Africalink | Deutsche Welle

Junior Ngombe is a young activist facing charges of inciting rebellion in Cameroon. He campaigns on TikTok against electoral fraud and urges the youth to vote for change. Ngombe's arrest, under questionable circumstances, has ignited public outrage and intensified national debate on free speech and media censorship in Cameroon.

Four decades after a series of mass killings by a notorious Zimbabwean army unit, survivors are still waiting for justice. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has launched a program to promote "healing, peace and unity." But survivors of the Gukurahundi massacre are skeptical. Josey Mahachi talks to Zenzele Ndebele, founder of Cite ZW, and DW correspondent Maxwell Suuk in Ghana.

As athletes chase for Olympic glory in Paris, AfricaLink examines some hidden struggles of African athletes. Wilfred Bungei, Kenya's former 800m Olympic gold medalist joins Florence Ndung'u in this podcast hosted by Josey Mahachi to discuss the inner battles that athletes go through which often go unnoticed.

Kenya’s Gen Z uprising has inspired youth in other parts of Africa to stand up to their governments. Young Ugandans plan to continue protests despite warnings by the authorities. In Nigeria, a similar situation is unfolding. Africaʼs Generation Z protesters appear unstoppable. Josey Mahachi talks to DW's Wanjiku Mwaura and Omouofa Agharite, an International Media Studies MA student in Nigeria.

Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum was elected two years ago in the first peaceful, democratic transfer of power in the country since its independence in 1960. But on July 26 last year, members of his own presidential guard removed him from office. What has changed? DW's correspondent Isaac Kaledzi in Accra, Ghana and security analyst Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar join us in this edition of AfricaLink.

Paternity tests have surged across Africa in recent years. In South Africa, Newsoclock reports that 65% of DNA paternity tests conducted between January and March 2023 were negative. DW's Josey Mahachi discusses this trend with Ben-Gurion Zanus, operations manager at the Blueprint DNA and Paternity Testing Organization, and DW correspondent Frank Yiga in Uganda.

All across Africa, the line between free speech and repression is increasingly becoming blurred. In some places, draconian laws are silencing dissent and stifling expression. Where should the boundary between protecting authority and upholding free speech be drawn? DW's Josey Mahachi speaks to human rights lawyer Monica Namonde and DW correspondent Mirriam Kaliza, both in Malawi.

As Nigerians discuss holding nationwide demonstrations in August over the high costs of living and food prices, many wonder if the protests can force Nigeria's government to respond. And what can protestors learn from other movements in Africa? DW speaks to student activist Lindokuhle Patiwe from the University of Cape Town and Ibrahim Shatambaya from Usman Danfordiyo University in Nigeria.

Nigerians lead the African diaspora in sending money back home. But is this improving the lives of citizens and impacting the economy? Join DW's Eddy Micah as he explores these questions with global remittances expert Raynor de Best of Statista and DW correspondent Mirriam Kaliza in Malawi. Additionally, Nigerian Sa'id Sa'ad Abubakar, who lives in Germany, shares his perspective.

Each year, the legacy of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela is celebrated on July 18th in South Africa. But what is the relevance of his legacy in South Africa today, which is one of the world's most unequal nations in the world? Analyst Lesiba Teffo and DW correspondent Maxwell Suuk discuss these issues, alongside insights from a young South African who is striving to embody Mandela's ideals.

Hopes were high for positive change when Nigerian President Bola Tinubu was first elected to chair the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in July 2023. Instead, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have exited the bloc. Can ECOWAS withstand the turmoil? Eddy Micah talks to security analysts Fidel Amakye Owusu and Saani Adib, and DW correspondent Thuso Khumalo in South Africa.

The Cameroonian government has postponed the 2025 parliamentary and municipal elections to 2026, sparking intense debate. In this podcast, we contrast how postponing elections has affected citizens in Cameroon and Senegal. Josey Mahachi interviews Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Maurice Kamto's MRC party, opposition lawyer Tamfu Richard, and DW's West Africa correspondent Bram Posthumus.

Africa's youth are flocking to content creation, with platforms like Meta recently enabling monetization for Nigeria and Ghana. But is this a sustainable path to wealth, or a fleeting trend?Josey Mahachi talks with blogger Ameyaw Debrah and Nigerian content creator Favour Ubanyi. And, Cai Nebe talks to observer Nfor Hanson Nchanji about what unregulated influencers could mean for African media.

Rwandans head to the polls 30 years after the 1994 genocide. But the election run-up has already been fraught with criticism that President Paul Kagame is too powerful, and that the vote is a 'show election.' Josey Mahachi talks to Phil Clark, a professor of international politics at University of London, DW correspondent Alex Ngarambe in Rwanda, and Martin Oloo, a Nairobi-based political analyst.

In Nigeria, calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu have intensified, with leaders arguing his imprisonment is causing unrest in southern Nigeria. It presents an interplay of human rights, stability, and legal considerations. Josey Mahachi talks to security analyst Kabiru Adamu, DW correspondent Olisa Chukwumah in Nigeria, and Capo Daniel, Capo Daniel, an Ambazonian seperatist advocate in Cameroon.

African Union troops are pulling out of Somalia after more than a decade of battling insurgency and fostering fragile peace. What does this mean for country? Josey Mahachi talks to Mohamed Sheikh Nor, a Somali journalist, and Samira Gaid, a security analyst in Kenya. And, Henry-Pacifique Mayala explains what the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo might mean.

Independence evokes profound emotions across Africa. Yet rarely has it delivered on the jubilation from an economic and development standpoint. Cai Nebe talks to James Boboya, a political analyst, and DW correspondent Mirriam Kaliza in Malawi. Dr Juste Codjo, a security studies analyst, explains why Reunion, an island off the coast of southern Africa, is an overseas territory of France.

African nations want to reduce borrowing from abroad, so they can reduce their debt and be financially independent. But Ghana and Kenya, for example, are currently increasing their national debt by borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). So what are the implications of borrowing, and is Africa beyond aid a real possibility or just a pipe dream?

Western nations have seen increased competition for their business interests across Africa in recent years, as China and Russia have swept in. But has this prompted the West to invest more, and how is this related to democracy? Eddy Micah and Cai Nebe talk to Adjoa Adjei-Twum, founder of EBII group, a specialist risk management consultancy, and Menzi Ndlovu, a political economist with Signal Risk.

Ghana's flag waves proudly, but can it embrace all hues of humanity like a rainbow? As the Supreme Court debates a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill, the nation is grappling with identity and rights. Eddy Micah Jnr talks to LGBTQ+ activist Alex Koffi Donkor and DW correspondent Isaac Kaledzi in Ghana, as well as Namibian journalist Vita Angula.