By Ayo Yusuf
As a fallout of the refusal of the United Nations General Assembly to allow Niger’s participation at its 78th Session in New York last month, the country’s military rulers have given the United Nations coordinator 72 hours to leave the West African country.
A statement from Niger’s foreign ministry, Wednesday, said the government had ordered Louise Aubin, the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator, “to take all necessary measures to leave Niamey within 72 hours”.
The statement noted the “obstacles” which it said were presented by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “with a view to thwarting the full and complete participation of Niger” at last month’s UN General Assembly.
The military regime has already criticised “the perfidious actions” of the UN chief, saying that they were “likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country”.
Bakary Yaou Sangare, who before the coup was Niger’s ambassador to the UN and is now its foreign minister, was the new leaders’ chosen representative for the 78th Assembly but he was unable to speak at the gathering.
UN officials have said that apart from Sangare’s request, there was also an application by the overthrown government of Mohamed Bazoum to represent Niamey at the event.
“Because of the competing credentials, the matter was deferred and no representative from Niger was added to the speakers’ list,” said a diplomatic source.
The decision to expel the UN official comes as France is withdrawing its 1,400-strong contingent in Niger after being ordered out by the coup leaders.
France’s ambassador to Niger was also given his marching orders after the coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, an ally of Paris.
