World Tour: Explosions at DRC displacement camps

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

AUDIO: [Residents talking]

DRC explosion — We start today in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo where residents at a camp for the displaced look over what’s left of their items after two bombs went off.

At least 12 people died—including children—after the explosions hit two camps on the outskirts of the city of Goma in North Kivu province.

Congolese authorities blamed the M23 rebel group for the attack, but the group denied responsibility. The rebel group, which has alleged links to Rwanda, confirmed it captured the strategic Congolese town of Rubaya a day earlier.

French President Emmanuel Macron has also called on Rwanda to stop supporting rebels and withdraw its troops from Congolese territory.

Safi Kasembe is one of the displaced people.

KASEMBE: [Speaking Swahili]

She says here that they fled their villages because of the war and took refuge at the camp, but the violence has continued even there.

More than 120 armed groups are active across eastern Congo.

Kambale Kiyoma is another displaced resident in North Kivu.

KIYOMA: [Speaking Swahili]

He says here that the residents are asking authorities to restore peace so they don’t remain in the middle of the war.

AUDIO: [Chanting protesters]

Panama elections — Next, to cheers in Panama after the electoral tribunal confirmed José Raúl Mulino as the country’s new leader.

The former security minister clinched nearly 35 percent of the votes, earning a nine-point lead over his closest competitor.

Mulino stepped in as a replacement for former President Ricardo Martinelli, who couldn’t run for office since receiving a 10-year prison sentence for money laundering.

During his acceptance speech, Mulino said he is no one’s puppet.

MULINO: [Speaking Spanish]

He says here that he will work with God’s guidance to run a government that will benefit the people.

The 64-year-old new leader will now contend with corruption, a slowed economy, a migration crisis, and drought.

China-Canada interference — Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have slammed a Canadian report chronicling China’s alleged interference in federal elections.

The preliminary document last week by Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission said it found that China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia interfered in federal elections in 2019 and 2021.

Lin Jian is a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.

LIN: [Speaking Mandarin]

He says here that China has always practiced non-interference.

The Commission will release its final report by the end of the year.

AUDIO: [Responders]

Brazil flooding — We wrap up today in southern Brazil where responders are still evacuating people from flooded areas.

Volunteers joined firefighters and other responders to get survivors to safety.

Heavy downpour that began over a week ago has killed more than 80 people and injured more than 150 others. The downpour caused landslides, knocked down bridges, and cut off power and water supplies.

Neucir Carmo is a resident of the affected Floresta neighborhood.

CARMO: [Speaking Portuguese]

He says here that he had no water and electricity for three days.

Here’s Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

LULA DA SILVA: [Speaking Portuguese]

He says here that authorities need to stop chasing misfortunes and start anticipating disasters.

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

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