Africa Daily

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