World Tour - Ethiopia goes to the polls

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: Ethiopians hold elections—We start today here in Africa.

AUDIO: [Sound of ballots being emptied onto table]

Elections officials in Ethiopia are counting ballots. Voters went to the polls Monday in the first general election in the country since 2015. More than 40 parties and 9,500 candidates were on the ballot.

President Sahle-Work Zewde said she was impressed by the large turnout.

ZWEDE: I have observed and participated in many elections and I can tell you it's rare to see halfway through, this kind of a turnout, especially women.

But voters in about one-fifth of the country’s districts did not get to vote. Some areas are struggling with security challenges. Others had logistical issues. They are scheduled to vote in September.

Some officials say that delay raises questions about the election’s legitimacy.

AHMED: [Man speaking Amharic]

But Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed dismissed those claims. His Prosperity Party is expected to win a majority of the seats in parliament.

Some opposition parties boycotted the election, claiming intimidation by government officials.

And in the war-torn region of Tigray, no one voted. UN human rights officials continue to voice concern about violence in Tigray, where government forces are trying to defeat a militia loyal to regional leaders.

Results in Ethiopia’s election are expected in the next few days.

Spain pardons Separatist leaders—Next we go to Europe.

AUDIO: [Sounds of cheering, bells ringing]

Supporters of Spanish separatists gathered in Barcelona Monday to celebrate the government’s decision to pardon them.

In 2019, Spain's Supreme Court convicted 12 Catalan politicians and activists for seeking independence. Nine of them were serving decade-long jail sentences.

AUDIO: [Man speaking Spanish]

On Monday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government had decided to issue pardons. He said the decision was guided by a “constitutional spirit of forgiveness.”

But not everyone feels so forgiving. Polls show about 53 percent of Spaniards oppose the pardons. Political analysts say the move is really about the prime minister’s bid to stay in office. Catalan separatists make up part of the minority government and Sanchez relies on them to pass legislation.

Iran’s only nuclear power plant shuts down—Next to the Middle East.

AUDIO: [Man speaking Farsi]

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman downplayed reports on Monday of problems at the country’s only nuclear power plant.

An official from the state electric company who appeared on state television Sunday said the plant had suffered a temporary, emergency shutdown. He warned it could last several days and result in power outages.

But the government spokesman called the shutdown “customary” and not a “special thing.” He said the plant’s crew was doing technical maintenance.

In March, an official with the country’s nuclear program warned of possible outages at the plant due to a shortage of parts and equipment. He blamed those shortages on U.S. sanctions.

Third-largest diamond discovered in Botswana—And finally, we end today back in Africa.

Diamond firm Debswana announced a major discovery last week: the third largest gem-quality diamond ever found. The clear gemstone unearthed at a mine in Botswana weighs more than a thousand carats.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi showed off the diamond at a news conference in Gaborone.

MASISI: Our national development needs will in part be met by the proceeds of this diamond.

Diamonds were first discovered in Botswana in 1967. They now account for about two-thirds of the country’s export earnings.

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

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