The East African Perspective podcast

Thomas Lesaffre and Musanjufu Benjamin Kavubu
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The East African Perspective is a thought-provoking podcast that explores African and global issues through the lens of East African voices. Hosted by experienced journalists Thomas Lesaffre and Musanjufu Benjamin Kavubu, the show features lively news debates, classic African music interludes, and insightful interviews with experts from across the continent.Listeners will enjoy it because it’s both deeply informative and culturally rich. Each episode goes beyond headlines to unpack topics like climate change, AI, trade, and security in relatable ways. It’s a fresh, intelligent, and authentic

  1. 11/28/2025

    The Sudan Conflict with Dr M. Munir A. Safieldin

    Sudan faces one of the most severe crises in the world today. Half of the fifty million population needs urgent aid. Twelve million people are displaced inside the country. Four million refugees have crossed borders into Uganda, Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic. Nineteen million children have been out of school for more than two years. Hospitals and clinics have suffered eighty percent destruction, and hunger is rising fast. Dr M. Munir A. Safieldin explains how this crisis grew from decades of political manipulation and armed groups empowered by state leaders. Omar Al Bashir and Hassan Al Turabi built a state that relied on militias instead of strong institutions. The Janjaweed killed thousands in Darfur in 2003, and by 2020 they had formal economic and military power. The 2019 revolution pushed for civilian rule, but military leaders Hemeti and Al Burhan blocked the transition. Their rivalry triggered the 2023 war that continues today. Sudan’s conflict is not an isolated civil war. It is shaped by foreign interests that profit from gold extraction, arms flows, and regional influence. The UAE funds the RSF and gains from gold worth an estimated three billion dollars. Weapons used in the conflict originate from Western and Israeli sources licensed through the Gulf. These networks turn Sudan into a proxy war and expose the region to renewed instability. Dr Munir describes this as a modern form of external control built on population displacement and resource capture. Humanitarian assistance remains critically underfunded. Only twenty percent of the four point three billion dollar appeal has been met. Refugees face violence and exploitation in transit countries. South Sudan now hosts more than one point two million Sudanese, straining limited services. Access to trapped populations in Darfur and the Nuba Mountains is blocked. Dr Munir calls for honest African leadership that prioritizes peace over foreign pressure. Competing interests between Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Khartoum undermine mediation. He warns that without unity, Sudan’s crisis will spread across the region. He urges young East Africans to understand these dynamics and demand accountable institutions to prevent similar crises in their own countries. This episode gives you a clear view of Sudan’s war, its regional impact, and the geopolitical networks driving it.

    53 min

  2. 11/24/2025

    Derrick Wandera on State Control, Media Freedom, and Regional Security

    Uncover the Intriguing Dynamics of East Africa! Dive into the electrifying world of power and politics with "The East African Perspective." This episode peels back the curtain on how militarization transforms politics and trade in a region filled with tension and opportunity. From the struggle for gold to the impacts of youth anger, we explore it all through gripping field reports, sharp policy analysis, and real-life examples from Sudan, eastern Congo, Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.  What Awaits You: - Discover why Sudan is pivotal to regional security and learn how control of gold is reshaping power dynamics. - Understand how rebel governance in Goma is revolutionizing markets and challenging state authority. - Unravel the significance of Djibouti's military bases and their influence on trade through the bustling Red Sea. - Explore how youth protests in Dar es Salaam and beyond are shaking the foundations of electoral legitimacy. - Witness how elites navigate military ties and foreign investments to cling to power amidst dwindling public trust. Who Should Tune In? Policy makers, journalists, students, and savvy investors eager for an insightful perspective on East African geopolitics and geoeconomics. Equip yourself with hard facts, not empty slogans, and ignite your curiosity with the pivotal questions shaping the region! Listen on any platform to immerse yourself in a thorough analysis that will enhance your understanding of East Africa’s future. Get ready for an enlightening journey!

