World Tour - Claims of victory in Ethiopia

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

ONIZE OHIKERE, REPORTER: Ethiopian PM claims military advances—We start today here in Africa.

ABIY: [Speaking Amharic]

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appeared on national television Monday to declare victory in recent battles with Tigray forces.

Abiy claimed his troops are winning the war, adding, “The victory will continue.”

But Abiy’s claims could not be independently verified. Last month, the government restricted media coverage of the conflict, including reports on troop movements. Foreign media outlets had already been banned from Tigray for much of the year-long conflict.

On Saturday, a spokesman for the United Nations said aid convoys finally arrived in Tigray late last month, after more than a month of delays.

DUJARRIC: Ethiopia, in the northern part of the country, our humanitarian colleagues have advised us that the conflict there continues to drive large-scale displacement, loss of livelihoods and limited access to markets, food and basic services. Our humanitarian partners have limited access to large segments of the population across these regions, though there have been some improvements in the past week.

Nearly half a million people in northern Ethiopia face famine-like conditions due to a government blockade of the area.

Incumbent president wins election in Gambia—Next we go west, to The Gambia.

AUDIO: [Sound of celebrations]

Supporters of President Adama Barrow celebrated on Sunday after he won a second term in office.

AUDIO: I am feeling happy, I am feeling happy because my president, who I voted for, has won already. That is why I am so happy. Everyone in The Gambia they are all out for jubilating the president. We are all happy.

Saturday’s election was seen as a crucial test for democracy in the country. Five years ago, Barrow defeated the country’s former dictator, but military forces had to remove him from office before Barrow could take over.

The main opposition candidate disputed the results of Saturday’s vote. But he called on his supporters to remain peaceful, saying he would appeal to the law to correct any irregularities.

Pakistan denounces mob killing—Next to South Asia.

AUDIO: [Sound of people talking at memorial]

Police in Pakistan have arrested more than 100 people in the mob killing of a Sri Lankan man accused of blasphemy.

The angry mob attacked the factory manager on Friday amid rumors that he’d torn down a religious poster and thrown it in the trash. The mob instigators accused the man of blasphemy. But police are investigating whether a personal vendetta over his “strict” management style might have led to the accusation.

AUDIO: [Man speaking Urdu]

Officials condemned the brutal killing. And business leaders called on Pakistan’s government to take action to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Pakistan has had a string of high profile mob killings over blasphemy claims. Christians and ethnic minorities are often targets of false accusations.

Volcano erupts in Indonesia—And finally, we end today in Indonesia.

AUDIO: [Sound of digging, voices]

Search teams continue to look for victims of the Mount Semeru volcano. It erupted Saturday, ejecting a mushroom of volcanic ash and raining down hot mud. Thousands of people fled, but at least 34 died when the ash and mud swallowed houses and vehicles. Nearly Two dozen people are still missing.

Volcanic activity is common in Indonesia. The country has more than 100 active volcanoes. Mount Semeru last erupted a year ago.

That’s this week’s World Tour. Reporting for WORLD, I’m Onize Ohikere in Abuja, Nigeria.

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