Niger expels the United Nations representative JB

The Foreign Ministry announced that UN Humanitarian Coordinator Louise Aubin must “take all necessary measures” to leave Niamey within three days. The move is described as a response to the “obstacles” of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the recent high-level UN meeting in New York.

Niger’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Bakary Yaw Sangari, who became foreign minister after the July coup, was appointed to represent the country at the meeting. But the country’s deposed early government also registered a participant. It created confusion at UN headquarters and led to no one being allowed to speak for Niger in the General Assembly.

The spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said after announcing the military regime’s decision that Guterres deeply regrets it.

– The authorities in Niger have informed us and I can tell you that the Secretary-General deeply regrets this decision, says spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

A few weeks ago, the French ambassador to Niger, who was also expelled by the military regime, left the country. In the same context, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the withdrawal of the country’s 1,400 soldiers, a process currently underway.

The ousted former president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, who was pro-Western, had close relations with France, the former colonial power. After the coup, tensions increased between the two countries, as Paris refused, among other things, to recognize the military junta as Niger’s government.