The Africa Week

This week: Sudan's army on the offensive in Khartoum. The war in the eastern DRC front-and-centre as leaders of Rwanda and the Congo meet face-to-face, so what could Qatar get out of this? And Ghana's celebrated investigative journalist gets a massive pay-out. 

Episode 45: References/further reading:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/21/sudan-army-recaptures-presidential-palace-khartoum-major-battlefield-gain

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cge10nnynzlo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2r9709v8no

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20250319-tshisekedi-and-kagame-meet-in-qatar-for-crisis-talks-on-eastern-drc

https://african.business/2025/01/trade-investment/qatar-airways-and-rwandair-closing-in-on-deal-says-kagame?utm_source=semafor

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-lawmakers-back-presidents-emergency-rule-oil-rich-state-2025-03-20/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4ypgp9eg3o

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/20/kirsty-coventry-elected-first-female-president-ioc-sebastian-coe-denied-vote

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Southern African countries troop out of the DRC. Is South Sudan heading back to civil war? Remembering Athol Fugard. And the African artistes on repeat for King Charles.

Episode 44: References/further reading:

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c05m013rppjo

 https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20250313-trump-to-dr-congo-s-rescue-what-we-know-about-a-proposed-us-congolese-mining-deal

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/11/uganda-deploys-troops-in-south-sudan-as-civil-war-fears-grow

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2025/03/07/france-begins-handover-of-military-bases-to-senegal_6738927_124.html

https://www.africanews.com/2024/12/21/frances-president-sees-new-role-for-its-djibouti-military-base//

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/natasha-takes-case-against-akpabio-to-un-inter-parliamentary-union/#google_vignette

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/09/internet-shutdowns-record-high-africa-2024-access-weaponised

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd92z3823qyo

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/mar/09/athol-fugard-caught-the-impact-of-apartheids-full-on-attack-on-humanity

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Sudan takes the UAE to court. Can Trump actually say 'Lesotho'? And a mystery illness in the DRC. 

Episode 43: References/further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/6/sudan-files-case-against-uae-at-top-un-court-over-complicity-in-genocide

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1en05g83e6o

https://www.unicef.org/sudan/reports/sudans-child-rape-and-sexual-violence-crisis

https://www.economicsandpeace.org/reports/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q18x0192yo

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20250304-us-grant-cuts-could-affect-two-million-worldwide-disrupt-hiv-aid-in-kenya

https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON557

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdjy91gr48lo

https://regtechafrica.com/namibias-telecom-sector-surpasses-43m-in-data-revenue-amid-digital-expansion/

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Chaos in the eastern Congo, London's patience with Kigali begins to run thin. Peace officially comes to Casamance at last. And a social media storm over Afcon. 

Episode 42: References/further reading:

https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/dw/drc-president-tshisekedi-to-hold-talks-to-form-unity-government-20250226

https://www.france24.com/en/video/20250227-explosions-rock-m23-rebel-leaders-rally-in-bukavu-congo

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/26/rwanda-slams-uk-sanctions-over-dr-congo-violence

https://www.voanews.com/a/7990649.html

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/senegal-signs-peace-deal-with-separatist-group-ending-africas-oldest-conflicts/3491849

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1lpv46pm3vo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdryre7y4n0o

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Can the DRC hold it together? Joburg is where it's at for the G20, but not for the US. And a milestone in Egypt as history comes alive again. 

Episode 41: References/further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/17/drc-rebels-promise-security-after-seizing-bukavu-in-countrys-east

https://www.voanews.com/a/new-african-union-leader-elected-as-two-major-crises-rage/7976339.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9d4dzprz3o

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly3nlv5d52o

https://apnews.com/article/uganda-opposition-figure-besigye-court-appearance-f067049d4efc4582a546b9ca174eac21

https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/africas-macroeconomic-performance-and-outlook-january-2025?utm_source=semafor#prId=332160

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ym30v356po

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Are Trump and co white-washing South African history? The AU's insane to-do list. And CAR is not coining it. 

