UN Envoy Declared Persona Non Grata in Burkina Faso Amid Child Abuse Report Row
A diplomatic spat has unfolded between the United Nations and Burkina Faso after the West African nation’s military junta declared the UN’s resident coordinator, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, persona non grata. The move is in response to a UN report that accused both jihadi groups and government forces of committing grave abuses against children in the conflict-ridden country.
According to the report, titled Children and Armed Conflict in Burkina Faso, both sides have been responsible for recruiting child soldiers, perpetrating sexual abuse, and attacking hospitals and schools. The document, which covers the period between July 2022 and June 2024, verified 2,483 grave violations against 2,255 children, with some suffering multiple abuses.
The government has taken issue with the report’s findings, dismissing them as “without evidence or supporting documentation” and claiming that it conveyed “serious and false information.” The authorities have specifically accused Flore-Smereczniak of participating in the preparation of the report, which they argue is unfounded.
Flore-Smereczniak’s appointment as the UN’s resident coordinator in Burkina Faso was made in July 2024 by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, reportedly with the host government’s approval. The UN has been approached for comment on the situation but has yet to respond.
The incident is the latest development in the country’s ongoing struggle against jihadi groups, some of which are allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State. Along with its neighbors Niger and Mali, Burkina Faso has been battling the insurgency for over a decade, with the conflict intensifying in recent years. Following military coups in all three nations, the ruling juntas have sought to strengthen their security capabilities, expelling French forces and turning to Russia’s military advisors for assistance.
The fallout between the UN and Burkina Faso underscores the complexities and challenges involved in addressing the country’s protracted conflict and the dire humanitarian situation it has created. The UN’s role in documenting human rights abuses and advocating for the protection of civilians, particularly vulnerable populations such as children, is critical in promoting accountability and supporting those affected by the conflict. However, the incident highlights the UN’s often delicate relationship with host governments, particularly in sensitive contexts where national interests and security concerns may intersect with the organization’s human rights and humanitarian imperatives.
