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Channel Africa Rise & Shine
News and Current Affairs show that gives insight into political events on the continent and internationally.
Eleven Nigerian officers detained after emergency landing in Burkina Faso
Eleven Nigerian military officers were briefly held in Burkina Faso after their Air Force C-130 made an emergency landing in the country. The aircraft reportedly entered the airspace of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) without prior approval, prompting a firm warning from the alliance's military authorities. The incident has raised questions about Nigeria's regional role, especially following its recent deployment of a jet to Guinea-Bissau, and whether the country could be caught in wider geopolitical manoeuvres in West Africa. To help us understand the implications is Chidi Omeje, Nigerian security analyst and publisher of Security Digest, who has written extensively on how Nigeria must protect its sovereignty and regional interests.
Celebrating human rights: UN calls for dignity, equality and freedom for all
Today is International Human Rights Day, celebrated every year on December 10 to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the UN General Assembly in 1948. The day serves as a global call to action to reaffirm human dignity and equality, with activities worldwide focusing on promoting rights, challenging discrimination, and connecting these principles to everyday life. The 2025 theme, “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials,” highlights that human rights are not remote principles but the daily foundations that allow individuals and communities to live with safety, dignity and freedom. To discuss this further is Abigail Noko, the Regional Representative for Southern Africa at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
SA launches HIV Stigma Index 2.0 to combat discrimination
Civil society, researchers, advocacy groups and government in South Africa are calling for a collaborative effort to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. This emerged at the launch of the HIV Stigma Index 2.0 Report in the country’s capital, Pretoria, on Tuesday. The study, compiled by the National Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the National AIDS Council, captures the experiences of more than 5,000 participants across the country. To chat to us further about the contents of the report is Mluleki Zazini, the National Chairperson of the People Living with HIV Sector.
Eastern DRC in crisis as civilians and soldiers flee Uvira amid rebel advance
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels are reported to have entered Uvira, the second-largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Thousands of civilians are fleeing across the nearby border into Burundi. Soldiers and pro-government fighters are also reported to have joined the fleeing civilians. To get the latest, we spoke to Channel Africa’s Correspondent in the DRC, Jimmy Shukrani Bakonera, and Political Analyst in Rwanda, Lionel Nditabiriye.
WHO highlights growing role of traditional medicine ahead of global summit
The World Health Organisation says traditional medicine continues to play a major role in global healthcare systems, and demand is rising. This comes as the agency prepares for the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, taking place from 17 to 19 December in New Delhi, India. At a media briefing on Tuesday, WHO experts outlined the organisation's work to strengthen evidence, regulation and the integration of traditional medicine into national health systems. Our Reporter, Lebogang Mabange, has more.
West Africa wrap with Political Scientist, International Relations Specialist and Conflict Resolution Expert, Dr David Matsanga
West Africa has experienced another tense and eventful week, with political uncertainty, security pressures and shifting regional dynamics dominating the headlines. Benin is grappling with the fallout of a failed coup attempt that prompted an ECOWAS troop deployment; Guinea-Bissau’s military has announced a National Transitional Council after yet another power struggle; and Nigeria faces questions after its troops were briefly detained in Burkina Faso following an emergency landing. To make sense of these developments is Political Scientist, International Relations Specialist and Conflict Resolution Expert, Dr David Matsanga.
Tunisia is open for business as economic ties with South Africa deepen – Tunisian Ambassador
Tunisian Ambassador to South Africa, Karima Bardaoui, says Tunisia is open for business and eager to strengthen economic ties with South Africa. Speaking at a business networking event hosted by the Tunisian Embassy in Pretoria on Tuesday, Bardaoui urged South Africans to view Tunisia as their "second home," emphasising the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and deeper bilateral cooperation to build a more connected, resilient, and sustainable African economy. Channel Africa’s reporter, Micheal Mbewe, reports.
From fear to firepower: why more South African women are learning to use guns
While gender-based violence has been declared a national disaster, many people, particularly women, still fear for their safety. Firearm competency tests in recent years show a noticeable shift in South Africa, with more women engaging with firearms. On this week's GBV feature, we explore why women are taking up arms for various reasons, including self-defence. Joining us to discuss this is Ivana Ries, Founder, Director, and Head Coach of Storm Combat.
Rescue of 100 children highlights Nigeria's ongoing insecurity
One hundred schoolchildren were released on Monday in Nigeria's Niger State after being abducted last month from a Catholic school. It was one of the country's largest mass kidnappings in recent years. The released children arrived at the government house in Minna, the state capital, and were handed over to the governor. Some of the abducted children were as young as six. Nigerian government officials did not publicly comment on how the rescue was carried out, and it remains unclear whether the children were freed through negotiations, ransom payments, or a security operation. The abduction has caused outrage over worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria. We speak to Leftist Owobu Usigbe, a social worker in Edo State who works with some of the victims of kidnapping.
SAQA hosts Angolan delegation to strengthen academic credential integrity across Africa
South Africa's Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is stepping up efforts to strengthen the integrity of academic and skills credentials across the continent. This week, SAQA is hosting a delegation from Angola's National Institute for Educational Assessment and Development for a four-day benchmarking and capacity-building programme in Pretoria. The initiative aims to boost regional cooperation, improve the recognition of foreign qualifications, and address growing concerns around document fraud and misrepresentation. To discuss what this partnership means for both countries and for the wider African education landscape, we are joined by SAQA's Chief Operating Officer, Dr Makhapa Makhafola.
