Africa Daily

Artificial intelligence is the science behind human intelligence in machines.It makes simple acts like sending a text or an email, even e-banking easier. But there is a downside to it, if used for spreading disinformation or committing crimes from scams to hacks and cyberattacks. And this is where regulations and policies to safeguard against such types of negative AI use come in. But how is Africa getting on, how prepared for AI is the continent and what are governments doing? Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Nanjira Sambuli, Fellow, in Tech and International Affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Protests have erupted in Ethiopia over the last five days. Demonstrators have taken to the streets and several people have blocked roads and burnt tyres, in an attempt to prevent the military from travelling around.The protests were ignited by a recent government announcement that the country’s 11 regional security forces would be integrated into the federal army or police force. The government say this will promote national unity across the country. The decision has faced strong opposition in Amhara, with huge protests in cities and towns taking place across the region. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to BBC correspondent Kalkidan Yibeltal about the situation there.

Last December, military leaders in Sudan agreed to hand back power to civilian groups. It was seen by many as a move toward ending the ongoing political crisis there. Military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Buran said at the time "The military belongs in the barracks." A transitional two-year period led by civilian leaders was agreed in the deal. But last week the agreement on the transition to civilian rule was postponed and it’s unclear when this will finally happen. Sudan has been gripped by crisis since the army overthrew long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019.Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to the BBC’s Lukwesa Burak about a recent conversation she had with three women who live in the capital Khartoum about life there.

“When you look at the entire integration in the region, be it economic, be it social, all of it sounds like a pipe dream. But it’s a dream that is quite possible” In the 1800s, a conference attended by Europe’s prominent states in Berlin, took a decision to partition Africa. It resulted in social, political and economic marginalisation of Africa’s citizens. With colonialism, came the borders that exist to this day. Now, a movement of Pan-African activists have launched what they describe as a “borderless Africa” campaign. They want Africans to travel within their continent without border restrictions. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Hardi Yakubu, Sanele Sibiya

When former journalist, Joseph Bayanga, witnessed the death of three generations of a family on a Kampala road - a mother, daughter and grandchild – he decided enough was enough.More people die on Uganda’s roads – 14 every day – than anywhere else in East Africa.Kampala’s Mulago National Referral Hospital even has a special ward just for the drivers of boda bodas who account for the highest number of deaths. Boda bodas are the motorbike taxis which weave precariously through the traffic at every junction with one, two or even three passengers on their backs.So Joe reinvented himself as a road safety campaigner ‘Joe Walker’ and walked 340 km in just 10 days from Kampala to his home town of Bushenyi to raise awareness on the subject.Today Alan Kasujja revisits this episode as he takes a drive round Kampala’s roads with Joe and asks: can anything be done to make Uganda’s roads safer?Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guest: Joe Beyanga @akeda4

Today we’re revisiting an episode from a few months ago which seemed to really resonate with people. Alan was reporting on an article which ranked the countries with the best cuisine in the world. Taste Atlas, who describe themselves as a ‘’world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants” caused quite a stir online when they published their 2022 list. A lot of people weren’t happy because Algeria, South Africa and Tunisia were the only three African countries to make it to the top 50. Taste Atlas say rankings are based on audience votes for ingredients, dishes and beverages. Italy, Greece, Spain, Japan and India were the top five countries on the list. This episode looked at what’s stopping a wider range of African cuisine from getting international recognition. As you’ll hear at the beginning of the episode, it got a lot of people talking and sharing their tips for the best dishes on the continent.#AfricaDaily

The online economy is offering more opportunities than ever before. But not everyone is getting equal access. Last month we heard how women are less likely to access the internet across the continent. This digital gender gap has been found to weaken the economy overall. So, what might politicians do to close the gap? #AfricaDaily

Today is Independence Day in Senegal, but not everybody is celebrating. The day is being snubbed by the Yewwi Askan Wi opposition coalition. Last week, opposition supporters staged protests ahead of the trial of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. On Sunday, he was found guilty of libel against Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang, who he had accused of embezzlement. Sonko was given a two year suspended jail term. But he has accused the country's president of leading a "strategy of terror" to drive out political opponents. Shortly after this episode was recorded, President Macky Sall told the nation he is open to dialogue in a televised speech ahead of the independence celebrations. So, what’s behind the political unrest in Senegal?

“I think we should never ever get to a point where we are talking about building a wall between any of our neighbouring countries” In February and March this year, the authorities in Lesotho and South Africa hosted meetings to push back against increasing incidents of cross-border crimes. These include human trafficking, money laundering and cattle rustling. The police ministry in South Africa tells Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja that the gatherings resulted in “game-changing” strategies. The question now is, will they bring tangible results to the citizens of the two nations?

“For me to leave a place of security, a place that’s been good to me and my family, to go back and get harassed - I’m not prepared to do that.” In the early 2000s, at least 4,000 white Zimbabweans were kicked out of their farms to make way for their black counterparts. Robert Mugabe, who was president at the time, argued only this could address historical injustices. During the colonial-era, much of the country's arable land was reserved for the white population while black farmers were forced onto marginal areas. But President Mugabe’s land reform policy triggered global sanctions, the impact of which is still felt by ordinary Zimbabweans, to this day. Now, with the country batting food insecurity, should white Zimbabwean farmers, who are doing well in countries like Zambia, consider going back home? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Graham Rae and Prosper Chitambara