Mali expels UN mission’s human rights chief

Since the most recent coup, the country has been led by a transitional military regime.

News Agency of Nigeria • February 6, 2023

UN’s Guillaume Ngefa-Atondoko Andal [Credit: Africa Top Success]

Malian government on Monday expelled the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission’s human rights division in the country.

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, the government said Guillaume Ngefa-Atondoko Andali must leave the West African country within 48 hours and was declared persona non grata.

It accused Mr Andali of subversive acts after selecting “impostors” as Mali’s civil society representatives for UN Security Council meetings.

Mr Andali headed the human rights division of the UN’s MINUSMA mission, a peacekeeping force established to boost security in the country.

“We regret the Malian government’s decision, but MINUSMA will continue to exercise its mandate, including with regard to human rights,” a senior UN official in New York told dpa.

Mali, with a population of around 20 million, has experienced three military coups since 2012 and is considered extremely unstable.

Since the most recent coup, in May 2021, the country has been led by a transitional military government.

(dpa/NAN)

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