Africa Daily

Malawi’s President - Lazarus Chakwera – told rich countries to “pay up or perish with us” ahead of the COP26 climate summit. Developed nations are yet to meet a promise to pay £100bn to poorer countries each year to deal with climate change. Projects to transfer to renewable energy or cope with the impacts of climate change are expensive…more than most countries on the continent can afford. But Af...

World leaders are coming together for talks that are seen as crucial to bringing climate change under control. Fossil fuel emissions are causing the world to heat up. It’s causing extreme weather – heatwaves, floods and droughts – which is making life less secure for millions of people. Despite being responsible for a fraction of carbon emissions, Africa is especially vulnerable to the effects of...

Would you like to take a swim in the sea? How about something more adventurous…snorkelling or diving maybe? Zandile Ndhlovu is a South African born diver. She loves being in the ocean, but she thinks not enough black people are enjoying a dip. She calls herself the ‘Black Mermaid’ and she’s on a mission to get more people on the continent into the water. And she thinks once people experience the m...

Africa is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels to generate electricity. In West and North Africa, oil reigns supreme. And in southern Africa, particularly South Africa, coal still wears the crown. As global leaders prepare to discuss solutions to climate change at the COP26 summit, moving away from fossil fuels will be high on the agenda. But transitioning to renewable energy is difficult and exp...

Uganda’s government closed schools when the pandemic hit in March 2020. Some children haven’t been back to the classroom since. And others only returned for a few weeks. Uganda is the last country in Africa to keep its schools fully shuttered. President Museveni says in person teaching will resume in January at the earliest. So, has it been worth it? And how are Uganda’s children coping without sc...

The recent news of eight Nigerian men accused of an internet dating scam has highlighted the problem faced by the country’s authorities trying to reign in so called cult gangs and their international operations. A case involving the FBI and Interpol revealed a crime that involved the defrauding of more than 100 victims across continents of almost 7 million dollars over the past decade. So, where d...

France and Mali have been exchanging harsh words in recent weeks. The tension between the two usually close allies started to sour after Paris’s decision to withdraw troops from the country. Now there are reports that the government in Bamako will turn to the Russian private security group Wagner to help maintain security. Wagner provide private soldiers in conflicts around the world, such as Cent...

Since the end of Apartheid South Africans have largely stuck with parties that represent their own racial group. But with a new generation of voters growing up in a democratic nation, is it time for South Africans to cast off their racial allegiances? Host: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guests: Godfrey Skosana from the Freedom Front Plus and Jess Griesel from the Economic Freedom Fighters #AfricaDaily

One year ago frustration with police brutality in Nigeria boiled over into massive street demonstrations. Much of the anger was directed at the notorious Special Anti Robbery Squad - or SARS. And soon the slogan “End SARS” was being heard around the world. So, where does Nigeria stand now 12 months on? Host: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guests: anti corruption activist Hamzat Lawal, photographer Inyene...

For those who work to combat domestic violence there are concerns that with the Covid 19 pandemic forcing many people to remain at home, incidents have been soaring. It’s been called a "Shadow Pandemic", with some countries reporting a five-fold increase in calls to helplines. So what more needs to be done for women experiencing gender based violence? Host: Karnie Sharp (@KarnieSharp) Guests: Sand...

Oil prices have been rising around the world for months. And people in Kenya know that as well as anyone. Fuel prices there were already much higher than in neighbouring countries. As they’ve continued to climb, so have the prices of everyday goods. So, how are people coping with the rising cost of living? And is there any relief on the horizon? Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Reporting: Peter Mwang...

Kenya and Somalia are having a bit of trouble with their closest neighbours…each other. For years they have disagreed about where their sea border should be drawn. When Somalia wasn’t happy with the direction of negotiations, they asked the International Court of Justice to step in. But, despite a decision from the court this week, it doesn’t look like the matter will be resolved any time soon. So...

