After France, the UN Mission “Unwelcome” in Niger
The military council in Niger demanded on Wednesday that the head of the United Nations diplomatic mission leave the country within 72 hours.
This decision comes as France begins to withdraw its soldiers, numbering around 1,400, from Niger, following the recall of its ambassador in Niamey. This action was taken upon the request of the military regime that came to power in July, overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum.
The statement condemns the “obstacles” set by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, which, according to the statement, aimed to “prevent Niger from participating” in the General Assembly of the international organization held in New York in September.
The military regime denounced “unfair actions” taken by Guterres to hinder the participation of Niger’s representative in this event and “undermine all efforts to end the crisis.”
The Nigerian generals in power sent their new foreign minister, Bakari Yao Sangaré, who represented the country at the United Nations before the coup, to New York at that time.
The spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, stated that “in case of conflicting identities of the authorized individuals, the Secretary-General refers the matter to the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly, which consults on the matter.” He added, “It is not for the Secretary-General to decide.”
Given that the committee will not meet until later, no representative of Niger was added to the list of speakers.
The military council stated then that Niger “strongly rejects and condemns this clear interference by Guterres in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.”
