World Tour: Rwanda’s president resumes office

NICK EICHER, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It: World Tour, with our reporter in Africa, Onize Ohikere.

AUDIO: [Brass band playing]

Rwanda president’s new tenure — We start today’s roundup at the stadium in Rwanda’s capital of Kigali.

Tens of thousands of people watched as President Paul Kagame assumed office for a fourth term on Sunday. The 66-year-old’s victory was widely expected in elections last month.

KAGAME: I Kagame, Paul do solemnly swear to Rwanda that I will remain loyal to the Republic of Rwanda.

Kagame has led the East African country for more than two decades.

Critics have accused him of running an authoritarian regime. Only two out of eight opposition candidates were allowed to run against him.

AUDIO: [Protesters chanting]

Serbia mining protests — Over in Serbia, protesters crowded downtown Belgrade and the capital city’s two main railway stations.

They are protesting against the government’s plan to allow lithium mining in a western farming valley.

Authorities paused the plan two years ago, after protesters blocked major bridges and roadways for weeks.

The government restarted the project last month after a court order ruled that revoking the mining permits was unconstitutional.

Serbians who oppose the move argue that the mine would pollute the country’s water and harm public health.

Slobodan Stanimirovic resides in Radjevina, where the mine is expected to operate.

STANIMIROVIC: [Speaking Serbian]

He says here that he joined the protest to defend life in Serbia.

Authorities and state-run media have opposed the demonstrations, describing them as an attempt to topple the government.

AUDIO: [Sound of responders]

Algeria wildfires — And in Algeria, firefighters battled several wildfires in the northeast over the weekend.

Responders evacuated families from parts of Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia provinces.

Farid Farih is a volunteer firefighter.

FARIH: [Speaking Berber]

He says here that volunteers worked with members of the Civil Protection team to keep the fire from spreading.

Algeria’s northern region often battles wildfires in the summer. Fires last summer killed more than 30 people and destroyed thousands of acres of forest and farmlands.

Colombia Flower Festival — We wrap up today with farmers and other participants at the colorful flower festival in the Colombian city of Medellin.

During the annual parade, participants carry “silleteros”—an elaborate floral arrangement that can weigh more than 150 pounds.

The historic practice goes back to when farmers strapped wooden chairs to their backs to move their produce.

Maria Luisa Atehortua participated in the parade.

ATEHORTUA: [Speaking Spanish]

She says the magic of life inspired her design, which she saw as a chance to be grateful to God for the little things.

That’s it for today’s WORLD Tour. Reporting for WORLD, I’m Onize Ohikere in Abuja, Nigeria.

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