Africa Daily

Rebel groups and violent conflicts are far too common in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the heart of this violence are continuing wars that are fuelled by the country’s vast mineral wealth, with various groups taking advantage of the anarchy to plunder copper, cobalt, gold and diamonds. Between 1994 and 2003, millions of people were killed or forced to flee from conflicts that continuously leave death and destruction in its wake. DR Congo has had and still has its fair share of rebel groups, each fighting for one thing or other, but none has been as prominent as M23 – or the March 23 Movement. The group – a Tutsi rebellion - had long accused the Congolese government of marginalising the country's ethnic Tutsi minority and aimed to fight a DR Congo-based Hutu-majority militia group, called FDLR - The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. And this has led to bad blood between Rwanda and DR Congo, with both countries trading accusations of supporting one rebel group each. M23 was driven out of DR Congo in 2013, but now they are back and have renewed its fighting with the Congolese army. This is a complex issue and so to explain and help make sense of it, Ferdinand Omondi has been speaking with Samba Cyuzuzo, a BBC reporter who covers the region and is today asking – who are the M23 group and what do they want in the eastern DR Congo? Guest: Samba Cyuzuzo, BBC Great Lakes reporter

In their quest to try and find ways to control what they are calling an “overpopulation” of its elephants, Zimbabwe recently held a summit, in the hopes to garner support to lift the ban on the ivory trade. Zimbabwe says it’s sitting on an ivory stockpile of more than 130,000 tonnes which could net them more than half a billion dollars and which in turn could help develop the country with building of schools, hospitals and roads. They also believe the funds could help sustain conservation work. Zimbabwe also maintains the elephants are a threat to local communities whom they come into conflict with in search for space and resources. The elephants are also blamed for crop destructions and killing people, with at least 35 reported fatalities so far this year. But countries like Kenya, which is firmly against the lifting of the ban believes that by doing so it could revitalise ivory sales and lead to the resurgence of illegal markets. Trade in ivory was banned in 1989 by the Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species – Cites - in efforts to protect elephants. So on today’s Africa Daily, Ferdinand Omondi is asking why is Zimbabwe trying to get rid of some of its elephants? Guest: Tinashe Farawo, Zimbabwe national parks spokesperson

Over the last month or so, two successive floods have hammered South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province. More than 400 people have lost their lives, and roads, bridges and schools are amongst the infrastructure damaged in what has been described as the biggest natural disaster of post-apartheid South Africa.But why has the region been so badly impacted by this flooding? Is this the ‘new-normal’ because of climate change? And what can be done to protect people from future catastrophes?Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje puts these questions to the KwaZulu Natal premier Sihle Zikalala and climate scientist Dr. Justin Pringle – as well as meeting a lifeguard, Mthokozisi Cele, who sprang into action to save lives the morning the floods gushed through his local area. “A lot of people were screaming inside their houses, cars were all over, sinking in the rivers. And I could see that if I don’t help them, they will die.”Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje)

In April, the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal experienced a period of heavy rainfall. It caused flooding that killed more than 400 people. Many are still unaccounted for and tens of thousands were made homeless. In recent days, the rains have returned putting more people in danger and without homes. But why has the flooding been so devastating? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has travelled to the province to find out.Host: Mpho Lakaje @mpholakaje#AfricaDaily

“I lost a schoolgirl. Eleven-year-old. My first-born daughter. She was just killed in cold blood – simply because of her ethnicity.” Marsabit in Kenya is a frontier district which borders Ethiopia. Because it’s arid, water is scarce – and over the years the two main communities living there have clashed over resources and politics. But now the violence has reached a new level: with children and city dwellers killed. There’s concern that weapons and disputes are being imported from across the border with Ethiopia. So the government has introduced a month long curfew – and a police operation, backed by the army - to search for and confiscate the illegal arms. It says it’s concerned the weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists.In response to allegations that they’ve used excessive force during the crackdown, the Kenyan Police Service has asked for the community’s patience, while the interior minister stressed that the operation would be ‘painful but necessary’. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to the BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza during his visit to the area.Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Despite it being a regular bodily function, menstruation isn’t often talked about. But it’s something that is causing huge problems for many women on the continent. It’s estimated that one in ten girls miss school while they’re on their period And the cost of sanitary products can make them too expensive for many. At the end of this week, World Menstural Hygiene Day is encouraging us all to think of it as just a normal fact of life. Campaigners are calling for an end to the stigma and taboo So, do we need to talk more about menstruation? #AfricaDailyHost: Ferdinand Omondi - @FerdyOmondi Guests: Candice Chirwa - @Candice_Chirwa Emmi Erondanga - @MissKochKenya

Doormen hassling you, endless questioning and a ban on visitors.These are the challenges faced daily by single women renting in Egypt.And this is after they've managed to clinch a deal with an amenable landlord. Many refuse to let to single women, arguing it could damage their building’s reputation or ruffle its other residents’ moral feathers. And boyfriends? Out of the question.So, why is it so hard for single women to rent in Egypt?Two 24-year-old women, Menna and Fatma, talk to Alan about their bumpy rental journey. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

“None of the politicians are close to decision making today”.When Guinea’s army toppled the sitting – and unpopular – president Alpha Conde in September last year, people celebrated in the streets. Even opposition politicians expressed a cautious welcome – and supported a transition to civilian rule of over a year or more. But now, eight months on, the army has said it needs 36 months before it hands over power. It’s also banned all political protest and clamped down on opponents.So what can the opposition do? A group of 58 political parties have formed a coalition with one aim – speeding up the return to democracy. Africa Daily speaks to Thierno Yaya Diallo of the party Guinea Modern – part of the coalition.Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Thierno Yaya Diallo and Alhassan Silla

They say necessity is the mother of invention… and that seems to be the case for one entrepreneur in Zambia. The country’s reliance on imported foreign fuel has led to years of price hikes and shortages at the petrol pumps – which lead in turn to panic buying. But Mulenga Mulenga kept his head and switched on his brain – using the crises as inspiration for finding a new source of fuel. It’s currently small-scale with his company producing hundreds of litres of petrol a day from waste plastic – but his plan now is to scale that up to two million litres a day. So is this a viable solution to Zambia’s reliance on foreign fuel? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Hundreds of US troops could soon be returning to Somalia after President Biden approved their deployment. It's nearly 18 months since American forces left, which was the decision of former President Trump. In that time, the militant group al-Shabab is said to have gained strength and attacks against government and peace keeping forces have increased. It has been a busy few days in Somalia, with a new president - Hassan Sheikh Mohamud - elected on Sunday. So, what do these latest developments mean for Somalia and the fight against al-Shabab?#AfricaDaily