high as that among older adults.So when economies started slowing down, young workers were the first to feel the pressure.What can African governments do to protect them?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)#Africa Daily

Is Africa on Joe Biden’s mind?Well, he has quite a lot on his plate right now: in just a few hours, he’s being inaugurated as President of the United States. But as the world waves Donald Trump goodbye, many will be wondering how Joe Biden will reshape America’s foreign policy – especially across Africa. What will his arrival mean for the continent? And what can we all expect from him?Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter) #AfricaDaily

The joys and anxieties of returning to Africa. For many people in the diaspora, the decision of returning to Africa does not come naturally – and yet, some are making that journey back. But why?And what’s in it for countries like Ghana, who’ve actively been asking their diaspora to reconnect to the motherland? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter), with a special contribution from journalist Hannah Ajala.Post about us on social media: #AfricaDaily

Getting 1.3 billion people vaccinated is no easy job. At first glance though, things look optimistic: the Seychelles has already started its vaccination programme and the African Union has secured hundreds of millions of doses to deliver across the continent. But when will they reach the people who need them – and who can expect to receive them first? #AfricaDaily

One question, one story. A new podcast that takes a deep dive into the news shaping Africa. Alan Kasujja leads the way. Join us from 18 January 2021. #AfricaDaily