Botswana held a national election last week Wednesday to decide if one of Africa's longest-ruling parties stays in power for another five-year term. The Botswana Democratic Party has governed the southern African nation for 58 years, since independence from Britain in 1966, and has held the presidency throughout. Botswana's opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has won a majority in parliament and can form the next government, the electoral commission announced on Friday, marking a historic defeat for the party that had governed the diamond-rich country for nearly six decades. Outgoing president Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat in Wednesday's general election and said his administration would begin handing over the reins of government in the next few days. Thembisa Fakude, a senior research fellow at Africa Asia Dialogues and chief executive officer at the Mail & Guardian, joins to tell us more about the successful Botswana elections.

Thembisa Fakude, Senior Research fellow Africa-Asia Dialogues weighs in on why the next US president matters for Africa’s affairs.

This week, leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China South Africa meet to discuss pertinent global developments and bilateral trade agreements that will forge the path forward at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. The Summit is set to host 36 international leaders from around the world and the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Gutterres as a possible attendee. This Summit will also be the first appearance of its newest members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates following their accession to the multilateral organization in August 2023.

At the top of the agenda of the Summit, the reduction of transactions from US Dollars to local currencies in a bid to bolster economic development. Another key discussion will be geopolitical environment and the role of multilateralism in overcoming conflict at a time where the world has returned on conventional warfare.

Guest: Prof David Monyae - Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg

Guest: Thembisa Fakude - Senior Research Fellow at Africa Asia Dialogues (Afrasid)

While the finance ministers and central bank governors are meeting in Washington this week for the traditional autumn meeting of the IMF and World Bank, a different kind of summit is taking place in Russia at the same time. From 22-24 October, it is the turn of President Vladimir Putin to host the 16th BRICS summit. A total of 32 foreign delegations from all over the world are expected to attend, 24 of them at the level of heads of state and government, including all of the nine BRICS members to date, as well as numerous other countries interested in membership, including with Turkey for the first time a NATO member state. It has not yet been confirmed whether UN Secretary-General António Guterres will also accept the Russian invitation to attend the summit. Thembisa Fakude, a senior research fellow at Africa Asia Dialogues and chief executive officer at the Mail & Guardian, joins to tell us more aboutthei Summit.

Clement Manyathela speaks to Thembisa Fakude, a senior research fellow at the Africa Asia Dialogues about the dictatorship of Saddam Hussain, who ruled Iraq for almost 30 years.