no, because dina go, child, i believe to say days more to life than getting married at the very young age has been done to fight this cool pattern. the 77 percent in 60 minutes on d. w. what secrets lie behind these walls? discover new adventures in 360 degrees. and explore fascinating world heritage sites. d w world heritage 360. get the app now. ah, this is deed of the news africa coming up on the program. could there finally be a solution to the drought problems in the horn of africa? a study finds that despite the parched expenses across east and africa, there are enough reserves of water below ground to change the regions fortunes.

also coming up. we take a look at the logistical hurdles ahead of major is elections that are making some people worry whether they might even get to vote. i've been here since 8 in the morning. and after like 4 hours, someone came out and said, my god was it imitated. and the killing of an activist in kenya prompts calls for justice over cases of violence within and against the l. g. b t q. community. ah, i'm told me are laddie boys, good savvy with us? climate change continues to make it's mark in africa disrupting weather patterns and in some cases, making them more extreme. the horn of africa is facing the threat of a 5th consecutive failed rainy season. and that's brought with it frequent

devastating droughts. but a solution could be much closer than many realize. it turns out that beneath the regions dry planes, there's an increasing amount of ground water enough to make droughts. a thing of the past, it's the worst drought in 40 years here in somalia. makeshift camps like this one near the town of by dora has sprung up on mass as hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee bone dry conditions. many a herders whose lifeline is their animals. they totally depend on regular rainfalls . well that we will come here above the list. i think it is becoming really difficult for liberal to sustain the lives them in the room turned. droughts in the horn of africa are becoming more frequent and more devastating with time. people in this already water, scarce region,

can no longer rely on the long range between march and may and the short rains between october and december. whilst livestock said come, and more than $37000000.00 people in the horn of africa are facing acute hunger people might be sitting on top of their lifesaver. huge amounts of groundwater. scientists found that most countries in africa would actually have enough underground water supply for more than 50 years. plus, the study shows this water storage is even increasing despite the poor rainy seasons. this is because of the now more common heavy rain showers. they can most effectively refill the water stored in the ground to become ground water rainfall needs to be intense enough for the water to quickly infiltrate the soil. these short but heavy downpours fill up dry riverbeds. the water then seeps into

underground deposits. these findings are extremely exciting, says the agra economist, alaric sandra, who has had years of experience working in africa, come up. there's a great opportunity in a huge untapped potential. if you can access that, you can increase yields in a fairly short time by $100.00 to maybe even 400 per cent. so there's a very big potential to increase production in africa to protocol at all. he offered. the world bank has allocated money to explore this and the private sector is already drilling in some places if tapped into on a large scale ground water could be a game changer for the continents most vulnerable regions. so we see that growing interest in exploring what's below the ground in the horn of africa with some ground water drilling already underway. so what's the actual process? well, the deaf varies depending on the soil composition and water quality. but some of

this ground water has been found around 2 to 5000 meters below ground. and on average, it takes up to a few weeks of digging to reach these water deposits. let's speak now to michael singer as a professor in physical geography. a card, if university in the u. k. and he's one of the office of the study. thank you for joining us professor. now these findings seem extraordinary how big an impact can this have. for example, the horn of africa. you know, it's hard to know, but we're excited about the prospect. this is a region that has faced consecutive drought seasons. so multiple seasons at this point, they're protected to have a 6 in a row failed rainy season. and this is an ongoing trend where the regions just getting dryer and dryer season by season. and so we expected that maybe that's having an impact on the hydrology and the water resources of the region. but we

were surprised in our analysis to find that actually there seems to be increasing water storage alongside of that declining rainfall trend, which was a bit puzzling how to, how did you actually discover the presence of these massive water reserves? yes, so we did an analysis where we looked at rainfall data 1st to try to see what the trends in rainfall are saying. and certainly those were largely showing a decline in rainfall over the over the entire season of rainfall. but we also found that extreme rainfall seemed to be increasing over time, which suggested that maybe there's something else going on that we need to study further. so then we looked into some satellite data. there are 2 satellites, roaming around the earth that are keeping track of the gravitational field. and we were able to use that satellite to interpret it. that there is

