World Tour - Defense of democracy in Tunisia

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: Protests in Tunisia—We start today here in Africa.

AUDIO: [Sounds of protests]

Several thousand protesters rallied in the Tunisian capital on Sunday. They are demanding President Kais Saied reverse recent orders consolidating political power in the presidency.

AUDIO: [Woman speaking Arabic]

This woman called on the president to reinstate the country’s constitution and let voters elect their leaders.

AUDIO: [Man speaking Arabic]

In July, Saied fired the prime minister, suspended parliament, and granted himself judicial powers. Last week, he announced his intention to rule by presidential decree.

Critics say the president has completed what amounts to a bloodless coup. But Saied claims he plans to hold a nationwide referendum on his governmental changes—eventually.

Tunisia was the only country in 2011 to emerge from the Arab Spring uprising with a new system of democracy after decades of dictatorship.

Guinea junta unveils transition plan—Next to Guinea.

AUDIO: [Woman speaking French]

The junta that seized control of the West African nation earlier this month unveiled a transition charter on Monday. A public broadcaster read the document on national television.

It lays out a plan for returning to civilian rule but does not set a timeline for the transition. The temporary government will include a civilian prime minister and legislative council. But special forces Colonel Mamady Doumbouya will lead a separate governing group, the National Rallying Committee for Development. It will determine when to end the transition period and hold new elections.

Catalan leader fights extradition to Spain—Next we go to Europe.

AUDIO: [Sound of camera shutters]

Former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont returned to Brussels Monday after Italian officials arrested him at Spain’s request.

AUDIO: [Man speaking Spanish]

Puigdemont said he would continue to fight extradition. He will return to Italy next week for a court hearing.

Spain wants to put him on trial for sedition, but he must return home first. Puigdemont fled the country in 20-17 to avoid prosecution over Catalan’s failed bid to gain independence from Spain.

Two years later, he won a seat on the European Parliament. That gave him immunity from prosecution, until his fellow lawmakers overturned that provision in March.

Catalan separatists who stayed in Spain went on trial and got lengthy prison sentences. But the Spanish government pardoned them earlier this year.

Canadians freed in prisoner swap—And finally, we end today in Asia.

AUDIO: [Shouting, cheering]

Supporters of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou celebrated her return to China on Saturday. Meng spent the last three years under house arrest in Canada fighting extradition to the United States.

Over the weekend, Meng reached a deal with U.S. prosecutors to avoid standing trial on fraud charges. In return, she admitted misrepresenting the company’s business dealings in Iran.

AUDIO: [Woman speaking Mandarin]

A spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry called Meng’s detention a case of political persecution. State media ignored her own admission of guilt as part of her release deal.

Beijing also denied any connection between Meng’s release and its decision to free two Canadian men. Chinese police arrested Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig days after Meng’s detention in a tit-for-tat widely denounced as hostage politics.

Both men were accused of endangering national security. Chinese officials said the government decided to release them for health reasons.

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

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.