By Kennedy Nalyanya
Burkina Faso has declared the United Nations' top resident official, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, persona non grata, ordering her to leave the country. The decision comes in response to a UN report, "Children and Armed Conflict in Burkina Faso," which alleges significant violations against children in the West African nation.
According to a government spokesperson, Burkinabe authorities were neither consulted during the report's preparation nor informed of its findings before its release. The government has strongly refuted the report's claims, calling them "baseless assertions" and "falsehoods" that lack supporting evidence from investigations or court rulings.
The UN, for its part, has expressed regret over the expulsion. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric highlighted that the organization and its staff are protected by privileges and immunities that allow them to operate in the country. He also reaffirmed the UN's commitment to continuing its engagement with Burkinabe authorities to support the nation's people.
This latest development adds to the growing tensions in the region. Burkina Faso, like its neighbours, has been grappling with a worsening security crisis fuelled by a decade-long fight against Islamist militants. The UN has previously condemned what it describes as widespread abuses, including the killing, abduction, and recruitment of children as soldiers in the Sahel's ongoing conflict.
Flore-Smereczniak, who has over 20 years of experience in humanitarian and security matters, was appointed to her post in Burkina Faso just last year. Her expulsion marks a significant diplomatic setback amid the country's complex challenges.
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