Niger’s military junta declared today that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, together with French authorities, prevented the participation of Nigerien representatives in the General Assembly by revoking the accreditation of the country’s permanent representative to the organization.
“The Secretary-General of the UN, in connivance with France and the French-speaking heads of state of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), failed to fulfill his obligation by preventing Niger from participating in the 78th session of the General Assembly of the UN,” the spokesperson for the Niger military junta, Amadou Abdramane, told the RTN television network, the Europa Press and Sputnik news agencies reported.
According to the spokesman for the transitional government, Guterres not only refused to accept Niger’s official list of delegates, but also “gratified the fanatical request of the former foreign minister (of Niger) to withdraw Niger’s permanent representative to the UN.” .
According to the statement, the military in power in Niger strongly condemns the decision of the UN Secretary General, calling it “interference in the internal affairs of the State.”
The military junta sent its Foreign Minister to the UN, but Guterres refused to include him on the list of delegates and prevented him from addressing the plenary session.
According to the UN, two separate requests to participate in the General Assembly had been received: one from the deposed government and another from the junta.
On July 26, a group of officers integrated into the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) proclaimed the dismissal of the president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, alleging “the continued deterioration of the security situation” and the “poor economic and social governance”.
Two days later it was announced that General Omar (Abdourahamane) Tchiani, former commander of the presidential guard, was assuming the leadership of the CNSP and the functions of “transitional president” in Niger.
Numerous countries and international organizations strongly condemned the military coup in Niger, suspended their cooperation programs with the African country and demanded the restitution of constitutional order.
This is the fifth coup d’état that Niger has experienced since it gained independence from France in 1960, in addition to several frustrated attempts, the last of them in 2021, days before the now ousted president took office.
Source: Ambito