People have been dancing the night away to the congolese rumba for more than 70 years. Now the Democratic Republic of Congo and The Republic of Congo have launched a joint campaign to get the genre recognised internationally. They want UNESCO to include it on a list of intangible cultural heritage. For many people, Congolese rumba remains at the core of African music. So, how did it become so belo...

South Africa launched the continent’s first satellite in 1999. Since then, African countries have launched more than 40 more into orbit. And over the next five years, there are plans to triple that number. So, why is there such a scramble to put satellites in space? And how will they benefit people back on Earth? Host: Karnie Sharp (@KarnieSharp) Guest: Pontsho Maruping #AfricaDaily

Fourteen men are standing trial accused of complicity in the murder of the former president of Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara. Almost 34 years after his death, Sankara remains an iconic figure to many young people across Africa. His image adorns walls, bars and taxis across west Africa. And words are shared today on social media platforms that he never knew existed. So, why is Thomas Sankara still s...

Students across Africa have missed out on school thanks to the pandemic. In Rwanda, thousands have failed their exams and the government wants them to catch up. So they’re planning to extend the school day. Is that a good idea? Will extra hours help students make up for lost time? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guest: Letisia Murungyi (@Rungisha)

Nigeria’s government has recently announced that civil servants will be granted paternity leave after the birth of a baby. They’ll get two weeks off work to spend with the new arrival, help support the mother and…change nappies. The news has been celebrated by many fathers, with many asking whether it will pave the way for dads to spend more time at home. So, are Nigerian fathers ready to tackle p...

Most countries around the world are in some kind of debt. Money is borrowed to invest in a prosperous future, where paying it back won’t be a problem. In Africa, more and more of that investment is coming from China. It’s helped to build railways, airports and roads. But some of these loans have come at a high cost and repayments are expensive. So, is it still worth it? Is investment from China st...

Climate change is causing more and more extreme weather. And farmers across the continent are facing the consequences. Frequent droughts and floods are ruining their crops. But could scientists have the answer? They’ve helped develop new varieties of grains that are more resilient to the effects of climate change. Will these be enough to save farmers and feed the continent? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan...

Zimbabwe once sat as a powerhouse alongside Africa’s biggest economies. Over the past two decades though, Zimbabwean’s have been on an economic rollercoaster, experiencing crashes, strikes, hyperinflation and unemployment. Millions of people left the country in search of guaranteed work and better wages. Many of them are still overseas. However, in the last few months, the economy has shown the fi...

Nigeria is about to become the first country in Africa to launch a digital currency controlled by their central bank. Instead of carrying notes and coins, Nigerians will have the option to carry electronic money in an e-wallet on their phones. The eNaira will be issued directly from the central bank to users, in the hope of brining financial services to millions of unbanked people. And with other...

After four years of brutal attacks by Islamist militants, Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province has been left decimated. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes. In July, Rwandan forces stepped in. Neighbouring countries have since joined them. Things seem to have stabilised. Now, some Mozambican authorities have urged displaced people to return to the region. But is that true? Is it re...

As Sudan and South Sudan prepare to open their shared border, can a revival of social and economic ties help mend relations and bring peace between the two countries? They were at war less than ten years ago, and conflicts over oil territories on the border have continued. But it’s hoped that trade and travel can be a boost for both countries. We’ll hear from both sides of the border about hopes f...

Millions of people visit South Africa each year to enjoy safari’s, culture and nightlife. The tourism industry has been hit hard by Covid-19, but there are other issues it has been struggling with for longer. More than 25 years since the end of apartheid, the sector remains largely in white hands. Very few businesses meet the target of 30% black ownership. So, as the sector tries to recover from t...

Ethiopians who didn’t get a chance to vote in last June’s election get their chance this week. At the time it was argued that logistical and security issues made it difficult to hold elections in many regions. The authorities however continue to say that some regions cannot provide sufficient support to the electoral process and therefore won’t be taking part this week. And some opposition parties...