World Tour - Sudan’s prime minister resigns

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: Sudan’s PM resigns—We start today here in Africa.

AUDIO: [Man speaking Arabic]

Sudan’s prime minister resigned on Sunday. In a late-night address on state television, Abdalla Hamdok said he tried his best to keep the country from sliding toward disaster. But, he said, the country is now at a “dangerous turning point that threatens its whole survival.”

Hamdock’s announcement followed anti-government protests in Khartoum.

AUDIO: [Chanting, clapping]

Thousands of protesters braved tear gas, a mass deployment of armed soldiers, and a telecommunications blackout to hold the rally.

They chanted “power to the people” and demanded the military return to its barracks.

Military leaders staged a coup in 2019 and removed autocrat Omar al-Bashir from office. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan promised a return to civilian government but protesters say the transition isn’t happening fast enough.

Hamdok has had a rocky relationship with the military since taking over from al-Bashir. The military deposed Hamdok in October and reinstated him in November.

Iran vows vengeance for Soleimani’s assassination—Next we go to the Middle East.

AUDIO: [Crowd chanting “Death to America”]

Crowds at a memorial service for General Qassem Soleimani chanted “Death to America” as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi vowed revenge.

AUDIO: [Man speaking Farsi]

Raisi demanded former U.S. President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo face a trial for ordering Soleimani’s assassination a year ago. If they aren’t put on trial, Raisi said Muslims around the world would seek vengeance.

Soleimani led Iran’s Quds Force, an elite division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. He also orchestrated Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East, supporting Iraqi militant groups that fought against U.S. troops.

Trump ordered the drone strike that killed him on Jan. 3, 2020.

Myanmar junta celebrates independence day—And finally, we end today in Southeast Asia.

AUDIO: [Marching band]

Myanmar’s military junta celebrated the country’s independence day on Tuesday. Several hundred government officials attended the ceremony amid tight security.

Opposition to the military government remains strong. But a violent crackdown on dissent has put an end to nearly all public protests. International human rights groups say the military has reverted to massacres and scorched-earth tactics to root out opposition.

John Quinley is a researcher with Fortify Rights.

QUINLEY: I think the Myanmar junta's strategy is to try to create an environment of terror and try to silence civilians and also try to drive out the PDF forces that are trying to defend themselves against the junta.

Villagers in the northwest say the military has burned entire communities suspected of supporting opposition fighters. Human rights groups warn troop movements suggest the military could be planning a major offensive in the area.

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

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