Africa Daily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Since 2013, more than 70,000 Nigerians have crossed into northern Cameroon fleeing Boko Haram attacks. As they settled in Minawao as refugees, they were faced with difficult desert conditions, with nowhere to hide their heads when the sun was scorching. So they opted to join forces to plant trees and have build what is now known as The Green Refugee Camp.In today’s Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja speaks to one of the refugees, Isaac Luka, who gives an account of how step-by-step, refugees embraced tree planting to counter a hot climate, and how the initiative is providing jobs, shade, health and food for hundreds of refugees and local families.Alan also speaks to reporter Henry Tataw Ekambi to understand how Minawao looked before the refugees arrived, and to expert, Teboh Emmanuel, who shares insights into what it takes to successfully plant trees in arid areas.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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