8 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has called on Mali’s military junta to “protect freedom of expression” and has defended the “professionalism” of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) after the expulsion order from the director of the mission’s Human Rights office.
“In the context of the political transition towards constitutional order in Mali, the Secretary General underlines the critical need for the Malian authorities to protect Human Rights, including in particular freedom of expression, which is crucial for the functioning of a society democracy,” said Guterres’s spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric.
Likewise, he stressed that Guterres “has complete confidence in MINUSMA and in the commitment and professionalism of its personnel when it comes to applying the mission’s mandate to support Mali and its population, including the promotion and protection of Human Rights” .
Guterres also recalled that “the doctrine of ‘persona non grata’ is not applicable to United Nations personnel and that it is contrary to the legal framework applicable to the UN, including with regard to obligations under the UN charter and privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its personnel”.
Guterres’s criticisms come after the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, asked the junta on Monday to revoke the departure from the country of the director of the MINUSMA Human Rights office, Guillaume Ngefa- Atondoko Andali. Bamako alleges that he had engaged in “destabilizing and subversive” activities that would contravene the obligations of the position.
According to the board, Andali has given a voice in international forums to “usurpers who claim the title of representatives of Malian civil society”, in reference to people who have spoken against the authorities and who expose alleged “misleading” versions about the transition process in the African country.
The leader of the Malian military junta, Assimi Goita, had already focused on MINUSMA in recent months, demanding greater collaboration with the Army when carrying out its operations. The mission has deployed ‘blue helmets’ in the country since 2013, although relations have deteriorated as a result of the Goita-led coups in August 2020 and May 2021 and the postponements by the junta at the time to set an electoral calendar for a democratic transition.
