Burkina Faso can’t expel official – UN chief
By Usman Ahmed
Kanempress
27th December 2022
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has expressed his confidence in Ms Barbara Manzi, the most senior UN official in Burkina Faso, who was ordered to leave by the government.
Guterres, in a statement, said he had full confidence in the UN system in Burkina Faso, as well as in Manzi’s commitment and professionalism.
Burkina Faso’s military government had in a statement on Friday ordered Manzi to vacate the country immediately, without giving a reason.
When contacted, a government spokesperson did not immediately say why it had labelled Manzi, the UN’s Resident Coordinator in Burkina Faso, as “persona non grata” and demanded she left on Friday.
For years, Burkina Faso had battled with political instability and two military coups in 2022 alone.
Deadly terrorist attacks have long destabilized Burkina Faso, with least 79 also killed in an attack on a town in the north of the country in June.
Amid lack of security, Burkina Faso is experiencing huge humanitarian crisis, with more than a million people dislodged from their homes, victims of ongoing conflict and poverty.