a rising amount of water storage under ground. that seems to be significantly related to the extreme rainfall trends that we found. right. so, so could it be that they've been misconceptions about the existing supply of groundwater? yes, i don't think generally speaking, groundwater is not a massively used resource within the region because it requires a large amount of investment, which just really hasn't happened across the dry lands at the horn of africa compared to places like india where there's been a huge investment groundwater and in fact over use. so they're, they're really kind of only localized groundwater wells that are being used for water supply primarily. so. so in this case then, are you saying that, oh, do you know how much or how easy it would be to access this? what does it mean, just basic polls or the massive investment in proper extraction?

i can't say for sure because the satellite did, it doesn't tell us that specific information. but what we do know is that after there are big rain fall events. if you go down to river channels, the water is only a couple of meters below ground. and there's a significant supply in this concept is not lost on rural communities who often travel to the river channels and dig wells temporarily just to access water, philip cherry cans and take it back to their villages. so presumably there is a shout, a relatively shallow source of groundwater, especially around river channels. but groundwater is, is very challenging problem. and there's a lot of spatial variability in the depths that the ground water. and on that note, if you were to dig for this ground water, would it be a straightforward process,

replenishing the supplies? well, it appears that they're getting replenished naturally through various processes. and that the main thing is when it rains really heavily, when you have these extreme rainfall events, the water can actually penetrate deep through the soil, below the zone where it might be lost back through evaporation into the atmosphere . so you're basically thinking that water below ground. and the other thing that happens is that water tends to run off of dry landscapes, down into river channels, where it seeps into the river bed and again is, is banked below the zone into that ration. so i suspect what, what that process will continue to occur as long as the rainfall extremes continue to occur, even if we start using the ground water resource. ok, we'll be looking forward to seeing what this can achieve. michael single professor

in physical geography from cardiff university. many thanks for speaking to us. thank you for watching the dublin use africa still to come. why a group of people in one of africa model democracies taking to the streets to demand a change to the constitution? germany and france have sent their talk, diplomats to the philippines capital this week, with the aim of mending relations with the government in adis that was strained over the war. integra, german, foreign minister and alina back, and have french counterpart that's or in colona say that trip emphasizes their support for the peace deal between ethiopia, government, and the tig, right people's liberation front or t p. a left. the european union has criticized as far as handling of the conflict, particularly relating to reported human rights violations. but now there's

a chance for a reset of if you appears relationships with the outside world. i'm not joined by samuel, gets i to journalist based in addis ababa. hi, samuel, thanks for joining us on the program. now this meeting comes off the back of strained relations between europe, and if you'll hear over the conflict in te gray, can you tell us just how badly damaged these relations were and can they be mended? well, they open government has been accusing much of the western nations including your 10 nations and by an administration of siding with a t p and left during the conflict, i just ended up back in november with the signing of a piece agreement in pretoria us. what i said there will be, but the relationship in terms of importance is paramount. the european nations are funders of some of the job creation that the job and government has been championing for a while. even in the creation of the industrial parks all over the country that has

created thousands and thousands of jobs, especially for young women. they have also supported ethiopia in terms of humanity and support that has been needed when it's your best facing issues like famine that has really good destination to that. so the relationship between the open nations and we really important and that's why. busy minister of germany and france were welcomed and have been meeting with if you'll see their actors to try to bring the relationship back to where it was before this conflict began in. and what specifically it does address once when they opened government one supports in time. so for trying to bring back some of the damaged infrastructure that's been happening into dry and fire and there is the, the legacy of this conflict is really the minimum. so if your parents have been impacted

in terms of being displaced, elise, 600000. people have died, so the children inside would want to create or trying to emulate some of the systems that has worked in european nations, including the peaceful coexistence of people that we see from our far trying to celebrate diversity. and instead of using it to divide its population, so there is something that the opening in has, we've seen works best and the children government really wants to bring it back to this country. and economy again as has been damaged. there has to be for an investment that has to come to this country to try to create jobs that's needed, especially among young people in the european nations seem to understand that. and that's what the relationship is going to be moving forward. i think according to meet the open site detached you in about thank you very much. as always was speaking to us. thank you.

