Africa Daily

Nigeria is set to introduce a new student loan scheme, intended to help more young people access higher education. The loans, which will be interest free, will be targeted at the poorest families, who may struggle to pay tuition fees. But some people are questioning if it’s the right policy and how graduates will be able to pay the the loans back, especially if they struggle to find work.

In 2003, Darfur hit the international news – and the world grew used to seeing images of burning villages and people fleeing for their lives. Hundreds of thousands died and millions were displaced. But now the people there are again suffering a horror of an eye-watering scale.With the whole of Sudan at war and the Sudanese Army pulling out of much of the region, armed militias have sprung up and villages have again been razed to the ground. But this time the city of El Geneina has also become a site of destruction, looting and despair.So how is the situation different to 2003? And can anything be done to stop the violence getting worse?For Africa Daily, Alan @Kasujja hears stories from within Darfur – and speaks to those desperate to reach their families and make sure they are safe.

On Saturday morning, Ugandans woke to unsettling news of a militant attack on a boarding school in the west of the country. Authorities say 37 students were killed. Five others, including a security guard who tried to stop the violence, also died. The militant Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) are thought to be responsible for the killing. The group originated in Uganda in the 1990s, but now conduct operations from across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. So, who exactly are these militants? And what is being done to stop them?#AfricaDaily

On a recent visit to Kenya, Colombian Vice President, Francia Márquez, announced that Swahili will soon be offered as a foreign language option in schools.The scheme will also see teachers from African countries get the chance to teach in Colombia, as well as Colombians teaching Spanish on the continent. It is rare for African languages to be learnt by people overseas.On today’s episode Alan speaks to Colombian Javier Aranzales.For him, learning Swahili as an adult changed the whole trajectory of his life.#AfricaDaily

“People come here as asylum seekers and their intention is not to stay as asylum seekers. They are actually here to run small businesses, and that’s illegal” In recent years, Malawi and South Africa have been facing similar challenges relating to asylum seekers. People are flocking into Malawi to seek refuge, fleeing conflict in the DRC and other troubled parts of the continent. In May, the government of that country arrested nearly a thousand refugees and sent them back to a camp specifically set up to house them. At the same time, South Africa is tightening its immigration rules and regulations in the small business sector. That’s because some asylum seekers have been breaking the country’s laws by setting up businesses without the relevant immigration documents.

“My father used to tell me that in one night when they went out fishing they used to come back with 70 or 80 kilos of fish, but at the moment they’re doing the same but coming back with one kilo or half a kilo.”Mida Creek, on Kenya’s coastline about two hours north of Mombasa, rightly has a reputation for being a birdwatcher’s paradise. Surrounded by mangrove forests, its beaches teem with crabs and other crustaceans – which in turn bring in migratory birds from around the world. Juvenile sea turtles hide in the safety of the roots. Fish used to flood in, tempted by the bounty of food it offered, but in recent years stocks have plummeted because of pollution – and the people living there struggle to feed their families.So a number of local people have set up groups to try to promote ‘ethical tourism’ – encouraging people to stay within the creek, use the boardwalk the community has built, and to turn to locals as tour guides. The Bidii Na Kazi women's group (meaning ‘effort and work’) receives funds to replant the waning mangroves and runs a small kitchen and restaurant. And the community also holds regular trash collections to try to keep the creek pristine. For Africa Daily, Alan @kasujja speaks to two people who grew up there: Hassan, a local tour guide whose father is a fisherman and Eunice who volunteers with the women’s group. But can they stem the tide of pollution?

The wearing of Niqabs and Burkas– garments worn by some Muslim women- has been a hotly debated topic around the world. The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear and a burqa, the most concealing of all Islamic veils, is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through.Niqabs and Burkas have been banned in several countries and the debate around them has centred around religious freedom, women’s rights and even security.Sherifah Yunus Olokodana, runs her food business SMD Natural Cooking in the biggest city in Nigeria, Lagos and wears her niqab with pride. But she says she’s subject to a lot of abuse in the streets and online. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to her about running her business and how she deals with social media trolls.

Morocco has announced that it will begin teaching Tamazight in primary schools. The language of the Amazigh people, who live in many north African countries, dates back more than 2500 years. Morocco will also recognise Amazigh New Year as a public holiday. The country is home to the largest population of the Amazigh people and has been for hundreds of years. So, why are the government recognising their culture now? #AfricaDaily

“I stand to be corrected but I think I’m the only hearing person who went to a deaf school. Don’t ask me why because even I want to know why. I did my Maths and Biology and Science in sign language”In May of this year, South Africa passed a law which will officially make sign language the 12th official language.This follows intense lobbying by activists over many years.Estimates vary greatly on the number of users: from 700,000 to 2 million.This includes hearing people who communicate with their disabled relatives, friends and colleagues.Experts say, although there are similarities, every country in Africa and the world has its own sign language, with different dialects.So, considering the influence of western cultures and communication mediums, how can native African sign languages be developed, to ensure they don’t perish?Presenter: Alan KasujjaGuests: Andiswa Gebashe and Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst

When fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces in mid April, there were just over 360 children - including many infants - living in the Mygoma orphanage in Khartoum. Like most of the population, they were trapped. In the time since, 67 of the children have died of malnourishment or illness. Those caring for them couldn’t get enough food. Some of their regular carers couldn’t reach them. And hospitals were destroyed or inaccessible. But now, all these weeks later, a coordinated effort by a number of agencies has finally got them out to safety. So what’s the story of the children of the Mygoma orphanage? For #africadaily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Unicef’s child protection expert in Sudan, Osman Abu Fatima, who was in charge of setting up their new home.