Niger junta ejects UN coordinator from country over ‘exclusion’ from UNGA

The military government in Niger Republic has ordered Louise Aubin, the United Nations (UN) resident coordinator, to vacate the country within 72 hours.

The junta accused the UN general secretariat of “thwarting” the country’s participation at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In July, the military leaders in the landlocked West African nation overthrew Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s president.

Efforts by regional and international leaders to help return Niger to civilian rule have met a brick wall.

Last month, the country was not represented at the 78th UNGA — a development that angered the coupists.

In a statement dated October 10 and addressed to the UN, the country’s ministry of foreign affairs accused the global body of using “underhanded manoeuvres” against Niger Republic “under the instigation of France”.

The junta said the “sponsored sabotage” against the country continued at the IAEA general conference in Vienna and the extraordinary congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Saudi Arabia.