Episode 40: References/further reading:

https://www.cgdev.org/blog/which-countries-are-most-exposed-us-aid-cuts-and-what-other-providers-can-do?utm_source=semafor

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm27g2jzd78o

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250210-white-s-africans-clamour-for-us-resettlement-after-trump-order

https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/horn-africa/sudan-democratic-republic-congo-cameroon/big-priorities-african-union-2025#:~:text=Against%20this%20backdrop%2C%20the%202025,continent's%20peace%20and%20security%20challenges.

https://newscentral.africa/niger-demands-ngos-comply-with-junta-directives/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/12/french-troops-set-to-exit-senegal-by-end-of-2025

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly5x0vpen8o

https://www.ft.com/content/d36700a4-023a-493e-85cf-2840d8b3ff78?accessToken=zwAGLeTOb-z4kdPTZwCkAjpJPtOFzyhA2LP_eA.MEYCIQCX7BvQ9quESjPGW5UIclqF6DxJHueNZxoz5SvRUIy_iQIhAI1T80vzqA5ELYZn10KZqFdOuQWMVzlZL2sFqXZcPLzl&sharetype=gift&token=5d06a36e-ab3a-46da-809d-c5223f14dd07&utm_source=semafor

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Africa reels after the big Trump freeze. M23 on the move again in the DRC. And Mozambique pins its hopes on its ports. 

Episode 39: References/further reading:

https://apnews.com/article/usaid-hiv-humanitarian-assistance-disease-spending-20f9cb969ffb6773e57886e34bf69165

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250206-usaid-trump-s-foreign-aid-freeze-shuts-down-life-saving-programmes-threatens-global-security

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/rubio-accuses-south-africa-of-anti-americanism-and-snubs-g20-meeting

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m1jmdr4jgo

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/rebels-congo-capture-town-despite-ceasefire-sources-say-2025-02-05/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/4/uganda-starts-clinical-trial-to-combat-sudan-strain-of-ebola

https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/mozambiques-maputo-port-kicks-off-2bn-upgrade-708532a

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Goma under attack, where will it end? Big divorce in West Africa. And mobile madness in Nigeria. 

Episode 38: References/further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/29/dr-congo-live-news-rwanda-backed-m23-rebels-tighten-grip-on-goma

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250128-thousands-rally-in-burkina-mali-and-niger-to-cheer-ecowas-exit

https://ncc.gov.ng/media-centre/news-headlines/1479-press-statement-ncc-approves-request-for-tariff-adjustments-by-operators?utm_source=semafor

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-union-rejects-telecom-tariff-hike-plans-nationwide-protest-2025-01-30/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyekqn1k1ko

https://www.who.int/news/item/30-01-2025-who-verifies-niger-as-the-first-country-in-the-african-region-to-eliminate-onchocerciasis

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Does America First mean Africa last? Bitter numbers in Ghana's cocoa industry. And Namibia's former First Lady is worried about being faked.

Episode 37: References/further reading:

https://www.dw.com/en/trump-second-term-impact-on-africa/a-71363324

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20250123-african-healthcare-crossroads-united-states-pulls-who-funding

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/davos-2025-special-address-cyril-ramaphosa-president-south-africa/

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/1/18/forgotten-no-more-the-black-south-africans-who-died-in-wwi

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8505g6n1lo

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/ghana-delayed-delivery-370000-t-cocoa-202324-season-official-says-2025-01-20/?utm_source=semafor

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/21/m23-rebels-seize-key-eastern-drc-town-of-minova

https://x.com/namibiansun/status/1882323738173317540

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Turning point in Sudan's horror war? No gold star for foreign mining companies in Mali. And alarm over the Marburg virus in Tanzania.

Episode 36: References/further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/11/sudan-army-says-its-forces-enter-wad-madani-in-push-to-retake-city-from-rsf

https://www.barrick.com/English/news/news-details/2025/barrick-provides-further-update-on-loulo-gounkoto-operations-in-mali/default.aspx

https://www.ft.com/content/68d9c6e3-861d-4d03-a00f-4a2d33cb9516

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2025/1/15/rescue-operation-to-free-trapped-miners-in-south-africa#flips-6367121623112:0

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/suspected-outbreak-marburg-virus-kills-eight-tanzania-who-says-2025-01-15/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62737zqn68o

https://www.semafor.com/article/01/14/2025/fewer-africans-find-food-nutritious-gallup-survey

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