    1h 15m

  3. 11/14/2025

    From Dar es Salaam to Goma: Power, Security, and Economic Pressure

    This episode examines elections, rebel governance, foreign influence, and the growing demand for dignity across Africa. You get clear data, lived observations, and a blunt view of regional change. You hear why voter turnout in Dar es Salaam is expected to fall below 50 percent. Youth protests replace voting. This threatens government legitimacy and weakens trust in elections. You see how governments struggle to win back young voters who view formal systems as empty. You hear why President Alassane Ouattara won 89.77 percent in a fourth term with no real opposition. You see how this mirrors Cameroon, where Paul Biya, at 92 years, won 53 percent despite long absence from public duty. These cases show how ruling classes hold power through managed elections. The effect is public anger, street protests, and rising questions on succession. Madagascar offers a different outcome. Youth protests removed Andy Rajoelina after his French citizenship violated the constitution. The movement focused on dignity and sovereignty. This signals a generational shift across Francophone Africa. You get field notes from Goma. M23 controls borders with strict systems that raise government revenue. Public offices function with lower corruption. Yet arbitrary arrests and torture continue. Twenty five percent of Goma’s population has left. M23 soldiers say they are ready to advance toward Kinshasa but face political limits that freeze the conflict. Sudan presents a wider regional threat. RSF forces funded by the UAE use advanced drones against the Sudanese army. The war is driven by competition for gold. RSF controls major mines. Massacres, forced displacement, and destruction risk genocide classification. Foreign support blocks a political solution. Ethiopia sits on fragile ground. Accusations against TPLF for buying weapons raise fears of renewed war. Military divisions and coup threats weaken the state. Any collapse of the peace deal would create serious humanitarian and regional costs. You hear why Djibouti is the most stable point in the Horn. American, Chinese, French, and Japanese bases sit in one small country. This brings steady income. It demands political continuity. Djibouti’s position on the Red Sea keeps global powers invested. Port Sudan is now a contest between the UAE, Russia, and other actors. Control of the port shapes gold routes, arms flows, and regional leverage. Influence is shifting away from France toward new global players. Kenya balances U.S. security ties with Chinese debt and infrastructure. Kenya’s non NATO ally status signals a deeper U.S. partnership. At the same time, Chinese loans continue to shape transport and trade. Loan repayment will not be in U.S. dollars. This signals a wider currency shift in global development. You hear why China’s industrial zones in Africa follow its 1980s coastal model. Cheap labor, duty free access, and quality control bring African goods into large markets. Ethiopia’s textile sector shows this with brands like Zara. Across the episode you see one theme. Gen Z demands dignity and sovereignty. Youth movements reject corrupt leaders and foreign backed elites. They demand constitutional respect and national identity. The next decade will bring leadership transitions as long serving rulers age out. Success will depend on young leaders with real institutional experience. French influence remains strong but increasingly contested. The protection offered to dual citizens in African politics exposes contradictions. African audiences demand respect, not interference. This episode gives you a clear picture of Africa’s political shift driven by youth pressure, security struggles, and global competition.

    39 min

  4. 10/29/2025

    Raila Odinga, The Nobel Peace Prize, Gaza Ceasefire and latest developments in Greater East Africa.

    Raila Odinga, The Nobel Peace Prize, Gaza Ceasefire and latest developments in Greater East Africa. Episode Description: Africa’s Leadership, Sovereignty, and Global Shifts This episode of The East African Perspective examines current political, economic, and diplomatic developments shaping East Africa and the wider world. Benjamin Musanjufu and Thomas Lesaffre unpack major regional stories and their global implications through a lens of sovereignty, generational change, and leadership accountability. The discussion revisits the legacy of one of East Africa’s most influential leaders and his impact on democracy, policy direction, and regional diplomacy. It also explores Tanzania’s upcoming election, where President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to secure her first full term, and what her leadership means for the country’s political stability and East African cooperation. A major focus is on Africa’s sovereignty movements and how nations are asserting control over their economic and political systems. From the rise of local payment systems like Commessa that aim to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar to new African-led approaches to peace and governance, the episode highlights a continental shift toward independence and self-definition. The hosts also question the credibility of international peace efforts and the Nobel Peace Prize amid global power competition. They link these issues to ongoing military and diplomatic tensions across Africa, emphasizing the need for leaders who balance state interests with people-centered governance. Listeners will hear insights on: How sovereignty and dignity are redefining African politics. Why generational leadership shifts are reshaping governance. The role of technology and finance in reducing external dependence. The difference between peace as diplomacy and peace as business. What economic independence means for the region’s future. This episode offers context you will not find in conventional coverage. It connects East Africa’s politics to global trends and helps you understand where the region is heading in the next decade.

