Mali: Military Junta Expels UN Mission’s Human Rights Chief

Mali's ruling junta has revealed the expulsion of the head of the human rights division of MINUSMA, the UN mission there, giving him 48 hours to leave the country.

The decision comes after a Malian rights activist last month denounced the security situation in the country in a speech to a UN gathering, and accused the regime’s new Russian military partners of serious rights violations.

Read More: France Recalls Ambassador from Burkina Faso

The foreign ministry had declared Guillaume Ngefa Atonodok Andali, head of MINUSMA’s human rights section, persona non grata, said a statement issued by government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga.

Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga further added in a statement which was read out on national television news.

“This measure comes after the destabilising and subversive actions of Monsieur Andali who had taken it upon himself to decide who were the representatives of civil society, ignoring the authorities and national institutions”

“Andali’s bias was even more evident during the last review of the United Nations Security Council on Mali”, the statement added.

Read More: The Burkinabè authorities give the French army 1 month to leave Faso

On January 27, Aminata Cheick Dicko criticised the regime at a special UN Security Council briefing on Mali.MINUSMA was set up in 2013 to try to stabilise Mali in the face of the growing threat from jihadist fighters. Its mission also included the protection of civilians, contributing to peace efforts and defending human rights.

But the security situation has continued to deteriorate in the west African country. The military regime has repeatedly blocked MINUSMA’s attempts to investigate growing reports of human rights abuses carried out by the armed forces.

 

Source: Africa News