Daybreak Africa - VOA Africa

On Daybreak Africa: Dozens are killed as a dam bursts in Kenya following devastating rains. Plus, the Nigerian community in South Africa calls for an investigation into what it calls the indiscriminate arrest of its members. Good governance activists say South Africa’s corruption whistleblowers should be protected. A Ugandan parliamentarian defends the government’s human rights record. Vote counting continues overnight in Togo following Monday’s election for parliament and regional representatives. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the unconditional release of an Ethiopia reporter. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

Martha Ngoye was the legal executive at the South African state-owned Passenger Rail Agency when she blew the whistle on unlawful government contracts worth millions. But instead of being honored as a corruption buster she was fired by her employer and faced a lengthy and costly legal battle to get her job back. Martha’s experience highlights the challenges faced by whistle-blowers in South Africa. Ihsaan Haffejee has this reports

The Nigerian community in South Africa is calling for investigation into what it calls the indiscriminate arrest of its members some of whom allegedly died during routine police raids at their homes and businesses. Doris Ikeri Solarin is the President of the Nigerian Union of South Africa. She told VOA’s Chinedu Offor that a recent meeting with a regional police chief was meant to de-escalate growing tension among the immigrant community and law enforcement agencies.

Vote counting continued in Togo overnight following Monday’s election for members of parliament and regional representatives. Analysts say the outcome of the vote would likely be a referendum on a controversial constitutional reform adopted this month which allows the parliament to elect the president as opposed to a direct election by voters. President Faure Gnassingbe’s ruling Union for the Republic party already has a majority of seats in parliament, which makes it likely he will remain in power for an unforeseeable period. Gilbert Bawara, Togolese minister for civil service, labor, and social dialogue, tells VOA’s James Butty, voting went on smoothly on Monday under the watchful eye of local and international observers.

On Daybreak Africa: Flooding continues to wreak havoc on parts of Kenya. Plus, Togolese voters cast their ballots Monday in an election that could be a referendum on a controversial constitutional reform. A new digital ethics organization aims to help journalists and activists identify false and misleading information. Kenya will host peace talks between the South Sudan government and so-called holdout armed groups. Sierra Leone’s president takes control of the country’s Ministry of Energy amid an electricity crisis.. The UN says conflicts, extreme weather, and economic shocks are worsening global food insecurity. U.S. President Biden jokes about politics – and his rival – at Saturday’s White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa

Conflicts, extreme weather, and economic shocks are worsening global food insecurity, according to the United Nations. In a new report, the UN said global hunger rose in 2023 for the fifth year in a row, warning that millions more may go hungry in 2024. Tara Scully is Associate Professor of Biology and Director of Curriculum Development for the New Global Food Institute at George Washington University. She tells VOA’s Chinedu Offor, the food crisis is a global call to action.

Togolese voters are casting their ballots Monday to elect members of parliament and regional representatives. The vote could become be a referendum on the controversial constitutional reform adopted this month which allows for the president to be elected by parliament. A key opposition leader told VOA last week that the opponents will resume protests because the revised constitution is intended to keep President Faure Gnassingbe in power, who, together with his late father, have ruled Togo for over 50 years. Gilbert Bawara, Togolese minister for civil service, labor, and social dialogue, tells VOA’s James Butty, Togolese voters will have the final say about the new constitution when they cast their ballots Monday.

A South Sudan official has confirmed that Kenya will host peace talks between the government and the so-called holdout armed groups. The holdouts have yet to ratify the 2018 Revitalized Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The talks have been taking place in recent years in Rome. Nathaniel Oyet Pierrino, the Deputy Chairman of the SPLM-IO lead by South Sudan First Vice President Riek Machar, tells VOA’s James Butty, he’s disappointed that the Kenyan mediator visited Juba and did not meet with Machar who also plays a key role in the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.

Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio has taken control of the country’s Ministry of Energy assisted by two deputy ministers. This follows the resignation on Friday of Minister Kanja Sesay amid a week-long electricity problem. The government also acknowledges that it paid $17 million of the $48 million it owes a Turkish company— Karpowership— for providing power to Freetown, the capital. Information Minister Chernor Bah denies energy minister Sesay is being scapegoated. He tells VOA’s James Butty, Sesay did the honorable thing in the middle of a crisis

Several people were reported missing after a boat capsized in Mororo, Bangale, Tana River County in Kenya. The Nation newspaper reports that the missing were crossing the flooded area from Madogo to Garissa town when the incident took place. Kenya and much of East Africa have been experiencing major flooding with death toll put at 76. Jeffrey Okoro, Executive Director of CFK Africa, an NGO that works with community members to improve public health, education outcomes, and economic opportunities in informal settlements in Kenya, tells VOA’s James Butty, the crisis in access to healthcare has been compounded by the major flooding across Kenya.

