Africa Daily

“They made me, a woman who’s over 80, crawl the street in front of soldiers laughing and shouting and hurling abuse.”Today on the podcast we hear stories from the people of Omdurman from the BBC’s Mohanad Hashim, who was born and raised in the city. Sudan has been embroiled in a war since the army and a powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (or RSF), began a vicious struggle for power in April 2023, leading to what the UN has called one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. It says more than 20 thousand people have died, with millions becoming refugees.Just over a month into the war - in May 2023 – the RSF took military control of Omdurman. But in February this year the army recaptured it, giving Mohanad the opportunity to return to his home city for the first time in three years with a BBC team. For Africa Daily, he tells @mpholakaje of his response to finding his home and city in ruins – and of hearing tales of brutality and pain from family, friends and neighbours.

Before you listen to this episode, please be warned we will be discussing incidents that are highly distressing. Some of the explanations could upset some listeners.Abortion laws vary across Africa, leading to many cases of unsafe abortions. Sub-Saharan Africa records over 6 million unsafe abortions annually according to the African Institute for Development Policy. The maternal death rate from unsafe abortions in Africa remains among the highest globally, underscoring the urgent need for clearer laws and better access to safe care. In Uganda, abortion is illegal unless the mother’s life is at risk, which has meant that many there resort to unsafe terminations. Despite significant funding for post-abortion care, women and healthcare workers in Uganda remain reluctant to seek or offer help due to societal and religious pressures. Activist Moses Odongo, whose 14-year-old cousin Christine died in an attempt to terminate her pregnancy, talks to Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje about what happened to his cousin.

Before you listen to this episode, please be warned we will be discussing incidents that are highly distressing. Some of the explanations are graphic and could upset some listeners. Today Mpho Lakaje sits down with Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile who had a horrifying experience when she went for an abortion facility in Johannesburg. It came after she was raped in 2009 and opted not to keep the baby. She explains to our presenter why women risk their lives by opting for an unsafe abortion even though terminating a pregnancy is legal in South Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions in the world, contributing to around 7% of maternal deaths in the region. In countries like Egypt, Madagascar, and Congo, abortion is completely illegal. On the other hand, South Africa, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau permit the termination of pregnancy within certain time frames.

“I have no intention of resigning from this job. I’ll fight till the end. I have no doubt that I will get justice.”This week in a historic vote the National Assembly voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. 281 MPs voted in favour and 44 against, making him the first Kenyan deputy president go through an impeachment process. Gachagua, who has served alongside President William Ruto since 2022, was expected to remain in his job until the next election in August 2027. However, his political career may be cut short.He’s been accused of corruption, undermining the president, and promoting ethnic division. He denies all the charges and described them as “outrageous” and “propaganda”’. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje spoke with BBC reporter Jewel Kiriungi in Nairobi to discuss what this impeachment could mean for Kenyan politics.

Dikembe Mutombo, the legendary basketball player from the DR Congo, died last month aged 52 from brain cancer. He was a giant of a man and giant of the game of basketball, winning many awards from the NBA as an all-star defensive player. He was also committed to using his influence to nurture basketball talent in Africa, and also bring about change through education, healthcare and humanitarian projects. We look back on his life with two people who knew him well: Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the Basketball Africa League, and Roger Muntu, an old friend.Presenter: Mpho Lakaje

Ramatou Nombro is a doctor living in Mali. She started her job with high hopes of wanting to help people in need in her country. But when she began working in a psychiatric department, she found herself battling against the odds. Not only has she struggled to keep up with her workload, during some months, she hasn’t received her wages. She has now decided to leave her profession. In today's episode of Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Ramatou and looks at what needs to be done to protect the mental health of Africa’s healthcare workers.

"Men are predisposed not to talk—that’s what we grew up knowing, especially African men." Research shows that hormonal differences between men and women influence how they handle stress. However, experts also point out that societal expectations often prevent men from showing vulnerability or expressing their emotions openly. Men tend to delay seeking professional help, while women are more likely to reach out for support sooner. This prolonged stress can lead to serious physical and mental health problems, sometimes with fatal consequences. According to the World Health Organisation, male suicide rates are significantly higher than those of women globally, with Africa having the highest rate in the world. Presenter: Alan Kasujja. Guests: Thomas Kwaka Omolo, Dora Kemirimo Okuja and Dr. Chido Rwafa-Madzvamutse.

While there’s no doubt that the internet has taken the human race forward, it has its dark side. If left unregulated, it can be exploited and used for the wrong reasons, like stealing money from people or to even compromise a country's security. This is why many governments across Africa say they require laws to counter what's often referred to as cybercrimes, to protect their citizens. But in countries like Malawi, Zambia, Eswatini, Botswana and Lesotho, there's a serious push back against some of these laws. Human rights activists argue that they will lead to the arrests of journalists who are investigating government corruption. In Malawi news reporter McMillan Mhone was arrested by the country’s Cyber Crimes Division in Blantyre. Presenter: Mpho LakajeGuests: Former editor of Lesotho Times Herbert Moyo, Lesotho’s Communications Minister Nthati Moorosi and Botswana’s independent journalist Mmapula Molapong

Presidential candidates have been campaigning and making their case for why they believe they should be the next president of Mozambique. The independent candidate Venancio Mondlane has caused the most excitement, especially amongst young voters. But most commentators don’t expect him or the other two opposition candidates to win. It’s assumed that the candidate of the ruling party, Frelimo, Daniel Chapo, will be the next president. Frelimo have been the ruling party for since independence, almost 50 years ago.In today’s Africa Daily Mpho Lakaje has been looking at the big election issues.

Ghana has made a major leap toward gender equality with the passing of its Affirmative Action law, after nearly three decades of delays and political promises. The law aims to increase women's representation in leadership positions, setting a goal of 50% by 2030. However, questions remain about its enforcement and the impact it will have ahead of the upcoming elections. Will this law bring real change to who holds power in Ghana, or will it face further challenges in implementation? BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Ghana’s Gender Minister, Dakoa Newman, on what the new law means for women in leadership.