Africa Daily

BBC World Service

3.4 (5)
NEWS
UPDATED DAILY

One question to wake up to every weekday morning. One story from Africa, for Africa. Alan Kasujja takes a deep dive into the news shaping the continent. Ready by early morning, five days a week, Monday to Friday.

12 HR AGO

COP29: Was a raw deal for Africa better than none?

African negotiators at the COP29 left deflated and disappointed with the $300 billion deal reached at the summit, saying it fell short of their expectations. Delegates from the continent at the summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, had called on rich nations to commit $1.3 trillion per year to help poor countries address climate change. But after two weeks of intense negotiations a deal was reached, with rich nations agreeing to pay $300 billion annually to poorer countries. But some expressed relief that a deal, at least, had been struck. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Uganda’s ambassador to the UN Adonia Ayebare, who was the lead negotiator for The Group of 77 plus China, representing the interests of 134 developing countries. Producer: Peter Musembi

22 min
1 DAY AGO

Why does South Africa want Hamas and Israeli leaders arrested?

“The warrant signals to Israel, it signals to the supporters of Netanyahu [that] you have moved out of the realm of approval of a very great number of nations” – Professor Emeritus André Thomashausen, University of South Africa On the 21st of November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Mohammed Deif, a military commander of the Islamist group, Hamas, has also been added to the ICC’s list, even though Israel previously said he was killed in an airstrike in July. ICC judges say there are “reasonable grounds” that the three men bear "criminal responsibility" for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. These relate to the on-going conflict in the Gaza Strip, in the Middle East. But Mr. Netanyahu has rejected the warrants, describing them as “anti-Semitic”. In a statement, the ICC says the office of its prosecutor received a referral of the situation in the State of Palestine. It came from South Africa, Comoros, Djibouti and several other nations worldwide. So, today Alan Kasujja wants to know why South Africa, a country which has long been campaigning to end the war in Gaza, wants senior Hamas and Israeli leaders arrested. Guests: Zane Dangor, Director General of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Professor Emeritus André Thomashausen of the University of South Africa

20 min
2 DAYS AGO

How are women being tricked into believing they are pregnant?

"I was hoping that by 9 months I will be a mother, but then they told me that I will carry the baby for at least 1 year and 5 months. So, I did not understand." A year-long investigation by the BBC's Africa Eye team has exposed how fraudsters in Nigeria are targeting women struggling with infertility with the promise of miracle babies in exchange for hundreds of dollars. Vulnerable women are tricked into believing they’re pregnant and told delivery of their baby won’t happen without payment for an expensive drug. The film discovers a network of deception and exploitation involving the illegal trafficking of babies. BBC reporter Ebere Ekeopara went undercover to expose one clinic in Anambra state, in southeastern Nigeria. She spoke to Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja about the stories of women convinced to carry “pregnancies” for over a year.

21 min
5 DAYS AGO

What’s behind Mozambique’s post-election unrest?

Mozambique’s government has banned protests and restricted internet access amid post-election unrest that has left several people dead and injured. The unrest follows last month’s disputed presidential election, won by the long-ruling Frelimo party, which denies opposition claims of vote-rigging. Opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, went into hiding after his lawyer and aide were shot dead while preparing to challenge the results. BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke with Mozambican journalist Fernando Gonçalves about the crisis and its impact on ordinary citizens.

18 min
6 DAYS AGO

Can carbon trading save Africa’s largest rainforest?

“We don’t have clear legislation (for) the carbon market that can guarantee the rights of local communities and indigenous people.” The Congo Basin forest is known as the “lungs of Africa” because of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide – around 1.5 billion tons each year. It also provides food and income for indigenous and local populations in the six countries it spans. And this week, at the COP 29 climate conference, it’s being discussed as an example of a carbon sink which can help the world prevent further global warming – and be part of global carbon credit trading. So why – with the forest in urgent need of protection from deforestation - do some activists say Carbon trading is NOT the answer? Presenter: Alan @Kasujja Guests: Ève Bazaiba, DRC Environment Minister. Bonaventure Bondo, a forest campaigner with Greenpeace Africa.

17 min
20 NOV

Can Namibia’s national election address its land reform headache?

“I ask myself, where will I be after graduating? And looking at ownership of a house, it seems like a farfetched dream that could never materialize” – First time Namibian voter Rivaldo Kanongo Kavanga On the 27th of November, the citizens of Namibia will choose a new president in an election expected to be the most competitive since independence in 1990. The ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) is fielding veteran politician Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah who is tipped to become the country’s first female president. Land reform is one of the key election issues. Government statistics show that the white population still own 70% of agricultural land while the indigenous majority remain marginalised. Namibia attained its independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, with liberation hero Sam Nujoma becoming its first head of state. Before South Africa’s occupation, Namibia was under German colonial rule. In 2021, the European country apologised for the killings of 65, 000 Herero and 10, 000 Nama people, pledging to fund development projects worth more than a billion dollars. In today's Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to people in Namibia about whether this election will address the question of land reform.

19 min
19 NOV

What’s the cost of being a journalist in Eritrea?

Eritrea is the worst place to work as a journalist in the world and is one of the most repressive countries on press freedom. In the latest World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, Eritrea was ranked last out of 180 countries. Since 2001, the government has banned all independent media outlets, leaving only state-controlled media under the Ministry of Information. That year, about 11 journalists were arrested and put in jail without trial in a crackdown against the country’s first independent newspaper. Half of them have since died while the rest, including journalist Dawit Isaak, languish in prison. Mr Isaak is now considered to be one of the world's longest detained journalists. He was recently recognised with the prestigious Edelstam prize in Sweden for his commitment to freedom of expression. His daughter Betlehem Isaak will be receiving the award on his behalf today. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to her about campaigning for her father’s release and what she believes needs to be done to make this happen.

16 min
18 NOV

Why are some Nigerian Gen Z professionals saying ‘no’ to being their parents’ pensions?

“You should not put too much expectation on your young ones, especially those from a humble background. They have their own lives to live.” Femi Olayanju. “Parents put themselves on hunger strike so they can abolish poverty from their families. And then this child grows up and comes back to say ‘I’m sorry I can’t take care of you’. That’s insensitive.” Abosede Sodiq ___________________________________________________________________________ It’s always been an expectation: when children reach adulthood in Africa they should ‘look back’ and care for their parents – especially as they age and can no longer work themselves. But in Nigeria some young professionals – from Gen Z - are pushing back against this, saying they’re struggling to manage financially themselves with the spiralling cost of living. They say too many parents treat their children as their ‘pensions’ expecting them to support them financially, even if they themselves don’t have the resources, and even if they gave them little care when they were children. For today’s Africa Daily Alan Kasujja hears the opinions of three Nigerians from different generations. And it’s a discussion which certainly gets passionate!

19 min

See All (985)

Alan Kasujja

Host

3.4

out of 5

5 Ratings

One question to wake up to every weekday morning. One story from Africa, for Africa. Alan Kasujja takes a deep dive into the news shaping the continent. Ready by early morning, five days a week, Monday to Friday.