Somalia Conference in Turkey

Representatives from 54 countries gathered in Istanbul at the beginning of the month to discuss the situation in Somalia and think of ways forward for the country. The two-day conference - which follows the London neocolonial meeting in February - kicked off with discussions among senior officials, experts and businessmen on four key issues: water, energy, roads and sustainability. Abdi Dirshe was a delegate at the Civil Society gathering in Istanbul, a community and civil society initiative that aimed at evaluating and monitoring the Istanbul meeting. Abdi is a political analyst and the current President of the Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance.

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Headlines: 0 - 16:22
Interview with Abdi: 16:23 - 40:21

We also interviewed Abdi in February regarding the Somalia conference in London, you can listen to that interview here

International dimensions of the conflict in Eastern Congo

The profits and riches to be gained from exploitation of Eastern Congo’s natural resources continue to propel violence, pillage and the suffering of the Congolese people.

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The BBC African Debate: What Debate? Interview with Femi Akomolafe

The BBC has been reporting news since its mother company, the British Broadcasting Company Ltd, was founded in 1922 by six British telecom companies. The year, however, the world's largest broadcaster has decided to make the news. And where else to start? - Africa, where the BBC's inaugural "Africa Debate" opened in Ghana on 27 January, under the audacious theme: "Is an African Spring necessary, and is it possible?" The audience could not miss the cheek in a foreign broadcaster, from a former imperial power, trying to incite revolutions in Africa. We spoke with Femi regarding the irony of the BBC's new focus, the BBC colonial past and the role of African media in creating dialogue between African nations.

Before our interview, as always, we bring you headlines from the African continent.

Listen to the program here
Headlines: 0 - 14:30
Interview with Femi: 14:31

To read Femi Akomolafe's article in March's edition of the New African Magazine, click here