please be sure. to be. discovered. subscribe to the documentary. news africa coming up on the program. in west africa outreach he worrying a new level troops in the region on the u.s. . terrorism drill. this time to stop the jihadists also coming out. when we were told to shoot people we had to do it if you said no we would torture you or kill you. there cool off south sudan's civil war

thousands of child soldiers the reports on how the u.n. is trying to help some of them to get obama. on he's a pain tough. mr fish because he's using his odds to complain against the destruction of the ocean. i. and you welcome to the program now more than 1500 soldiers from 34 countries have been taking part in a u.s. led counterterrorism exercise in west africa that. hold a growing extremist threat in the region the security situation is westerling by the day with jihadists staging more time. in killing increasing numbers of

civilians but consensus also growing over the possibility that the u.s. may be about to cut its numbers in the region. and i'm joined now by our correspondent fred mooney he's just come back from mauritania one of the 2 countries where the drill is taking place thanks very much for the time thank you for having me always a pleasure so so tell us more about this counter-terrorism exercise and how different really is it from previous ones i mean when it comes to training. all these military shootings it's not different but what was did this time around a tree to focus on activities that touch the lives of ordinary people like in mauritania and these days that they had to treat. and cover most for ordinary citizens that actually they are tackling the military part but also they are carrying. these people that there was something different compared to their last

ones and why is it important to then get closer to the locals and i mean it's important because the terrorists have been nuku to people because they have no jobs they have no food they have they have nothing and it's easy when someone is hungry it's easy to take to take him when you promise something now that the government for intro people organizes think about ordinary people thinking about job creation and development activities and i think this is something that can help to counter terrorism ok now talking about the u.s. how can the the leading the fight against terrorism when they are already planning to reduce the number of the troops on the ground it's very tricky question but also very interesting because when you look at the intelligence information on the u.s. about this issue. in the sahara region they predict it was ending situation in this

ahead. i think for me i think they're thinking about the budget and all. that needs to be all the investment that needs to be put into this ahead and they think that this is another afghanistan this is another type of iraq. or syria so they're kind of afraid that's why they want france and e.u. members to take a mission so even even african union see of course on all hands should be on board this one but the other question is to counter terrorism i should say rather it's on the rise even with the involvement of us choose another international troops on the ground what is happening to these groups that makes it seem like the actually getting stronger in the beginning when the terrorism started in this region there these terrorist groups where walking individually individual groups but now they

have been working together they started working together. is working with the something that had never happened before so because they have different ideologies but they have decided to put their ideology. aside and then focus on their main cause which is to fight the governments and to make sure that governments there cannot govern. the well. we can only hope because many on the continent hoping that he you and other international musicians will come aboard and make the fight against terrorism work out fred but we need to do the reporter thanks for your time now also pressure. after more than 5 years of civil war south sudan managed to form a unity government last month but many people are still traumatized by the conflict

like the thousands of young people who were forcibly recruited as child soldiers they were subjected to extreme violence and abuse the boys were forced to fight and . the girls were raped and used as wives the u.n. is trying to help some of them to rebuild their lives at the special facility in the south of the country. south sudan's fragile peace is slowly settling in the u.n. estimates that 900000 children and adolescents ducted and used as child soldiers during the 5 years civil war. here at duke center some of them are starting to find their feet again. christian he was captured by an group at the age of 13 for years he lived through hell he says. it was. true. for long yes it was before but. not that.

bad things. to someone we learned they will kill you my brother my brother make you and be who. and i was barely 13 when she was snatched from her way to school fighters turned her into a killing machine used and abused her the point now long when we were there we were beating people torturing people robbing people's property. when we were told to shoot people we had to do it if you said no we would torture you or kill you. it was also hard for girls because the boys used just as wives and. as a result many of the former female child soldiers have little children and has no training in sewing with a new skills she hopes to make some money to pay for the future education of her

little boy and hers she dreams of becoming a doctor. the training here is one part of a 3 year we have visitation program for much child soldiers co funded by the european union's humanitarian aid service there are over 2000000 children who have lost out on any form of education what we're trying to focus is on the children because we don't want another last generation to give them some sort of basic education to give them basic skills so they can participate in the reconstruction of their country. christian wants to be a plumber and rebuild his life as well as his village ravaged by the war. with the support of trained psychologists who do trauma counseling and the prospect

of a long term as well as peace and stability christian has. to believe in a happier future. now they say speaks louder than words so does painting and. knows all about that he's a popular in central gonna use in his fish painting to campaign against the destruction of the ocean through human activities his words have been celebrated by ghana's presidency and the u.s. government is hoping to draw attention to the problem around the world through his paintings. in his to do you. 2 things he laughs deeply fish on the ocean his nickname. for eat mr fish much of this week depicts this sea creature

and the struggle with pollutants dumped into the ocean no specific theme. to painting by 20 years ago but having grown up in a fishing community. his consent for marine life group with environmental issues becoming more and more pressing i've been painting from the perspective of the shot and since i'm clean for some years but. seeing the pollution aspect of it it is going to affect the world and even kind of fishes we have in the. so few years to come if we are to do a bot do anything about it in this way ending up in the ocean. the paintings illustrates the puti of the contrasting meet with the damage done by human activity we want this is the job that lives of he hopes it

can also save the greater peple of help and preserve the illusion for future generations. just imagine if we stand to see that dinosaurs. have died and gone. it is in our power in our hands to make sure that the sharks and wills still remain in the ocean for the next generation future in that we are going to give. to those who come to my that this was a leap not to see them in pictures. nuku visits the beach in his community everybody picking up waste washed ashore. he recycles these with items by using them for his spin teams telling their real stories of how polluted the sea ease but snuck who has a wish to to one d. live under the sea to observe what's going on there and fight for it to be kept

clean. because of it like in there which i cannot see physically as if it was you know it makes me think. beyond the at 1st sight of the water and the probably privilege to live in there to see that life and out here also live in a world of if you will participate of. my life the importance of preserving the beauty of the ocean. at wick is a constant reminder of that. that's what i call work with a purpose and that's it's now from news africa you can catch all our stories on our website and facebook page so what are you leaving today we've got some more pictures. and that's all supports the more meant to protect our oceans it's not

funny at all so much class they mean damn things to the ocean and that is dangerous so the next time it's 5 and. reach any closer tries to. come. from say one name in the footsteps of the great please come in here and. count the

fleet street. for a time you want. to marry much alive. to discuss. where exactly. the sun and the last star sculpture history. travel extremely worth a visit. hello and welcome to our arts and culture news of the lights the book fair is the latest casualty of the coronavirus scare across europe we'll have more on the ramifications of a global outbreak for the cultural scene and also coming up. how do top chefs keep coming up with new and exciting ideas problem meet one of their secret weapons food

scouts. and critically acclaimed electronica artist dan. terrible a self-proclaimed music nerdy type whose new album suddenly tackles the bank of life. the 1st casualties on the cultural front in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak were of course in china cinemas and theaters were quickly shut down there and film productions were halted but now as countries here in europe scramble to contain outbreaks the effects on the european art scene are unavoidable and here are some of the high profile cancellations thus far. there is almost recognizable past tourists stay away in droves st mark's square is almost deserted. and empty the famous venice carnival.

but the outbreak is no longer confined to northern italy.