Air strikes and explosions hammered Sudan's capital on today after the failure of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between the army and paramilitary forces

A continuous bombardments and loud blasts could be heard in central Khartoum in the area around the defence ministry compound and the airport, residents have been forced to stay hunkered down.

Some large numbers of residents are fleeing the Sudanese capital, Khartoum as fighting continues for a fifth day in the city centre.

This as General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan have been engaged in a fierce battle that saw more than 200 people being killed when the conflict intensified this week. The two factions could not agree on the implementation of the peace plan.

Guest: Duaa Tariq - Human rights defender and artist (on the line from Khartoum)

Guest: Charles Nyuykonge - Peace and Development expert specialising in Program Design and Evaluation; an Analyst, Researcher, Trainer and Policy Development Specialist.

Some of the challenges she has mentioned:

Water issues,

No electricity,

Almost 200 people killed - the number of injuries not accurate,

Few hospitals were bombed, lack of food and lack of medical supplies,

Food supply issue is very bad, there is looting of supermarkets, people are running out of food.

Guest: Charles Nyuykonge - Peace and Development expert specialising in Program Design and Evaluation; an Analyst, Researcher, Trainer and Policy Development Specialist.

*Wrote a piece last year, touching on issues faced by the country titled - Sudan at a  crossroads The role of women in  post-Bashir peace processes

Guest:  Johanna Leblanc, National Security Law and Foreign Affairs Legal expert 

Last year Amina Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General  told the Security Council that Haiti is facing the worst human rights and humanitarian emergency in decades.

According to her gang violence has paralysed the country, obstructed the freedom of movement of people, goods and humanitarian aid, fuelled the resurgence of cholera, increased food insecurity to unimaginable levels, displaced 155,000 people and disrupted the education of thousands of children.

Earlier in the month, Haiti landed on the International Rescue Committee (IRC)’s 2023 Emergency Watchlist top 10 as political instability, gang violence, rising food insecurity and disease outbreaks escalate a humanitarian crisis.

This evening we look at the worsening insecurity of Haiti - once the wealthiest colony in the Americas, but is now the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.

***The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises—including the climate crisis—to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.

Founded at the call of Albert Einstein in 1933, the IRC is now at work in over 40 crisis-affected countries as well as communities throughout Europe and the Americas. We deliver lasting impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always seeking to address the inequalities facing women and girls.

***She also served as the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Haitian government.

ELECTORAL AMENDMENT BILL

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Electoral Amendment Bill into law.

The Bill was passed by both houses of Parliament in February this year following the historic Constitutional Court ruling that found that the Electoral Act was unconstitutional, as it did not allow independent candidates to contest provincial and national elections.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly in February after a Constitutional Court order to amend the law was handed down in June 2020.

*** Home Minister Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is expected to establish a Electoral Reform Consultation Panel following the signing into law of the Electoral Amendment Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Motsoaledi is expected to set up the panel within four months after the gazetting of the amendments.

*** The Independent Electoral Commission says it is preparing for the 2024 national elections despite possible legal challengs following the signing into law of the Electoral Amendment Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

*** IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya this afternoon said they're ready to proceed with preparations for the 2024 national elections despite some civil organisations threatening litigation over the Electoral Amendment Bill. They've criticised it as being fundamentally flawed alleging that it disadvantages independent candidates

Guest: Granville Abrahams - General Manager  Electoral Matters

***To answer: How according to the IEC  this will impact on the electoral processes and the next elections

Guest: Steven Friedman - Research Professor, Humanities Faculty, University of Johannesburg

Guest: Bulelani Mkhohliswa -  Executive Director New Nation Movement (NNM)

*** After a legal challenge mounted by the New Nation Movement, the Constitutional Court declared the electoral law unconstitutional for only allowing political parties to be represented in provincial and national legislatures.

*** The NEW NATION MOVEMENT (NNM) is a NON-PARTISAN, all-inclusive Peoples' Movement.  It is made up of patriotic and committed South Africans that want to work together in ways that will advance the best interests of the nation and all South Africans, both now and in the future.

The NNM is not a political party. It is a network of like-minded South Africans from all walks of life, irrespective of race or language; religion, belief, gender or social standing, who speak with one voice and objective; that is, to exercise their collective influence to build a better South Africa.

https://newnation.org.za/

Guest: Granville Abrahams - General Manager  Electoral Matters

Guest: Steven Friedman - Research Professor, Humanities Faculty, University of Johannesburg

Guest: Bulelani Mkhohliswa -  Executive Director New Nation Movement (NNM)

Guest: Dr Giada Del Fabbro, Clinical and Forensic Paychologist

Understanding Hybristophilia

Guest: Busi Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership South AFrica

Guest: Advocate Stefanie Fick, Executive Director of the Accountability Division at Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) 

Guest: Joel Mhlongo he is a Member of our National Working group for Right to Know

What Impact Has The National State Of Disaster Had On South African Hospitals?

The court applications to have the decision to terminate the Zimbabwe exemption permit (ZEP) set aside.

Luke Mufaro Dzviti SJ - Chairman of Zimbabwe Immigration Federation

Sandile Swana - Political Analyst and Governance Expert & Khaya Sithole - Political Analyst

South Africa's Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana has withdrawn the decision to exempt of Eskom from declaring irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in its financial statements. 

Dr  Claude Kabemba. Executive Director of the Southern Africa Resource Watch. It is a pan African research and advocacy institution that invests in the  promotion of good governance of natural resources on the continent.

The Zimbabwean government has ordered an investigation into reports of gold smuggling and money laundering after a television channel's documentary.

Guest: Mighti Jamie - Researcher, analyst and social & political commentator