ah, let's now continue our look at nigeria is our coming presidential elections. 4 years ago, the country experienced its lowest voter turnout in its history as a democracy with only a 3rd of those eligible showing up to the polls. this time the authorities have revamped registration procedures and the voting technology in the hope of boosting the turn out on election day. niger is electoral commission is also complaining of the threat of political violence. several of its office buildings have been attacked recently in an apparent attempt to disrupt the process of possibly scared voters away. for the nigerians determined to make their votes count as dw micah acoya reports. they face another challenge of even having the guarantee that bill be officially allowed to vote. i probably,

we are at the registration center league when people come to collect the cards they need to vote. this is what it takes to be able to get your permanence voters card. what's nigerians will may need another train to people fabric. so costs are both. some of this people have been with him for hours, believe in the us some point they'll be able to get the permanent focus. got i saw online on my profile on my integral, my own my that my card was ready for pickup. okay, so i came here this morning with the sleep that i was given in 2021 to because i've been here since 8 in the morning. and after like 4 hours, someone came out and said, my god was, is omitted or like what do you mean by wilmington? he said, my god was not printed and you're telling me that my cod is not brings or just barely 66 or 8 weeks away from your ledger. so i can vote. so i, we have the eyes and change the color fellow with ass gag talk was yesterday and i

saw so annoying. well, i'm supposed to get my cool and like you said they want and i wouldn't because i believe them, i want to count these permanent volta cards. might be high tech, but the as to sorted by hand one by one. it is a slow procedure, but the letter officer says they are doing their best. if everybody can, obviously, you can look at the crowd outside. we are various from ari one to 10. i well, i'm precise offending to them. some of all we'll come now. you want to go now dos with a bit with a copy for, you know, we have thousands of the fi normally paulette when you look at that by adding bud, big, big animal horses filled with lip us. so we need to saw them out. i reba i read. there is no miss. if you don't have the permanent card with you, there is no way you can get anything affiliated at all votes asked the point no

card, no vote. the risk of been disenfranchised is frustrating for many. with only a few weeks before election day. i noticed the pattern what is doing a bring out 1010 cards and then they bring out 20 people are seeing that cardinal power. so they give you 5 italian 2 and if i was not popular major your big we're, you know, get back up now. so i insisted how to print on it up the back. i'm printed it toward one, and then suddenly i won't on there. is there, these america, new albany, georgia, god rosenberg authorities to say, despite this, there in the increased uptake is positive and good for the democratic process. i think it has it. i mean, you results with her. people are interested in collecting juggling because mo, done me record it before as well. we are really, really horrid as if i got a woman,

michael loves it a little does. does kat distribution has been so difficult. authorities have pushed back the deadline for people to get them and they are handing them out at the local level to try to make the process my efficient. the pressure is on to get the cost to all those who want them in time for these crucial inactions to gone an hour, which is often seen as $1.00 of africa's most stable democracies. but campaigners, they're calling for an overhaul of the constitution, which they say is not fit for purpose. under the hash tag, fix the country, they want major amendments to address social inequality and democratic accountability. and as it all did abuse maxwell souk, up north in family, the one reforms that will reflect their hopes for the country. oh, out with the old in, in, within you rally around a hashtag fix the country is canyon c,

a countries 1992 constitution. nice 86. they said you want one that does more to put power in the house of the people. we are the only democracy. we're our parliament kind of proposed laws. it cannot middle of all, it brings them a product of low for them to vote on. they are themselves the machines on the agenda of executive. it does not make sense open. it is, see the changes i needed to meet the demands from the younger generation and to fix it. countries, massive economic problems gunners caused her, she was designed to provide political stability of the years. military room was an attempt to modernize it to introduce political accountability and fight corruption have toward michigan. yes. say what is needed now is not an amendment, but a new constitution to get the country developed. b, c, defense system. might me,

