Burkina Faso expels UN coordinator

The symbol of the United Nations at the entrance to the organization's headquarters in New York.

AP - John Minchillo

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In Burkina Faso, the resident coordinator of the United Nations system is declared

persona non grata

.

She is therefore asked to leave Burkina Faso this day, December 23, to leave Burkinabè territory this day, December 23 even according to a verbal note.

She also served as Humanitarian Coordinator.

According to Olivia Rouamba, the head of Burkinabe diplomacy, this decision has been validated by the highest authorities.  

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The Burkinabe government has laid out several grievances against Barbara Manzi.

According to the head of Burkinabe diplomacy, the resident coordinator of the United Nations system "in particular predicted chaos in Burkina Faso" in the coming months, without giving any justifications, according to the minister. 

"

As we await a United Nations mission for the month of January for an assessment of the situation, to our great surprise, we received a note today from Barbara Manzi announcing the evacuation of the families of diplomats from the United Nations system of Ouagadougou for security reasons 

,” she explains.

For the Burkinabè government, this is “ 

inconceivable 

” because the coordinator does not provide any evidence that would justify such a decision.

There are no indicators showing that Ouagadougou is unlivable.

The Burkinabè Minister of Foreign Affairs also accuses Barbara Manzi of being in contact with certain terrorist leaders.

“ 

She said she was in touch with terrorist leaders in Burkina during a hearing.

The proof is that she comes and goes from Djibo as she wants 

, ”says the head of Burkinabe diplomacy who assures that her country nevertheless maintains cooperation links with the United Nations.

See also Burkina: the UN calls for an investigation into possible abuses in the North

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