    27 min

  5. 10/24/2025

    East Africa’s AI Future: From ChatGPT to Local Innovations with Dr Annabel Habinka, PhD

    Podcast Description: This episode of The East African Perspective explores how artificial intelligence is shaping Uganda and the East African region. Dr Annabel Habinka, a lecturer and researcher at Makerere University, explains how AI is solving local problems in health, agriculture, and education. We discuss why Uganda relies on foreign cloud services, what data sovereignty means for Africa’s future, and how regional collaboration is helping local universities build their own AI capacity. Dr Habinka shares clear, practical ways for young people to learn AI skills and create jobs around data, analytics, and innovation. You will learn how AI supports farmers facing climate change, doctors diagnosing tropical diseases, and entrepreneurs using predictive tools to improve business. The episode also examines the global AI power race between China, the United States, and Europe, and how Africa can stay independent through local research, policy, and ethics. If you want to understand AI beyond the hype, this conversation gives you a grounded view of East Africa’s AI ecosystem—where challenges meet opportunity, and innovation starts with solving local problems.

    43 min

  6. 10/14/2025

    Ugandan Military Footprint in East Africa: Imperialism or Pan-Africanism With Gen Felix Kulayigye.

    Episode Description: The UPDF’s Regional Role — A Fresh Look at Power, Doctrine, and Integration This episode of The East African Perspective presents an uncommon and detailed conversation with General Felix Kulayigye, spokesperson of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. He explains the UPDF’s doctrine, regional mission, and long-term vision for East Africa From Somalia to the DRC and South Sudan, General Kulayigye explains the reasoning behind Uganda’s deployments in plain language. He shares how the army’s political education and Pan-African roots continue to shape its approach to security forty years later.l We discuss how Uganda’s location defines its military and economic choices, why “African solutions to African problems” matters in practice, and how stability links to trade and integration. The discussion also covers Rwanda tensions, the South Sudan mission, and the ADF threat in eastern Congo. This is not a ceremonial interview. It is a direct and factual discussion about how the UPDF sees its role in East Africa. If you want a clear understanding of how Uganda’s military power connects to regional politics, trade, and Pan-African integration, start here.

    45 min

  7. 10/03/2025

    Ugandan Military Footprint in East Africa: Imperialism or Pan-Africanism? UPDF as a Regional Force (Part 1)

    In this episode of The East African Perspective, Thomas and I take on the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and its role in the region. We look at the UPDF not only as Uganda’s army but as a force active in Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and beyond. We talk about the GERD dam dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt, the stubborn insurgency of the ADF, and the layers of foreign involvement in Somalia. We also ask if military deployments alone are enough, or if East Africa needs new models of governance once the guns fall silent. This is part one of the conversation. It is us laying the ground before we host the UPDF spokesperson in part two. If you want a clear, policy-driven take on security and geopolitics in East Africa, this episode is worth your time.

    55 min

  8. 09/28/2025

    Nancy Kalembe: Politics, Media, and the future of Uganda's Youth

    In this episode of The East African Perspective, I sit down with Nancy Kalembe, former presidential aspirant, author, and one of Uganda’s most recognizable voices in politics and media. We talk about: Her journey in politics and the challenges of campaigning as a woman in Uganda. The state of journalism/Main stream media and what it means for Uganda as a society. How she thinks Uganda should respond to youth unemployment, and the needed Educational reform. Why she supports Tanzania’s decision to restrict small business to its own citizens, even though it runs against the EAC charter. Her books, which she first shared with us on this podcast and you can get a copy by reaching out to her on Whatsapp +256 701 960524 This is a candid conversation on politics, policy, and regional realities. Nancy Kalembe doesn’t hold back on what she believes Uganda and East Africa need to move forward. If you want grounded insights into Uganda’s 2026 race, the media environment, and the economics of integration, this episode is for you.

    54 min
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About

The East African Perspective is a thought-provoking podcast that explores African and global issues through the lens of East African voices. Hosted by experienced journalists Thomas Lesaffre and Musanjufu Benjamin Kavubu, the show features lively news debates, classic African music interludes, and insightful interviews with experts from across the continent.Listeners will enjoy it because it’s both deeply informative and culturally rich. Each episode goes beyond headlines to unpack topics like climate change, AI, trade, and security in relatable ways. It’s a fresh, intelligent, and authentic

Information

  • Creator
    Thomas Lesaffre and Musanjufu Benjamin Kavubu
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The East African Perspective podcast
  • Show Website
    The East African Perspective podcast