World Tour: Disagreement in Sudan, and Chinese Christians flee to Taiwan

NICK EICHER, HOST: Next up, World Tour with Onize Ohikere.

ONIZE OHIKERE, REPORTER: Disagreement in Sudan—We start today here in Africa. A disagreement among pro-democracy activists in Sudan could threaten the peace plan signed last week.

AUDIO: [Sudan rally]

Activists held a weekend rally in Khartoum to honor those who died during months of protests against the military regime.

The protests began in April. The ongoing unrest finally pushed the ruling generals to agree to a power-sharing deal. But now the activists say they need more time to iron out their own disagreements before they can move on to the next step.

One point of contention involves granting immunity to soldiers who participated in deadly attacks against protesters. Activists also disagree on how much political power the military should have leading up to elections.

AUDIO: [Sudanese demonstrator]

This woman says the protests will continue until all the activists’ demands are met.

The power-sharing agreement calls for the military to retain control for 21 months. A civilian leader will take over for the next 18 months leading up to elections.

AUDIO: [Russian airstrike on Syria]

Airstrike in Syria—Next we go to Syria. Officials in Idlib Province say a Russian airstrike on a busy market killed at least 27 people. More than 100 others suffered injuries.

The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights called it the largest single death toll since April. That’s when a truce deal collapsed.

AUDIO: [Airstrikes, ambulance]

Russian and Syrian forces have violated safe zone agreements in an attempt to retake the country’s last major rebel stronghold. But the rebels have held President Bashar al-Assad’s forces at bay since April.

Meanwhile, Islamic militants continue to terrorize Christians in the region. Earlier this month a group allied with al-Qaeda kidnapped and killed a 60-year-old Christian woman. An autopsy revealed they raped her repeatedly before stoning her to death.

Chinese Christians flee to Taiwan—Next we go to Taiwan.

A family of six Chinese Christians arrived in the island nation earlier this month to seek asylum. All are members of Early Rain Covenant Church.

Chinese officials began targeting the congregation late last year. Many church members still face ongoing surveillance. The family that fled to Taiwan said they had to report to the police any time they left their house.

Pastor Wang Yi remains in detention without access to his lawyer. He initially faced charges of incitement to subvert state power, but officials now accuse him of running an illegal business. Two church elders also remain jailed on similar charges.

AUDIO: [Kenya wind farm-applause]

Kenya opens wind farm—And finally, we end today back in Africa.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta formally launched the continent’s largest wind farm on Friday.

KENYATTA: This monumental project comprising 365 wind turbines, of 850 kilowatts each with a total installed capacity of 310 megawatts.

Officials expect the Lake Turkana Wind Power project to provide 17 percent of the country’s energy. It should reduce energy costs and reduce reliance on diesel-powered generators.

That’s this week’s World Tour. For WORLD Radio, I’m Onize Ohikere reporting from Abuja, Nigeria.

(AP Photo/Mahmoud Hjaj) People take part in a protest condemning a deadly crackdown last month in Khartoum, Sudan, Thursday, July 18, 2019. 

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