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The South African government remains resolute after the Trump administration threatened to cut funding over a new land reform act to address racial disparities in land ownership. Despite three decades since apartheid, most farmland is still owned by white people. The government faces pressure to implement reforms, though critics argue they should proceed cautiously.

For more perspective on the Land Land Reform Act, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke with Ricky Mukonza, a political analyst and professor at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa.  

U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would “cut off all aid to South Africa until further notice” due to the country’s land reform policy. This decision follows an executive order to reduce U.S. financial assistance linked to South Africa’s land policy and its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. In response, South Africa’s foreign ministry criticized the order for its inaccuracies and its failure to recognize the nation’s colonial and apartheid history. VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke with political commentator Dr. Maropeng Mpya in Johannesburg about the impact on U.S.-South Africa relations.

Government leaders and technology company heads gathered at the AI Action Summit in Paris, France, to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and explore the use of Big Data. Leaders called for rules and international governance so people could trust the new technology.

Heads of state and technology executives convened in Paris to discuss safely embracing artificial intelligence amid mounting resistance to heavy-handed red tape that businesses say stifles innovation. But for AI technology to develop, we need big Data. To help us understand how AI and Big Data work, we turn to Isaac Mwinongo, a data analyst based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Many humanitarian workers worldwide have faced layoffs due to President Trump’s closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the primary source of humanitarian assistance. Tanzania, a rapidly growing economy in Africa with an annual GDP growth rate of nearly 7 percent, is one of the countries significantly affected by this change.
USAID initiatives in Tanzania focused on empowering women and youth and tackling health issues like HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, family planning, and nutrition. Reducing these programs could severely impact the nation’s development goals.
For more insight, I’m joined by Hon. Eric James Shigongo, a Member of Parliament from the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

On January 20th, after U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, his cryptocurrency, $TRUMP, surged 73% to a market value of about $9.2 billion. Melania Trump also launched her meme coin. However, cryptocurrency prices fell earlier this week, with Bitcoin reaching a three-week low.
Concerns over a global trade war drove the decline. President Trump initially imposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports and 10% on Chinese goods but later reversed his decision. To learn more about cryptocurrencies, I’m joined live by Mussie Haile, CEO and founder of Moya Technologies Inc. in Fairfax, Virginia.

The fall of Goma has rattled the continent, prompting international condemnation and fears of a humanitarian crisis. Observers say Goma is cautiously starting to come back to life after several days of fighting between Congolese forces and M23 fighters allegedly backed by Rwandan troops. Over the weekend, the Congolese Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said at least 700 people were killed and 2,800 wounded in the fight for control of Goma.
To provide more perspective on the war, ZihindulaMulegwa, attorney and former spokesman for then-President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, spoke to VOA’s Paul Ndiho. He says the rebels have vowed to march on the capital, Kinshasa, after capturing eastern DRC’s most significant city, Goma.

A summit of eastern and southern African leaders took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, over the weekend to address the conflict in eastern Congo, where M23 rebels threaten the government. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whose government is accused of supporting the insurgents, attended the summit, while Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi joined virtually. The meeting included members of the East African and Southern African Development Community (SADC). For more perspective, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke with political analyst Ricky Mukonza for insights.

Arnold Nyendwa, a Zambian inventor, has achieved unprecedented success in his field. His relentless innovative spirit has culminated in creating the stainless-steel stove and a range of other household products that redefine efficiency.

He is about to break ground and build a multimillion-dollar facility to manufacture these stoves in Zambia, creating hundreds of jobs and making the stoves a versatile solution for households. Our technology correspondent
Driven by the challenges faced by his community, Anorld Nyendwa took the initiative to design Zambia’s first stainless-steel stove that can use gas and electricity, demonstrating his commitment to innovation that makes a real difference.

I spoke to Arnold Nyendwa, the founder and CEO of AFNON, a cutting-edge stainless-steel company based in Lusaka, Zambia.

Intense fighting is underway in Eastern DRC as the M23 rebels have advanced swiftly on eastern Congo’s largest city, Goma. According to eyewitnesses on the ground, Congolese government forces struggled to halt an offensive that forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes as the rebels fired their way through the streets. VOA’s reporter on the Ground confirmed these developments. M23, with the help of Rwandan forces, had taken up strategic places in Goma. Even though Rwanda denies accusations. Earlier, via phone, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke with Passy Mubalama, a human rights activist based in Goma, who said the situation was intense. 

On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border through Executive Orders, describing it as a response to an “invasion.” His administration reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring applicants entering the U.S. from Mexico to stay there until their applications are processed. Additionally, an asylum program for those fleeing authoritarian regimes in Central and South America was halted, leaving many stranded in Mexico. For more insight, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke with Pamela Asobo-Anchang, publisher and executive editor of “The Immigrant magazine” based in Los Angeles, California, about the implications of this Executive Order.