teens get done, for example. and affirmative action or which has been in the works for nick is put in promotional representation. and government means that women, if i my women save me hell i it, and all of the thing will trickle down it with the toner into the i got, i got a little of what the right one another have certainly created a movement of young people demanding change but critic suggest the new constitution might not be the right way forward. no constitution is absolutely perfect. on paper a constitution, we are peer attractive. but to when it comes to implementation, you face some challenges by the fact that we are facing some challenges is not a justification to say that you threw off the constitution. i'll rewrite another

constitution. said put his array here in dana. the country is one of the ridges stable democracies put a high rate of 40 percent economic problems in political turmoil. need many young people now feel gunner nice fixin ah, human rights groups in kenya are raising the alarm on growing cases of sexual and gender based violence, especially in intimate relationships. a coalition of campaign as, as demanding urgent scrutiny of these cases and swifter police action, particularly after the brutal killing of an l. g. b t q activist. earlier this month, the body of the 25 year old ad when to lowball was found in a metal box on a roadside in an incident that has shocked the country and is prompting calls for justice. police have made several arrests as they investigate the killing from on

this i am now joined by cannon journalist and l. g b t q rights activist. kevin, was cheryl kevin? good, have you on the program or gay rights activists? one of arise in gender based an intimate partner violence within the algebra to q community, what do you think could have led to this trend? i think what we're seeing right now told me, is the fact that there has been no support from, from state factors from a government that protect the members of the algae beach e q community. so, and we've already had utterances from politician one actually said this a few hours ago, but algebra to q activists should be arrested, you know, those a video going round over the, over the weekend of, from one of the governors in kenya. you know, chris being critical of the community. so they have, i mean,

the career community and the movement have, have warned against facts attacks. i mean, such, such, such hate speech, you know, whole such insidious statements because they could lead to, they could lead to people being attacked. they couldn't lead to, to more cases of people experiencing various forms of violence. we're just hoping that people are wise enough not to heed this goal. just wondering what it can you is a fairly tolerant society overall, but it's still very conservative in its its ways keeping us a picture of what that's like in can for gave people. i mean, for starters, it is not a legal being homosexual in kenya. you know, there is no law against homosexual against homosexuality. what is a legal and what we are insistent on telling people that is homosexual. acts

between men and i is an old colonial law which the community, the movement and kind of tried doing away with a few years ago. but they lost that case. just pop, commonly known as repeal one seeks to. so that law has never been enacted in kenya, and people by and large, you know, get, get, get away with just being themselves. we're in my time with the movement. we've seen a number of organizations right across the country, the that advocate for health rights that actually kate's for security. there's been a lot of law being taking place behind the scenes. so some people, i mean if you come about and you go on with your business, you know, you can, you can just, you can do an openly gay or l g b, g, q life in can you, they are spaces, they're festivals that got the rings that ok, you know, there's a lot of stuff happening online and in, in, in what we call circles or safety. you know, where people are able to exist in their fullness reading fairly,

fairly easily and relatively freely freely. we don't see probably crumbs of affection or anything, but once on the streets, you would really have to be careful, you know, kind of if, if, if i'm getting your right kind of bubble at would you say this is probably why some people find it difficult to report incidents of violence in day relationships. you know, the fact that if you end up, if you end up going to police police station saying that your boyfriend or your girlfriend, if you're a gay person is assaulting you, you know, there is the shame, you know, but 1st of all, there is below that like i mention, you know, but i know people who are scared of going to us to be boring kids because of, of the, the, the percent the fear of being discriminated against or being arrested. you know, for, for you even stating that you are in a gay relationship, so people just have cut down and get on with it. ok,

canyon was me to right activist kevin, which hero. thank you for speaking to us. well that's it for now, but there is more on our website will leave you with these images from the bonaire national voodoo holiday. earlier this week, bye for now with with

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these teachings or elements to us. oh, legacy starts january 20th on d, w. ah, this is d, they'll be in use live from berlin. russia launches a mother, wife of missile attacks against ukraine, killing at least 5 people in the city of ne prep. dozens are wounded missiles, also target infrastructure and several other cities including the capital.