Daybreak Africa - VOA Africa

On Daybreak Africa: Botswana churches oppose a gay rights proposal. Plus, Kenya is mourning the death of its Chief of Defense Forces and nine other senior military personnel. Hospitals in eastern DRC face vaccine shortages. South Sudan assures South African President Ramaphosa that elections will take place this year. Rhino poaching in Nambia is on the rise in the first quarter of 2024. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

Kenya is mourning the death of its Chief of Defense Forces General Francis Ogolla and nine other military personnel on Thursday. They had been inspecting the North Rift region where the military is conducting an operation against banditry when their helicopter crashed. President William Ruto has declared three days of national mourning beginning Friday.

South Sudan’s minister of foreign affairs and international relations says his government assured South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that South Sudan will hold its first election since independence at the end of this year. President Ramaphosa, chair of the African Union-appointed High Level Ad hoc Committee on South Sudan, concluded a three-day visit to Juba on Thursday. The opposition, led by First Vice President Riek Machar, has said the country is not prepared to hold free, fair, and credible elections because the government is far behind in implementing the Revitalized Peace Agreement. Foreign Minister James Pitia Morgan, tells VOA’s James Butty, the country is on track to implement the agreement culminating in elections in December.

In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, specifically in the Beni and Butembo regions, parents are finding it hard getting vaccines for their children. Health care providers report that vaccines have been in short supply for several months, leaving thousands of children unvaccinated. Parents worried about their children's health are calling on authorities to quickly resolve the situation. Zanem Nety Zaidi reports from Goma

On Daybreak Africa: The UN rights chief calls for action to prevent violence in DRC. Plus, the US sanctions four former Malawi government officials for alleged corruption. East Africa is experiencing heavy rains. A Liberian political leader vows to continue engaging for fundamental change in the country. Namibia’s Nama community rejects green-Hydrogen port. Uganda beefs up security as President Museveni prepares to meet with protesting five-day traders today, Friday. Jordan’s King Abdullah says his country will not be a battleground in the Israel-Iran confrontation. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

The United States has denied entry to four former Malawi government officials because of their alleged involvement in corruption. Reuters cited the State Department as saying the four officials are former solicitor general and secretary of justice Reyneck Matemba, former director of public procurement and disposal of assets John Suzi-Banda, former Malawi Police Service attorney Mwabi Kaluba, and former Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service George Kainia. Malawi’s information minister Moses Kunkuyu says President Lazarus Chakwera’s fight against corruption continues to bear fruit. He tells VOA’s James Butty, Malawi believes in the rule of law and awaits the outcome of the US travel ban

In Liberia, the leader of the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) party says he will continue to engage with other political parties and civil society to bring about fundamental change in Liberia. Alexander Cummings says only change can move Liberia forward. This week, Cummings’ ANC and two other political parties ended their collaboration formed shortly before the 2023 presidential election. Cummings tells VOA’s James Butty, the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) alliance was only for the 2023 election, and it ended on amicable terms.

East Africa is experiencing heavy rains, with reported flooding in Kenya killing at least 13 people so far. Floods have also killed 58 people in Tanzania during the last two weeks, according to the government, as heavy rains continue in the East African region. The coastal region was hit hardest, with 126,831 people affected, the government said. Infrastructure has also been damaged and those living in flood-prone areas are being urged to move. The rains are expected to reach their peak towards the end of the month. To find out more about the floods situation in the region, VOA’s Douglas Mpuga reached Hussen Seid Endris - a researcher at IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC

On Daybreak Africa: Uganda beefs up security amid a five-day protest by traders. Plus, head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya tenders his resignation. We’ll speak with a Libyan-American businessman who left Libya on Tuesday. A State Department spokesperson discusses US assistance to Sudan. Sudanese child refugees long for peace as they try to cope with losses. A member of Chad’s main opposition discusses campaigning for the May 6 election. Nigeria’s President says his country will no longer pay ransoms to armed gangs. President Biden and former President Trump support Israel’s fight against Hamas and Iran. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

The ongoing violence in Sudan has had a significant negative impact on children, some of whom were traumatized and separated from their parents as they fled for safety in neighboring countries. Sheila Ponnie reports from Renk, a border town between Sudan and South Sudan - where some of the displaced children are living with strangers forced to act as temporary foster parents out of necessity.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu says the country will no longer pay ransom to armed gangs that have plagued Nigeria with kidnapping and extortion. He made the statement as activists commemorated the 10th anniversary of the infamous kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja.

