Guest: Isaah Mhlanga: Chief Economist and Head of Research at RMB

Guest: Duma Gqubule: Research associate at the Social Policy Initiative

17 February 2025

1.Ethiopia- Addis Ababa

Djibouti's Youssouf Beats Raila Odinga to AU Commission Chair and Angola's President João Lourenço elected as the new AU Chairperson, succeeding Mauritania's Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.

Odinga's defeat has elicited mixed reactions in Kenya. While some of his supporters expressed disappointment, others viewed it as an opportunity for Odinga to refocus on his political ambitions, particularly a potential bid for the Kenyan presidency in 2027.

Djibouti's foreign minister Mohamoud Ali Youssouf claimed Raila Odinga's scalp to run away with the coveted African Union Commission chairperson job following a fiercely contested election at the 38th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday.

1. Sudan – UN- AU

World Must Not Turn Its Back On Sudan's Deepening Crisis – Guterres

The UN Secretary-General on Friday called on the international community to urgently scale up funding and diplomatic action to ease the suffering of millions of Sudanese facing hunger and displacement as rival militaries continue battling each other for control.

Speaking at a high-level humanitarian conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, António Guterres described the situation in Sudan as a catastrophe of "staggering scale and brutality".

3.DR Congo- South Kivu- Bakavu

Cheers and confusion as M23 rebels enter Bukavu city centre

A crowd of civilians celebrated the arrival of M23 rebels in Bukavu's city centre with chants and cheers.

It is the second regional capital city in the Democratic Republic of Congo that the rebels have taken since early January, when they launched a lightning-speed offensive on Goma in neighbouring North Kivu.

M23 marched south into Bukavu on Saturday, although conflicting reports initially made it difficult to confirm the extent of its advance.

4.Mauritian - Moroni

Former Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been arrested and is facing money laundering charges, the state-run Financial Crimes Commission said early on Sunday.

It said he was taken into custody following searches by detectives from the commission at different locations, including at his residence.

1. In our historical archives, it was on this day 17 February 2006 when former President Thabo Mbeki establishes the Donen Commission of Inquiry

President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa established the Donen Commission of Inquiry, led by Advocate Michael Donen, to investigate alleged illicit activities related to the United Nations’ Iraq oil-for-food programme by certain South African companies or individuals.

Guest: Abel Esterhuyse - Professor Of Strategy: Faculty Of Military Science: Stellenbosch University

Guest: Zackie Achmat: Social And Human Rights Activist

Guest: Richard Mamabolo: spokesperson, Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) 

Guest: Dean McCoubrey: Social Media Expert & Founder of MySociaLife

Guest: Janine Erasmus: Website Editor at Corruption Watch

Guest: Sheetal Bhoola: Academic Director of Stellarmaths and Academic at The University of Zululand

Guest: Matome Chiloane: Gauteng's Education MEC