On Daybreak Africa: At least 20 million children miss out on one or more vaccines globally, the WHO says during World Immunization Week. Over 1,300 delegates and 400 companies participate in the American Chamber of Commerce summit in Nairobi. Malawi and Israel sign labor export deal on farm workers. Malawi’s information minister says President Chakwera and Vice President Chilima enjoy cordial working relations despite corruption allegations. Liberian President Joseph Boakai loses tenured case in the Supreme Court. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

Malawi and Israel have signed a new deal for Malawi to send unskilled laborers to Israel. The agreement is a departure from a previous arrangement where nearly 1,000 laborers were recently sent to work in Israel through private labor agents. Malawi officials say the new deal will help address challenges workers were facing under the previous arrangement. Lameck Masina reports from Blantyre.

Malawi’s information minister says President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice President Saulos Chilima have always had cordial working relations. Vice President Chilima was arrested and charged with corruption in 2022. He was later stripped of some of his constitutional duties. Now, President Chakwera has tipped the vice president to represent Malawi at Friday’s Tanzania Union Day commemoration. Information minister Moses Kunkuyu tells VOA’s James Butty, corruption allegations against the vice president are being adjudicated in the courts, which have not imposed any travel restrictions.

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce says it’s not enough for the United States to just say it plans to invest and collaborate more in Africa; it must also show up. In her first official trip to East Africa, Gina Raimondo says she also plans to listen and learn as she participates in the fourth edition of the American Chamber of Commerce summit in Kenya this week. VOA’s Nairobi Bureau Chief Mariama Diallo was there and has this story

Liberia’s Supreme Court this week ordered President Joseph Boakai to withdraw his nominations for tenured positions. Dennise Nimpson reports from Monrovia.

On Daybreak Africa: Amnesty International is concerned about rights abuses in Zimbabwe. Plus, the Kenyan government threatens to halt paying the salaries of striking doctors. At least 94 percent of malaria deaths occur in Africa, the WHO says on World Malaria Day today April 25th. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu warns of the link between illegal mining operations and the financing of terrorist activities across Africa. Togo’s largest opposition party says it will never accept the new constitutional reforms approved by parliament. President Joe Biden signs a $95 billion foreign aid package. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

The leader of Togo’s largest opposition party says it will never accept the constitutional reforms approved recently by parliament. The new constitution leaves the election of the president to parliament. Togo will hold legislative and regional polls on April 29. A government official told VOA recently the elections will provide an opportunity for Togolese voters to deliver a verdict on the new constitutional reform. Jean-Pierre Fabre, leader of the National Alliance for Change (ANC), Togo’s largest opposition party, VOA’s James Butty, the opposition will resume protests soon after the election because the new constitution is intended to maintain President Faure Gnassingbe in power who, together with his late father, have ruled Togo for over 50 years.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu this week warned of the link between illegal mining operations and the financing of terrorist activities across Africa, according to local media. Addressing regional leaders at a high-level counter-terrorism summit in Abuja, Tinubu urged the international community to take concrete actions to halt the inflow of funds from outside the continent that enable such illicit activities. To find out more about the link between illegal mining operations and the financing of terrorism in Africa, VOA’s Douglas Mpuga reached Kabir Adamu, an Abuja-based security risk management and intelligence analyst

The Kenyan government is threatening to withhold salaries of striking doctors after failing to reach an agreement with the medics to call off the strike. The work stoppage has paralyzed medical services in public hospitals across the country for two months now. Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi.

On Daybreak Africa: The UN criticizes Britain’s Rwanda migrant law, as another boat tragedy shows the dangers of crossing.Plus, Malawi takes steps to end poverty among women and girls. Ongoing rainfall leads to the closure of key roads in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. The World Bank suspends tourism financing to Tanzania over alleged human rights violations. A new World Bank report says living conditions are worsening for half of the world’s poorest countries. Artificial Intelligence surrounds U.S. political life during this election year. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!