Daybreak Africa - VOA Africa

On Daybreak Africa: African women athletes aim for Olympic medals in Paris. Plus, South African President Ramaphosa appoints the country’s first female Chief Justice. Liberia commemorates its 177th independence anniversary Friday. Cracks appear in the opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition as Martha Karua quits. The name game begins as Kamala Harris considers a running mate. For these and more, tune in to Daybreak Africa!

In Kenya, there appears to be cracks within the opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition led by Raila Odinga. Martha Karua, the leader of the National Rainbow Coalition – Kenya (NARC-Kenya) and Odinga’s running mate during the 2022 presidential elections, says she’s leaving the coalition. The Nation Kenya online quotes Karua as saying that staying in Azimio was no longer tenable due to prevailing political developments. Her announcement comes after President William Ruto appointed four members of Odinga’s party to the reconstituted cabinet. Joseph Kioko, a Kenyan political analyst, tells VOA’s James Butty, Karua’s departure is inconsequential

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the first female Chief Justice of the country’s Supreme Court. She is Mandisa Maya who was serving as Deputy Chief Justice. Professor Sipho Seepe, a political analyst and former Deputy Vice Chancellor for Institutional Support at the University of Zululand, VOA’s James Butty, the appointment is a significant achievement.

As Liberia celebrates its 177th independence Friday, an opposition member of parliament says there’s gloom in the country because some civil servants have not been paid. But the government says they have, and that the country is in a good mood and ready to celebrate. However, Representative Yekeh Kolubah, once a staunch critic of former President George Weah, is urging VOA’s James Butty, not to believe what the government say

As Liberia celebrates its 177th independence Friday, an opposition member of parliament says there’s gloom in the country because some civil servants have not been paid. But the government says they have, and that the country is in a good mood and ready to celebrate. However, Representative Yekeh Kolubah, once a staunch critic of former President George Weah, is urging VOA’s James Butty, not to believe what the government say

On Daybreak Africa: A focus on the Sudan conflict as the US announces new ceasefire talks. Nigerian authorities hold an emergency meeting on planned anti-government protests. The World Health Organization attributes rising road deaths in Africa to poor compliance with safety laws. President Joe Biden addresses the nation and explains his reasons for not running for re-election. We’ll also have an analysis of the President’s speech. Former President Trump’s campaign is re-calibrating its approach to take on Vice President Kamala Harris. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu seeks the support of the US Congress in his war against Hamas. For these and more, tune in to Daybreak Africa!

The Nigerian government held an emergency meeting Wednesday in response to planned nationwide protests over governance issues and the cost of living. On Tuesday, authorities called on organizers to shelve the plans to lead what they say are “Kenyan style” protests and urged citizens to be patient with the government. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja

The World Health Organization says deaths from road accidents in Africa have increased in the past decade, with 250,000 lives lost in 2021 alone. The deaths and injuries on African roads are blamed on poor road safety standards, as few African countries enforce laws against speeding and drunk driving, or laws that mandate the use of motorcycle helmets, seatbelts and child restraints. Mohammed Yusuf reports

After a year of conflict, starvation and desperation continues to escalate in Sudan. This week U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to participate in ceasefire talks in August mediated by the United States. Samah Salman, a Sudanese strategic analyst and president of the US-Educated Sudanese Association, tells VOA’s Douglas Mpuga, t the war in Sudan now is one of the worst human rights catastrophes in the world.

On Daybreak Africa: Analysts say the ECOWAS counter-terrorism force is not ready for action. Plus, Cameroon’s opposition and civil society condemn government threats toward Biya opponents. A Sierra Leone lawyer questions the guilty verdict of alleged coup plotters. The Ugandan police arrest dozens of protesting youths. U.S. voters face a new presidential campaign. For this and more, tune in to Daybreak Africa

Condemnation is widespread in Cameroon following government threats to arrest civilians who criticize the country’s president. The warnings increased after Cameroon’s political opposition accused President Paul Biya of postponing elections. In a release Tuesday, Human Rights Watch described the threats as censorship of free speech. Moki Edwin Kindzeka reports from Yaounde

Security agencies in Uganda’s capital made a number of arrests Tuesday as protesters marched near parliament to stop what they call abuse of power and high levels of corruption. Businesses were shut down and roads toward parliament blocked as security agencies arrested pockets of young demonstrators. Halima Athumani reports from Kampala

In Sierra Leone, one of the lawyers for former President Ernest Bai Koroma says he is shocked by the guilty verdict against those charged with treason for last November’s alleged failed coup because it did not follow the evidence presented in court. A court convicted 11 people on Monday and sentenced them to long prison terms. Lawyer Ady Macauley, who also represented another of the accused, tells VOA’s James Butty, the charge that the plotters never spoke by phone on the day of the alleged coup attempt is not accurate

The executive director of the United Nations AIDS agency (UNAIDS) says several countries in Africa are making good progress towards achieving the worldwide goal to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. However, Winnie Byanyima says for the international community to be successful, world leaders must ensure adequate resources, resolve the debt burden of low-income countries, and protect rights by ending discrimination. Byanyima spoke with VOA’s James Butty from Munich, Germany, where this year’s global AIDS conference is taking place

On Daybreak Africa: Nigeria collaborates with the US Customs and Border Protection agency. Plus, turbulence hits Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission. South Africa presses to maintain its preferred trade status with the US. The Ugandan police and military take preemptive steps to prevent today’s march on parliament. Vice President Kamala Harris touts President Biden’s achievements. The chief of the US Secret Service faces Congress over the failure to protect former President Donald Trump from an assassination attempt. For this and more, tune in to Daybreak Africa!

Some members of the U.S. Congress have called for South Africa to be excluded from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a U.S. program that grants duty-free access to the enormous U.S. market for many South African exports. Zaheer Cassim reports from Johannesburg on South Africa’s effort to remain eligible for the trade program and its evolving relationship with the US.

There has been turbulence recently in the Zambian Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). First, the director general resigned. Then, President Hakainde Hichilema fired the entire commission. Some Zambians have speculated that the ACC boss did not resign but was fired. Also, President Hichilema reshuffled his cabinet. Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa tells VOA’s James Butty, the president has the right and power to hire and fire his cabinet, but he does not have the power to fire members of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Some Ugandans say they will march to the country’s Parliament Tuesday to express their displeasure over the government’s handling of corruption. But the police and President Yoweri Museveni have other plans. The police and the military surrounded the headquarters of Bobbi Wine’s National Unity Platform offices on Monday. Assistant Commissioner and police spokesperson Kituma Rusoke tells VOA’s James Butty, the police took preemptive steps to prevent any mobilization.

Nigeria is collaborating with the US Customs and Border Protection agency on the use of Artificial Intelligence to curb the flow of illicit drugs and arms into the West African nation. Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service Adewale Adeniyi held talks recently in Washington with administration officials. He tells VOA’s Chinedu Offor that the meeting is part of a determined effort to boost operations in the face of the growing sophistication of gangs.

On Daybreak Africa: President Joe Biden ends his re-election campaign and endorses Vice President Kamala Harris. We’ll have a profile of Vice President Harris – and a look at the task ahead for her. Plus, some Ugandan youth plan to march on parliament Tuesday to protest against corruption. Kenyan President Ruto says there will be no more anti-tax protests in Kenya. For this and more, tune in to Daybreak Africa!