Current:Home > NewsNiger’s junta accuses United Nations chief of blocking its participation at General Assembly -Momentum Wealth Path
Niger’s junta accuses United Nations chief of blocking its participation at General Assembly
View
Date:2025-04-21 02:50:11
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! (342)
Related
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- Why Mauricio Umansky Doesn't Want to Ask Kyle Richards About Morgan Wade
- North Carolina’s highest court won’t revive challenge to remove Civil War governor’s monument
- West Virginia governor signs vague law allowing teachers to answer questions about origin of life
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Jackpots: A look at the top 10 Mega Millions, Powerball winners of all time
- ‘I will not feed a demon': YouTuber Ruby Franke’s child abuse case rooted in religious extremism
- Russia attacks Ukraine's capital with missiles after Putin's threat to respond in kind to strikes in Russia
- Small twin
- Democratic state senator files paperwork for North Dakota gubernatorial bid
Ranking
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Messi still injured. Teams ask to postpone Inter Miami vs. NY Red Bulls. Game will go on
- Why Kate Middleton Decided to Share Her Cancer Diagnosis
- National Guard helicopters help battle West Virginia wildfires in steep terrain
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Man pleads guilty in fatal kidnapping of 2-year-old Michigan girl in 2023
- With all the recent headlines about panels and tires falling off planes, is flying safe?
- Larsa Pippen, ex-wife of Scottie, and Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, split after 2 years
Recommendation
Travis Hunter, the 2
Lawmakers who passed a bill to lure nuclear energy to Kentucky say coal is still king
Former Georgia insurance commissioner John Oxendine pleads guilty to health care fraud
Want to book a last-minute 2024 spring break trip? Experts share tips on saving money on travel
Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
March's full moon will bring a subtle eclipse with it early Monday morning
What is '3 Body Problem'? Explaining Netflix's trippy new sci-fi and the three-body problem
Trump says he has nearly $500 million in cash but doesn’t want to use it to pay New York judgment