Our episode this week focuses on Land Conflict in Southeastern Zimbabwe. Our guest is Dr. Eric Kushinga Makombe, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History, Heritage and Knowledge Systems at the University in f Zimbabwe and a Research Fellow in the History Department at the University of Free State, South Africa. Eric provides a rich history and analysis of the internal and external displacement of Zimbabweans due to land conflicts where indigenous land owners (largely farmers and pastoralists) are displaced by private capitals.

In this episode, we focus on the post-election violence that has ensued in Mozambique following the controversial electoral victory by the FRELIMO party in the November 9th election. FRELIMO is one out of many liberation parties across Africa from ANC in South Africa to ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in Botswana that is facing serious challenges to their continued relevance in dealing with contemporary issues. Our guest is a Mozambique subject expert, Dr. David Matsinhe, Adjunct Professor at the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, Canada.

In the last couple of months, we have witnessed increasing jihadist attacks in the military ruled Alliance of Sahel states of Mali and Burkina Faso. I am joined by Clionadh Raleigh, Professor of Political Geography and Conflict at the University of Sussex and President and Founder of the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, ACLED. Clionadh provides a detailed assessment of the factors responsible for this spike and the implications for regional and international security.

In this special issue, I am joined by three special guests to discuss Alzheimer’s disease and the prevalence of dementia in Africa. My guests are world renowned neurologist and professor of medicine at the University College hospital Ibadan (rtd), Professor Adesola Ogunniyi, family physician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital , Dr Oziegbe Oghide, and Mrs Olatoun-Gabi, the founder and trustee of the Gabi Williams Alzheimer’s Foundation. My very learned and experienced guests provide a rich and dynamic insight into the state (public awareness, treatment, financing etc) of Dementia and Alzheimer in Africa.

Our guest this week is Dr Peter Harris, Associate Professor of Political Science at Colorado State University. Peter joins me in discussing the controversial Chagos Island including the implication of the U.K. handing over the island to the Mauritius government and as well as the reservation and criticism against the decision by some activist.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr Ghadafi Saibu, a Ghanaian political scientist and Associate Researcher at the German Institute of Development & Sustainability. Dr Saibu provides a rich assessment of Ghana’s forthcoming 2024 Presidential Election and the controversy surrounding the voter registration system.

Russia has withdrawn troops from its special unit, Beer Brigade stationed in the Sahel to bolster its ongoing war against Ukraine. Also, Russian paramilitary force in the Sahel has suffered heavy losses owing to the combined attacks from jihadist and rebel groups in the Sahel. Fidel Owusu, an international security expert joins me in this episode to discuss this issue and the impact on Russia’s ambitious agenda in the region as well as on the military regimes of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso that are being supported by Russia.

This week, I am joined by Dr Adeoye Akinola, Head of Research & Teaching at the Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation South Africa, to discuss Africa’s campaign for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Issaka Souare, Senior Governance and Mediation Advisor and former UN Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisor and former Special Advisor to the African Union Mission for Mali and the Sahel. Dr Souare and I discuss persistent collapse of negotiations and peace agreements in conflict zones in Africa-against the background of the problematic peace agreements between the RSF and SAF in Sudan.

Today, we mark a milestone as we publish our 50th episode. Our guest is Elling Tjonneland, a political scientist with nearly 30 years of operational experience as advisor and consultant to all types of development assistance in several parts of the world including Africa. Elling joins me in discussing the recent strategic partnership between Nordic countries and West African countries. These partnerships will prove crucial as we see a decline or shift in the relationship between Africa and traditional western partners such as the US and France.