World Tour: West Africa faces division

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

AUDIO: [Music and conversations]

ONIZE ODUAH: ECOWAS Military countries — We start today’s World Tour at a summit for the West African regional bloc in Abuja, Nigeria.

Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States—or ECOWAS—are trying to strengthen their alliance nearly one year after three member states announced their plans to leave the bloc.

Based on the group’s regulations, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s withdrawal should go into effect in January. But ECOWAS has asked the countries to reconsider their exit, offering an extension until July.

Omar Touray is the ECOWAS Commission president.

TOURAY: The Authority decides to set a period from 29 January 2025, to 29 July 2025, as a transitional period and to keep ECOWAS' doors open to the three countries during the transition period.

But the three countries now under military rule have told ECOWAS that their exit remains “irreversible.”

They have formed their own bloc—the Alliance of Sahel States—and condemned ECOWAS for remaining subservient to former colonial nation France.

Bangladesh elections — We head next to Bangladesh, where the caretaker government has announced plans for general elections.

AUDIO: [Protest]

Student-led protests back in August toppled the leadership of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and sent her fleeing to neighboring India.

Thousands of protesters notably stormed the prime minister’s palace in Dhaka after students opposed a quota system for civil service jobs. Opponents also accused Hasina’s government of rights abuses.

Interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Monday said general elections will now happen either late next year or early in 2026.

Here’s Yunus:

YUNUS: [BENGALI] I have emphasized that reforms should take place first before the arrangements for an election. If the political parties agree to hold the election on an earlier date with minimum reforms, such as having a flawless voter list, then perhaps it would be possible to hold the election by the end of 2025.

He says electoral and constitutional reforms need to happen ahead of any election. He promised to launch an investigation into rights violations during Hasina’s rule.

He also vowed to set up an election commission.

AUDIO: [People lined up to vote]

Bolivia elects top judges — Over in Bolivia, people queued up Sunday to cast their ballot for the country’s top judges.

Bolivia is the only nation that currently holds polls for its judicial posts.

Over a decade ago, the South American nation replaced its judicial nomination system with the current method of electing judges every six years.

The move continues to draw criticism that it favors the ruling party and reduces checks and balances.

David Gomez is a mechanical engineer who turned out for the vote.

GOMEZ: [SPANISH] I think it is with the best of intentions, but so far no results have been seen in changing the administration of justice.

He says the process might have the best intentions, but he has not seen any changes in how justice is administered.

Mexico is also set to begin a similar voting process for its judges next year.

AUDIO: [Countdown]

Kosovo Santa race — We wrap up at the start of an annual tradition in Kosovo.

More than 6,000 people donned red and white Santa costumes in the rain to join the nearly two-mile race in the capital city of Pristina.

The event raises funds for families in need.

Jusuf Islami is the race organizer.

ISLAMI: The cause is to help the pediatric oncology [clinic]. I am very proud of this campaign because I remember the first edition, when around 100 people [came]. This year we have around 5000 Santas.

He says the race has come a long way from its humble beginnings with just 100 runners. This year the funds will help support the city’s pediatric oncology clinic.

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

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