Current:Home > BackNiger’s junta accuses United Nations chief of blocking its participation at General Assembly-LoTradeCoin
Niger’s junta accuses United Nations chief of blocking its participation at General Assembly
View Date:2024-12-24 00:37:21
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The military government that seized power in Niger has accused United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of “obstructing” the West African nation’s full participation at the U.N.'s annual meeting of world leaders in order to appease France, Niger’s former colonizer, and its allies.
The decision to not allow the junta’s envoy to speak at the U.N. General Assembly in New York could “undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country,” Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, a spokesman for the officers who deposed Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum in a July coup, said late Friday.
The junta had wanted Niger’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Bakary Yaou Sangare, who was made foreign minister after the coup, to speak on its behalf at the General Assembly.
However, Bakary did not receive credentials to attend after the deposed Nigerien government’s foreign minister sent the world body a letter “informing of the end of functions of Mr. Bakary as permanent representative of Niger to the United Nations,” Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres’ spokesperson, said.
The junta spokesman accused the former minister, Hassoumi Massoudou, of “high treason” and alleged that Guterres’ only interest was “keeping with the determination of France and the European Union to punish Niger and its people at all costs for their patriotic choice.” Abdramane also accused the West African regional bloc ECOWAS of interference.
“With the complicity of France and the two French-speaking heads of state of ECOWAS, the secretary general of the United Nations went astray in the exercise of his mission by obstructing the full participation of Niger in the work of the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly,” Abdramane said.
The junta appointed civilians to serve as prime minister and in some other posts as part of a transitional government that it said may remain in place for up to three years, but ECOWAS and foreign powers such as France still recognize Bazoum as Niger’s rightful leader.
The deposed president appealed to a regional court this week to order his release and reinstatement as president. Bazoum took office in 2021 in the country’s first transfer of power between elected leaders since the country’s independence from France in 1960.
ECOWAS has said it considers a military intervention an option for restoring Bazoum as president.
veryGood! (19)
Related
- Insurance magnate pleads guilty as government describes $2B scheme
- National Coming Out Day: Where to find support, resources and community
- Finland police investigate undersea gas pipeline leak as possible sabotage
- Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan speak out on social media's affect on mental health: 'Children are dying'
- Mother of Man Found Dead in Tanning Bed at Planet Fitness Gym Details His Final Moments
- For the People, a comedy set in Minneapolis' Native community, to debut at Guthrie Theater
- JOC, Sapporo announce decision to abandon bid for 2030 winter games, seek possible bid from 2034 on
- Voters in Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz's home district have divided opinions after McCarthy's House speaker ouster
- Voyager 2 is the only craft to visit Uranus. Its findings may have misled us for 40 years.
- NASA reveals contents of OSIRIS-REx capsule containing asteroid sample
Ranking
- Gerry Faust, the former head football coach at Notre Dame, has died at 89
- Woman faces charges after 58-year-old man dies in her care at Michigan nursing home
- Singer DPR IAN reflects on 'Dear Insanity,' being open about mental health
- Kari Lake announces Arizona Senate run
- A crowd of strangers brought 613 cakes and then set out to eat them
- Gloria Trevi reveals 2024 Mi Soundtrack World tour with epic helicopter entrance at LA event
- His parents shielded him from gunfire as Hamas fighters attacked. He survived. They did not
- Rare birdwing butterflies star in federal case against NY man accused of trafficking insects
Recommendation
-
Democratic state leaders prepare for a tougher time countering Trump in his second term
-
Purchase of old ship yard from port operator put on hold amid questions from state financing panel
-
Jordan Fisher to return to Broadway for leading role in 'Hadestown': 'It's been a dream'
-
‘Turtleboy’ blogger accused of witness intimidation is due in court in Massachusetts
-
Parts of Southern California under quarantine over oriental fruit fly infestation
-
Nearly 5,000 autoworkers have been laid off since UAW strike began
-
3,000-plus illegally dumped tires found in dredging of river used as regatta rowing race course
-
How AI can fuel financial scams online, according to industry experts