Tensions rise in Cameroon's Anglophone regions amid reports of civilian killings
Cameroon is once again facing renewed scrutiny following fresh reports of violence and deepening tensions in its Anglophone regions. The Office of the Vice President of the self-declared Federal Republic of Ambazonia has accused the Cameroonian military of killing five civilians in Bafut, Mezam County, describing the incident as part of what it calls a systematic campaign of state-sponsored repression. This comes just days before Ambazonian prisoners across several detention centres – from Bamenda and Buea to Kondengui, and even as far as Oslo and the United States – begin a coordinated three-day hunger strike to protest their continued detention despite international rulings ordering some of them released. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of Cameroon's recent elections, which have left many observers questioning whether President Paul Biya, now more than four decades in power, has further cemented his authority and whether any meaningful political challenge remains inside the country or within the diaspora. To help us understand the latest developments, Dabney Yerima, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, joins us. The discussion began with questions about the recent killings.
HRW condemns arbitrary arrests ahead of Tanzania's Independence Day protests
Human Rights Watch says Tanzanian authorities have wrongfully arrested alleged protest organisers and opposition supporters ahead of nationwide protests called for today, 9 December 2025. The organisation says the government should end its crackdown and immediately release all those arbitrarily detained. Activists have urged people to demonstrate peacefully on Tanzania's Independence Day, known as D9, against the police use of lethal force during the 29 October general elections. The government cancelled the official Independence Day celebrations after President Samia Suluhu Hassan directed that funds for the event be used to restore infrastructure damaged during the election unrest. To discuss this further, Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, joins us.
Over 100 Nigerian schoolchildren freed after mass kidnapping in Niger State
Nigeria is once again confronting the trauma of mass school kidnappings after more than 100 children abducted from St Mary's Catholic School in Niger State were freed and handed over to authorities in Minna. It is one of the country’s biggest rescues in recent years, and while President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the development, major questions remain about how the children were released and what this means for the hundreds of other Nigerians still held by armed groups. Parents are celebrating cautiously, with many still desperate for answers, and concerns continue to grow over the expanding threat posed by banditry, armed militias, and ransom-driven abductions across northern Nigeria. For the latest from the ground, Channel Africa’s Nigeria correspondent Jonathan James Lyamgohn reports.
DRC and Rwanda sign Washington-backed peace deal amid ongoing conflict in eastern Congo
The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda last week signed a peace deal in Washington, witnessed by US President Donald Trump. This follows an initial agreement reached between the parties in June. The signing in the US capital, in the presence of several African leaders, marks a key moment in efforts to bring peace to the troubled eastern Congo, where fierce fighting continues between Congolese armed forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. For more on this, Peter Ndoro spoke to Francine Fuhara Muyumba, a Congolese youth leader serving as President of the Pan African Youth Union, as well as political analyst on the Great Lakes region, Didier Bayeye.
Benin thwarts attempted coup after soldiers seize state TV
Benin's government says it has foiled an attempted coup after a small group of soldiers briefly seized control of state television. While the country has enjoyed relative stability since transitioning to democracy in the early 1990s, the region has seen several recent coups, from Niger to Guinea-Bissau. To help us understand the dynamics behind this attempt, we spoke to Paul Melly, Consulting Fellow with the Africa Programme at Chatham House.
Mozambique faces worsening humanitarian crisis, children most affected
Mozambique is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis, with children bearing the brunt of conflict, displacement, and the growing impact of climate-related shocks. UNICEF says urgent support is needed to protect the most vulnerable and to strengthen community resilience. To tell us more about the situation on the ground, we spoke to Mary Louise Eagleton, UNICEF's Representative in Mozambique.
Round-up wrap with resident political analyst Mighti Jamie
In this segment of the show, Rise and Shine resident analyst Mighti Jamie joined Peter Ndoro to discuss some of the stories highlighted earlier and to provide insight into what to expect in the week ahead.
Tanzania on edge ahead of Independence Day amid election tensions
Tanzania, long regarded as one of Africa's most stable nations, is heading into a critical and tense week. The disputed elections have left the country on edge, marked by violent unrest, internet blackouts, mass arrests, and reports of lethal force. With calls for nationwide protests on 9 December, Independence Day, the political stakes are rising sharply. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced a political dialogue and a national healing process. Still, critics argue that reconciliation is impossible while key opposition figures, including CHADEMA's Tundu Lissu, remain detained and young people feel increasingly excluded. To unpack the situation in Tanzania, Peter Ndoro spoke to Deogratias Munishi, CHADEMA's International Secretary, beginning by asking whether the political dialogue called for by President Suluhu Hassan could be meaningful in the current climate.
Relentless rain and cyclone Ditwah Devastate communities from Indonesia to Sri Lanka
Severe and widespread flooding is sweeping across parts of Southeast and South Asia, disrupting the lives of millions from Indonesia and Malaysia to Sri Lanka and Viet Nam. Entire communities have been displaced, critical infrastructure has been damaged, and humanitarian needs are rising sharply as the region grapples with days of relentless rain and the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has moved quickly to scale up emergency support-providing evacuations, First Aid, clean water, temporary shelter, and essential relief supplies. With us from Kuala Lumpur is Alice Ho, Acting Deputy Regional Director of the IFRC's Asia Pacific Regional Office, to help us understand the situation on the ground, the scale of the response, and what more is needed....
Kenya probes BATUK over community and environmental harm
Kenya's parliamentary inquiry into the British Army Training Unit in Kenya - BATUK - has brought renewed attention to long-standing allegations of environmental damage, misconduct, and harm suffered by local communities. Rights groups say the hearings could be a turning point in holding foreign military actors accountable on Kenyan soil. To help us unpack the latest developments and what this inquiry could mean going forward, joining in from Kenya is human-rights lawyer Kelvin Kubai, who has been closely involved in supporting affected families.
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