Niger’s military government orders expulsion of UN official

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Niger’s military administration has ordered the UN resident coordinator to leave the country.

The move came as the administration accused the UN General Secretariat of excluding the West African country from last month’s annual UN gathering of world leaders in New York.

A government statement dated Oct. 10 accused the UN of using “underhanded maneuvers” instigated by France to hinder its participation in the recent UN General Assembly meeting and in subsequent meetings of UN agencies that took place in Vienna and the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh.

As a consequence, the government has ordered Louise Aubin to leave Niger within 72 hours, the Foreign Ministry said in the statement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres deeply regretted the expulsion, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement Wednesday.

“The decision to order the departure of the Resident Coordinator hampers the ability of the organization to effectively carry out its mandates and disrupts the essential work we do for the people of Niger, where 4.3 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, mostly women and children,” he said.

Dujarric said the move contradicts the legal framework applicable to the United Nations, including with respect to obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and the privileges and immunities accorded to the organization.

“The Secretary-General reiterates the unwavering commitment of the United Nations to stay and deliver for the people of Niger through continued humanitarian and development operations.”

Niger was plunged into turmoil on July 26 when Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former commander of the presidential guard, led a military intervention that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.