Africa Daily

For the best part of this year, the Kwacha, Zambia's currency has been doing exceptionally well. Some economists have described it as among the best performing currencies against the dollar. This might not be good news for exports, which will be more expensive to buy in other countries. But it has been welcomed by Zambians who are paying lower prices for food and services than this time last year. So, while many countries around the world are facing a cost of living crisis, is Zambia managing to buck the trend? #AfricaDaily

BaSotho are heading to the polls on Friday in an election that will choose the next prime minister. The country of just two million people will chose between more than 60 political parties hoping to gain power.It has been a rocky decade in Lesotho’s politics.The coalition government formed in 2012 was challenged when Prime Minister Tom Thabane fled the country claiming to be the target of a coup.The Southern Africa Development Community had to intervene when two law enforcement agencies were found to show favour to political parties. There have been multiple leaders since then.So, can Friday’s election help to restore political stability?#AfricaDaily

WARNING: This episode contains description of violence and death which some people may find distressing. “There could have been a dissenting voice saying no, no, no – don’t do that. Nigeria is a place where people don’t seem to have value for human life”. Ten years ago, the deaths of four young men – who became known as the ‘Aluu 4’ – shocked Nigeria, after they were viewed by thousands of people on a viral video. The men, in their late teens and early twenties, had been falsely accused of theft. After a mock trial they were brutally beaten and killed. The families of the men have been speaking to the BBC about their memories of that time – and their subsequent fight for justice. Despite mass calls for change at the time of the deaths, ten years on similar killings are still taking place - with more than 200 such deaths in the last three years. So can anything be done to change the culture? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Alan Kasujja) Reporter: Nduka Orjinmo (@ndukaorjinmo)

Burkina Faso is no stranger to coups. It’s had seven military takeovers since its independence from France in 1960.On September 30, a group of junior soldiers toppled a fellow military ruler in Burkina Faso.Announcing their takeover on national television, the putschists accused Lt. Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba of failing to quell jihadist attacks in the country. Damiba had been in charge since he and the military toppled President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré in January. This time the interim leader is 34-year-old Ibrahim Traoré. So, two coups in just eight months, with both leaders claiming to want to sort out the issues in Burkina Faso, but clearly not finding the right solution. Just yet. Alan Kasujja is asking whether Burkina Faso can solve its political instability. He’s been speaking to Burkinabé journalist Ouézen Louis Oulon and Niagalé Bagayoko, a security expert on the Sahel region.

When Alan visited Johannesburg in July, the city was reeling after a mass shooting at tavern in Soweto. Sixteen people were killed by gunmen while socialising with their friends. It a spotlight on increasing violence at drinking spots across the country. That month 25 people died in such incidents. Last week, five people appeared in court in relation to the shooting in Soweto. But the people Alan spoke to at a tavern nearby said they had little confidence that the police could keep them safe. Is that the case?

In the early 2000s, African Union members adopted what is known as the Yamoussoukro Decision. The treaty was designed to open up air transport between African countries by promoting fair competition among airlines. However, World Bank says this hasn’t really taken off, as African countries are still restricting their markets to prefer state owned carriers. But now, South Africa seems to be taking a different approach. Not only is it opening up its skies to fellow African airlines, it’s even striking deals with foreign carriers like Air Belgium. Is this the start of a fresh approach to air travel? And could open skies help body African economies?#AfricaDaily

Uganda is facing an Ebola outbreak which has reportedly infected more than twenty people. And five people have died since the virus was detected last week. The association of medical workers in Uganda has called for the affected region - Mubende - to be quarantined. But on Wednesday evening, President Museveni said quarantines were not being considered as part of the response. He tried to reassure Ugandans that the government will be able to stop the virus spreading, citing experience gained with previous outbreaks. So, can Uganda contain its Ebola outbreak?

The United Nations Security Council is tasked with ensuring international peace and security. It has five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It also has 10 other members who are elected on a regional basis for a term of two years, and among those there at the moment representing Africa are Gabon, Ghana and Kenya. At the recent UN General Assembly – UNGA – among the many topics that were discussed, the question about having a seat on a permanent basis for Africa – which is the only world regions that’s not represented permanently - was raised. Today Alan Kasujja is asking why doesn’t Africa have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. He’s been speaking with Professor Carlos Lopes, who’s held various UN roles over the years, including policy director for former and late Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He’s professor in the Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Content warning: This podcast includes vivid descriptions of the sinking of the Joola which some listeners might find distressing. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Twenty years ago, news of terrible event began to spread throughout the city of Ziguinchor in the south of Senegal. A passenger ferry – carrying more than 1,800 people from Casamance to the capital Dakar in the north – had gone down in a storm with the loss of almost everyone on board. Amongst the dead were 444 children. Just about everyone in the small city knew someone who’d died. In the months and years that followed enquiries blamed a number of shortcomings including overcrowding and a lack of safety measures and radio equipment to call for help. But despite the scale of the disaster – with hundreds more deaths than in the Titanic – those affected say they now feel abandoned and forgotten. They want the boat – and the remains of their loved ones - to be raised from the seabed. Now a BBC documentary has heard from two of the just 64 people who survived – as well as from those who lost family members. Victoria Uwonkunda spoke to Efrem Gebreab, one of the documentary's producers, for Africa Daily – and listens to some of the testimonies of those affected. ‘The Joola: Africa’s Titanic’ can be seen on BBC Africa Youtube. Producers: Efrem Gebreab, Wahany Sambou and Frederic Tendeng. Director: Nicky Milne Camera: John Wendle

Within ten days of being sworn in as Kenya’s 5th president, William Ruto found himself attending two of the largest global events this year with other heads of state - Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) - a gathering of leaders and NGOs and activists alike in the US state of New York.Away from the glitzy streets of New York and the UN, loads await the new president back home. A struggling economy, now made worse with the cost of living crisis, unemployment is still a struggle for many and these are some of the top issues President Ruto and his government have to tackle. Away from the big tasks at hand, there’s also that now infamous fallout between him and his former boss Uhuru Kenyatta, who snubbed him and instead supported another candidate during the election. So when Alan Kasujja sat down with him in New York during the UNGA to find out what Kenya’s new president, William Samoei Ruto, has been up to in his first couple of weeks in charge, there was plenty to talk about.