Burkina Faso Junta Expels UN Official Over Report on Child Victims of Jihadist Conflict

In a controversial move, Burkina Faso’s military junta has expelled Carol Flore-Smereczniak, the UN’s top official in the country, over a report highlighting the plight of children affected by the ongoing jihadist conflict.

Expulsion over Report on Child Victims

Flore-Smereczniak was declared “persona non grata” by the military government for her involvement in drafting a report that was released in March. The report, covering a two-year period, documented over 2,000 cases of child recruitment, killings, sexual violence, and abuse attributed to Islamist insurgents, government soldiers, and civilian defense forces.

The junta, led by Capt Ibrahim Traoré, criticized the UN for not consulting with them before releasing the report, claiming that the allegations were unfounded and lacked proper documentation or court rulings.

Escalating Conflict and Political Instability

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, resulting in thousands of deaths and mass displacements. The situation has also led to political instability, marked by two military coups in 2022.

Capt Traoré, who assumed power in September 2022, has pledged to address the dire security situation within a short timeframe.

UN Response and Concerns

Flore-Smereczniak, who took office in July 2024, succeeded her predecessor who was also expelled by the junta. The UN has yet to officially comment on the latest expulsion, but the UN Secretary-General has expressed regret over the decision and reiterated the organization’s commitment to engaging with the junta to support the people of Burkina Faso.

There are concerns about the effectiveness of Capt Traoré’s efforts to combat the militants, especially as the junta has declined assistance from former colonial power France in favor of engaging with Russia.

As the situation in Burkina Faso continues to evolve, the international community is closely monitoring the developments and hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict that has ravaged the country for years.