Is Bobi Wine Uganda’s next president?

In this show, we look at three stories from the African continent that have our community talking.

 

President Bobi Wine?

Uganda’s rapper-turned-politician Bobi Wine has finally answered the question everyone has been asking. Yes, he will run against the country’s longtime leader in elections scheduled for 2021. “I will challenge President Museveni on behalf of the people,” the 37-year-old opposition darling said in an interview. It hasn’t, though, been an easy road for the self-styled “Ghetto President” since he was elected to parliament in 2017. There have been treason charges, his driver was shot dead by security forces and he was badly injured while in military custody. So why does he keep going? We’ll ask him as he joins The Stream again.

 

Sierra Leone’s emergency

It was a plan that made international headlines. In February, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio declared sexual violence a national emergency, saying: “We as a nation must stand up and address this scourge”. High-profile campaigns were launched. A dedicated police division was announced along with a special court focusing on such cases. And plans were unveiled to hand life in prison to those found guilty of sexually assaulting minors. The emergency status has just been revoked by parliament and a new sexual crimes bill is in the works. But what was achieved? And can other countries learn from Sierra Leone’s radical action? We ask the activists on the ground.

 

Remembering Hodan Nalayeh  

Everybody says she was special. “Passionate”, “brave”, “a shining star“. Somalia-Canadian journalist Hodan Nalayeh was killed last week alongside her husband in an attack by the armed group al-Shabaab in which 26 people died and more than 50 were wounded. The 43-year-old, who left Somalia at the age of six with her parents, returned last year permanently with her children determined to tell positive stories of a homeland in which, despite its troubles, she saw much hope and progress. Since her death, there has been an outpouring of grief and tributes. People have recounted stories of kindness on social media, the government has announced an annual prize in her honour and a memorial event will this week be held in Ontario. We’ll also remember her in this episode and ask what her legacy will be. 

 

Read more:

Singer Bobi Wine says he will run for Uganda president in 2021 – Al Jazeera 
Sierra Leone’s emergency on rape has been bittersweet – SwitSalone
A journalist returned to Somalia to tell positive stories – then terrorists killed her – Quartz

 

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