BREAKING

Niger slams UN chief as undermining efforts to end Nigerien crisis

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Sep 2023 08:22

The new military leadership in Niger calls out "the perfidious actions" of Guterres, noting that they were likely to sabotage efforts to end the crisis in their country.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the UN Sustainable Development Forum on Sept. 18, 2023. (AP)

The leaders of the Nigerien junta accused United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday of obstructing their participation in the General Assembly, stating that it was "likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country."

In a statement broadcast on public television, the military said that the UN chief "went astray in the exercise of his mission by obstructing Niger's full participation in the 78th session of the UN General Assembly".

It also called out "the perfidious actions" of Guterres, noting that they were likely to sabotage efforts to end the crisis in their country.

Bakary Yaou Sangare, who formerly served as Niger's ambassador to the UN and currently holds the position of the country's foreign minister following the coup, was designated by the junta as the selected representative for the event.

However, as per a diplomatic source, the ousted government also submitted an application to represent Niamey.

Commenting on this matter, Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, "In case of competing credentials from a Member State, the secretary-general defers the matter to the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly who will deliberate on the matter."

"The secretary-general does not decide."

Due to the committee's postponed meeting, no delegate from Niger was included on the list of speakers.

In response, the junta said it "forcefully rejects and denounces this clear interference by Mr Guterres in the internal affairs of a sovereign state."

Former Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown and detained in late July by the military junta led by Abdourahamane Tchiani, the former commander of the country's Presidential Guard.

The Western-allied Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), promised military interference to reinstate Bazoum by force if the junta did not do so by August 6. However, with the passing of more than a month beyond the deadline, Bazoum remains detained, while ECOWAS has toned down its statements on Niger and the ruling junta, hoping for a peaceful solution.