Africa Daily

In this discussion, Ugandan journalist Raymond Mujuni, an expert on international relations, dives deep into the DRC conflict. He unpacks the complex interplay between South African and Rwandan interests in the region, especially regarding mineral wealth. Mujuni critiques the influence of external players on local sovereignty and the dynamic relationships among armed groups. The conversation also highlights the urgent calls for governance and dialog as East African nations seek to stabilize the conflict zone. A must-listen for those curious about regional power games!

“Growing up in Ogaden, I was surrounded by war - there was massacres and abuses. At a young age, I recall seeing looting and dead bodies everywhere. At the age of 12, I was arrested by government troops and imprisoned along with my whole family.”Ogaden, or the Somali region, is a remote area of Ethiopia – little known by much of the world. But in 1970s, Ethiopia and Somalia fought a war over it, and at the start of this century a conflict was waged between rebels from the Ogaden National Liberation Front and the central government . A peace agreement was finally reached in 2018 with the ONLF agreeing to give up their arms and the government pledging to allow them pursue their aims politically. But the ONLF now says it’s reassessing the peace agreement, because the government hasn’t fulfilled its side of the bargain. Today on Africa Daily, Alan gets the thoughts of a former rebel who set up a support group for her fellow female fighters, and from an academic who lays out why this dispute has proved so difficult to resolve. Producer: Mohamed Gabobe.

Rabies is a disease which is known across Africa, killing thousands of people each year through the bite or lick from an infected animal, usually a dog. However, we have the vaccines to protect dogs against rabies, and we also have the vaccines to protect humans against rabies. So why haven’t we eliminated rabies from Africa yet? With the help of two people who are dedicated to ending rabies, we find out what needs to be done to end this deadly disease.Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Salima Kadaoui, founder of the SFT Animal Sanctuary in Morocco, and Andre Coetzer, Technical Director of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.

Ghana’s Dr. Angela Tabiri is the first African to win ‘The Big Internet Math Off’, a global competition where mathematicians make complex ideas easy to understand.Once set on studying business, she found her true passion in maths, leading to a PhD in quantum algebra. Now, she’s mentoring girls, breaking STEM stereotypes and shaping Africa’s future in quantum science.Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Dr. Tabiri about her win and the power of numbers.

Kalkidan Yibeltal, a BBC correspondent in Addis Ababa, and Hilina Legesse, Vice President of Dodai, Ethiopia’s first EV manufacturer, delve into Ethiopia's groundbreaking ban on petrol and diesel vehicles. They discuss the surge in electric vehicles amidst challenges like high costs and scant charging infrastructure. The guests highlight the government's ambitious goal to import 500,000 EVs by 2030 and emphasize the economic benefits for urban commuters, particularly gig workers, in a rapidly evolving transportation landscape.

“What makes this case more than difficult, what makes this case bitterly sad and bitterly frustrating, is that this didn’t have to happen” – Odette Geldenhuys, South African lawyer. In the mid 1990s, the South African government set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It was aimed at looking into human rights violations and to promote dialogue between victims and perpetrators of political violence. At the end of its work in 2003, the commission recommended that 300 cases needed to be prosecuted, but this did not happen. Now, 25 families of those who lost their loved ones during apartheid, have taken president Cyril Ramaphosa to court, urging him to look into these cases. They allege that there were no prosecutions because there was political interference. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Buyisiwe Njoko, Yasmin Sooka, Odette Geldenhuys

There are now many more stock markets in Africa than there were forty years ago. Ethiopia is the latest country to join the club after re-starting its stock market this month. But what role do they play in the economy of our countries, and how exactly do they work? The companies, the shareholders, the risks and the rewards are all explained as we look into whether stock markets are an engine of economic growth on the African continent. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Abena Amoah, the Managing Director of the Ghana Stock Exchange and Japhet Imhanzenobe, financial lecturer at the Pan-Atlantic University in Nigeria.

Joseph Nganga, Special Envoy for Mission 300, discusses the urgent need for electricity in Africa where 600 million live without power. He highlights the transformative impact of energy on rural businesses, featuring Mama Shaban, a food kiosk owner who thrived after gaining access to electricity. The ambitious Mission 300 aims to connect 300 million people by 2030, focusing on clean energy solutions and the role of private sector collaboration. Nganga emphasizes tackling challenges through distributed renewable energy to drive economic growth and uplift communities.

US President Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office raises pressing questions about how his policies will impact Africa. From trade and aid to health programs and climate policies, Trump’s first term saw cuts to foreign aid, shifts in trade priorities and the controversial Prosper Africa initiative. With his withdrawal from the WHO and the Paris Agreement, there are growing concerns about how these decisions will affect Africa’s health systems and climate change efforts. Africa Daily's Mpho Lakaje speaks with the BBC’s Samuel Lando in Nairobi and the BBC’s reporter in Abuja, Chris Ewokor to explore the potential ripple effects of Trump’s re-election on the continent.

Minnesota is home to the largest Somali community in the United States, but for many Somali refugees finding stability and employment has been a struggle.So Mariam Mohamed, a Somali woman living in Minnesota, co-founded Hoyo in 2015. It’s a business that provides empowerment and jobs to refugee women through the shared tradition of making sambusas, a popular Somali delicacy. This savoury snack has now become a hit in school cafeterias across the state. In today's episode, Alan Kasujja speaks to Mariam Mohamed and Hoyo co-founder Ghita Worcester about how sambusas have become a source of pride for Somali families and a culinary discovery for Minnesotans.