Africa Here and NOW

As climate talks enter their second week in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, MICHAEL USI, Malawi's Vice President, says it's time to get serious about past pledges.And Kenyan pastoralist CHARLES EKALELE tells us why those pledges matter. Changing weather patterns in Turkana County are making people in his community poorer.Africa's Last Colony. As the US, Spain and most recently France add their support to Morocco's claim over Western Sahara, we ask has the Polisario Front given up on its idea of self determination for the Saharawi people? We speak to the Polisario's man in Washington DC, MOULOUD SAID.DONU has words of advice for KEMI BADENOCH, whose rise to the top of British politics is still absorbing many Nigerians who say she has turned her back on Nigeria.PATRICK admits he does take time off work, sometimes. He raves about London's Jazz Festival.

As Botswana's new government begins its work, former president IAN KHAMA, reflects on the big political changes in his country as the party of independence - his father's party - the BDP is swept away.He discusses the current state of his country, with high unemployment, low growth and a widening gap between rich and poor. He outlines possible first steps for the new UDC administration of president DUMA BOKO.The former president again acknowledges his poor judgement in appointing his successor, whom he alleges, allowed corruption to spread. MOKGWEETSI MASISI lost the election by a landslide, and should be held accountable says MR KHAMA - possibly by a judicial inquiry.In our conversation IAN KHAMA talks about his future plans as he steps away from frontline politics after 30 years at the helm.What would you like your legacy to be? I ask him. He says that's for other to decide.I can't resist the chance to play a short video that emerged recently in which we see another side of the former president!..But I begin by asking IAN KHAMA what he made of DONALD TRUMP'S re-election in the US.

We ask political analyst, ADAM MFUNDISI, about the challenges ahead for Botswana's new president DUMA BOKO. He tells us the country is in 'an undeclared recession' brought about by lacklustre diamond sales and corruption.Sudan's war is having horrifying effects on the country's people. The UN has called it 'the world's greatest modern-day famine' with at least 1.5 million people on the brink of starvation. Food is being used as a weapon of war by both sides. More than 10 million people have fled their homes, many to camps where there are no schools. People are speaking of a lost generation of Sudanese children. Amidst all this despair, we ask political economist, JAWHARA KANU, are there any prospects for peace?DONU opines on fellow Nigerian KEMI BADENOCH, who's been elected to lead the UK's Conservative Part. What do other Nigerians make of her achievement? And how might Prime Minister, KEIR STARMER, deal with her? 'She'll make mincemeat of him' reckons DONU.And PATRICK reflects on the 50th anniversary of one of the 20th Century's most significant sporting events, the Rumble in the Jungle in Kinshasa. He reminds us that the 3 day extravaganza had an impact far beyond boxing.

Africa here and Now's PATRICK SMITH has rocked up in Gaborone to gauge the mood in diamond-rich Botswana as people prepare to vote. He finds that this month's election could present the most serious challenge to the ruling party's almost 60 years in power.Have the books been cooked in Mozambique's election? The stakes are high, a $150billion gas project is on the cards.Somaliland- the breakaway republic which has no international recognition - is in the eye of a growing storm in the Horn of Africa. A new alliance between Eritrea, Egypt and Somalia threatens to isolate Ethiopia. But it's tiny Somaliland that's central to the current tensions. Its deal with Ethiopia to offer a stretch of its Gulf of Aden coastline in exchange for official recognition has upset everyone in the region. We find out more with PROFESSOR EID ALI AHMED, a senior advisor to the government in Hargeisa.The well-being of Cameroon's 91 year old president has been on our minds; a recent rumour that he had died went viral. The Yaounde government rubbished the rumours and decreed that Cameroonians be banned from discussing the health of their leader or risk prosecution. Africa Here and Now's DONU KOGBARA shares her thoughts on nonagenerian leaders and Orwellian decrees.And why did Tarzan, the legendary apeman, have no African friends despite being raised in an African jungle? That's the kind of question being considered by BARBARA ANGOPA on her new podcast HOLLYWOOD AFRICANS. Along with her co-host, AMAKA UGWUNKWO, Barbara dissects the way black people are portrayed in the movies. Check out HOLLYWOOD AFRICANS, available on all major audio platforms.

Talk at this year's General Assembly about reforming the UN has gathered pace. Meeting in the shadow of war: Sudan, Ukraine and the Middle East, the idea of changing the makeup of the Security Council took on more urgency. Support for Africa to get two permanent seats on the Council has grown. We asked Kenya's former UN ambassador, MARTIN KIMANI, if and when that's likely to happen. Ambassador Kimani, now Executive Director of NYU's Centre on International Cooperation, explains the responsibilities of being a Security Council member, and questions whether any African country is sufficiently prepared.Galamsey has become a byword for corruption in Ghana. The word 'galamsey' is derived from the phrase 'gather them and sell' and refers to the increasingly widespread practice of illegal gold mining. Thousands of hectares of farmland have been destroyed, reducing Ghana's cocoa harvests dramatically. The country's waterways are being polluted to the extent that some have predicted that Ghana may soon have to import drinking water. And people are getting sick, poisoned by the heavy metal bi-products of irregular mining. Ghanaians have been protesting against what they see as the connivance of politicians in galamsey and just weeks before the next presidential election. We speak to DR YAO GRAHAM, Coordinator of Third World Newtwork-Africa.During the years of apartheid, many South Africans were forced into exile abroad from where they continued their fight against the racist regime. And many of them died abroad, unable to return to the homeland for which they had so tirelessly fought. Now, in a joint operation between the governments of South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe the remains of almost 50 freedom fighters have been repatriated. DUMA NOKWE, a lawyer and former ANC Secretary General, died in Zambia more than forty years ago. his daughter, NOSIZWE NOKWE, tells us about the emotional return of her father's remains.#Africa#amplifyafrica#africanunion_official@AMBMKimani@YaoGraham

The complex web of hostilities in the Horn deepen as Egyptian troops prepare to enter Somalia on peacekeeping duties. Ethiopia makes clear its opposition. Some are warning of a coming proxy war fuelled by Ethio-Egyptian animosity. We get the views of Mogadishu-based journalist MOHAMMED SHEIKH NOR.How would a second Trump administration deal with Africa? A question for former Trump Africa ambassador J.PETER PHAM.Nigerians always have something to say about their president's comings and goings. Just back from China and a royal rendezvous at Buckingham Palace, PRESIDENT TINUBU is getting under the skin of his country men and women for his 'imperial style' and the size of his presidential convoys. DONU explains.And PATRICK reveals details of his misspent youth as he heartily welcomes the launch of the iconic US magazine, ROLLING STONE's new edition devoted to African music and culture.