World Tour: French farmers block highways in protest

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

AUDIO: [Protest]

ONIZE OHIKERE, REPORTER: ECOWAS withdrawal — We start today with celebrations in Niger’s capital of Niamey. On Sunday, Niger and two of its neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso, withdrew from the regional West African economic bloc known as ECOWAS.

OFFICIAL: [Speaking French]

A minister with Mali’s military government announcing the withdrawal, which he says the junta leaders made out of concern for the people.

The three Sahel nations have all faced military takeovers since 2020.

ECOWAS suspended their membership and also imposed heavy sanctions on the countries. The military leaders responded by hardening their stances and formed a joint Alliance of Sahel States.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger all struggle with jihadist violence. The junta leaders have argued that they plan to resolve their security crises before holding democratic elections.

ACTIVIST: [Speaking French]

This Nigerien activist says ECOWAS tried to suffocate the people with sanctions and he looked forward to possible bilateral agreements with other nations.

ECOWAS has said it remains committed to resolving the political impasse in all three countries.

AUDIO: [Street sound]

Turkey church attack — Over in Istanbul, Turkey, authorities are still investigating a Sunday church attack that left one person dead.

Security footage showed two masked men entering the Roman Catholic Church of Santa Maria, while priests conducted Mass.

The suspects opened fire, sending worshippers to the floor for cover. Both assailants left shortly after.

Turkey’s interior minister on Monday said authorities detained two Islamic State group suspects linked to the shooting.

INTERIOR MINISTER: [Speaking Turkish]

He says here that the two suspects are foreign nationals from Tajikistan and Russia.

Turkish authorities detained more than 50 other suspects and also banned media coverage of the attack.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

AUDIO: [Highway sound]

French protests — In France, protesting farmers have used tractors to block major highways in the country, restricting traffic in and out of Paris.

The farmers began the demonstrations weeks ago to demand better pay, less red tape, and protection from cheap imports.

Agricultural unions vowed to begin what they called a “siege” on Paris this week.

After a crisis meeting, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced defensive security measures.

DARMANIN: [Speaking French]

He says here that authorities have mobilized 15,000 police officers and also deployed armored vehicles.

Similar farmer protests have also hit other European countries.

AUDIO: [Tractor horns]

In Belgium, farmers blocked a major highway with dozens of tractors and piles of straw.

AUDIO: [Protest]

Honduras femicides — We wrap up today in Honduras, where some 300 women dressed in black protested against rising femicides—that is, the targeted killing of women.

Protesters held a black banner with the names of some of the women murdered last year as they marched to the National Congress in the capital of Tegucigalpa.

The march last week coincided with the Honduran Women’s Day celebration. The Central American nation has the fifth-highest femicide rate in the world.

Police reports say at least 15 women were murdered in the first 15 days of this year.

Authorities recorded 380 femicides last year.

AUDIO: [Protest]

Over in Kenya, similar protests filled the streets over the weekend.

Kenyan media outlets have reported the deaths of at least 14 women this year alone.

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

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