Burkina Faso have no authority to expel United Nations official – Guterres
Barbara Manzi, the highest-ranking UN envoy in Burkina Faso, has garnered the backing of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in spite of having been issued a departure order by the government on Friday.
In a declaration released on Saturday, Mr. Guterres expressed his unwavering confidence in the Burkina-UN framework as well as in Ms. Manzi’s commitment and efficacy.
Burkina Faso has endured political turmoil for an extended period; in 2022 alone, there were two military coups. No fewer than 79 individuals were killed during a terrorist assault on a town in the northern region in June, and on Monday, a minibus was reported to have struck a landmine, resulting in around 10 fatalities. This year has also witnessed a persistence of the lethal terrorist assaults that have historically plagued the nation.
With over a million individuals displaced from their residences due to ongoing strife and destitution, Burkina Faso is undergoing a significant humanitarian emergency amid this insecurity.
The crisis intensified in November when Ms. Manzi discussed the precariousness of health and educational services in the face of terrorist threats in a blog entry for UN News.
As per media sources, the Burkina Faso Foreign Ministry defended its decision to label Ms. Manzi persona non grata by referencing her choice to withdraw non-essential personnel from the country’s capital, Ouagadougou.
Nonetheless, as Mr. Guterres pointed out in his statement, United Nations representatives are not subject to the persona non grata principle.
The UN leader emphasized that “In accordance with Article 100 and 101 of the United Nations Charter, United Nations personnel are appointed by the Secretary-General, accountable solely to the Organization, and United Nations Member States pledge to honor their entirely international status.”
To fulfill their responsibilities on behalf of the Organization, UN staff members possess the right to remain in Burkina Faso, as outlined in the statement, and only the UN Secretary-General, acting as the principal administrative officer of the organization, has the authority to instruct any UN personnel to exit the country.
Mr. Guterres reiterated the UN’s dedication to collaborating with Burkina Faso’s interim authorities and to offering support to the nation and its populace.