An official of Chad’s opposition “Transformers” party says Chadians are mobilizing their personal resources to support the campaign of Prime Minister Success Masra who is running against interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby in the May 6 elections. Ndolembai Njesada, Transformers’ Vice President for Political Affairs and the Diaspora, says Masra is not getting funding from the government or from outside sources. He tells VOA’s James Butty , millions of Chadians are gravitating to Masra’s grassroots campaign.

Each morning, Daybreak Africa looks at the latest developments on the continent, starting with headline news and providing in-depth interviews, reports from VOA correspondents, sports news as well as listener comments.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on Sudan’s warring parties to ensure a rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, and to protect civilians. Speaking Monday to mark the first anniversary of the Sudan conflict, the Secretary General also called for humanitarian support to the Sudanese people and a political solution to the conflict.

On Daybreak Africa: Today marks the first anniversary of Sudan’s conflict – for which many analysts foresee no end. We’ll also speak with the President of the Sudanese American Physicians Association. Plus, a Sunday protest in Niger calls for the departure of the US and all foreign military forces. The US helps Israel repel an Iranian drone and missile attack. ADF rebels are blamed for another attack in eastern DRC. Campaigning for Togo’s April 29 legislative election began over the weekend amid opposition protests. the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president is set to begin Monday in New York City. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

A Togolese government official says the April 29 legislative and regional elections present an opportunity for the Togolese people to deliver a verdict on the new constitutional reform approved recently by parliament. The new constitution gives the election of the president to parliament. The government last week arrested some members of the opposition who had planned to protest the changes because they say it infringes on the rights of all citizens to choose their president. Campaigning for the April 29 vote began over the weekend. Gilbert Bawara, Togolese minister for civil service, labor and social dialogue, tells VOA’s James Butty, the constitution revision is necessary, especially given what he calls the chaos taking place in the West Africa sub-region.

There was an anti-US protest in Niger over the weekend calling for the departure of the US and all foreign military forces. US forces have been helping Niger’s government combat Islamic militants in the Sahel. VOA’s French to Africa reporter Abdoul Razak in Niamey tells VOA’s James Butty, the protest was called by civil society organizations sympathetic to the military government and that it comes as Russian troops arrived in the country last week to provide security for the junta.

The home of the Speaker of Liberia’s House of Representatives in the capital, Monrovia, was gutted by fire last evening. Speaker J. Fonati Koffa says he and his family escaped unharmed. However, he says the entire house is destroyed. He tells VOA’s James Butty, the National Fire Service was notified but arrived after his home had been engulfed. One local media report, citing witnesses, said the fire department encountered some difficulties gaining access to the property.

Local authorities in the town of Beni, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, say they recovered the bodies of at least 12 civilians allegedly killed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels. The ADF operates along the border of Uganda and DRC. Reporter Al Katanty Sabiti Djaffar in the eastern DRC city of Goma, tells VOA’s James Butty, that both the ADF and Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for the latest murders.

On Daybreak Africa: Calls grow for justice and accountability as Sudan marks one year of conflict. Plus, striking Kenyan doctors reject another government ultimatum to end a month-long strike for better pay. A US-based Professor of Applied Economics calls for the disbandment of Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank. Malawi halts Soybean exports amid a drop in yields. A judge in Liberia jails a local chief for allegedly forcing three young women undergo female genital mutilation. Environmentalists call on Shell Oil to clean up vast polluted areas in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa