Burkina Faso declares un representative persona non grata amid critical report

The military junta in Burkina Faso has recently declared the United Nations’ top representative in the country, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, persona non grata, following the release of a critical UN report on child rights violations.

UN envoy expulsion follows damning report on child rights abuses

This marks the second time a top UN official has been expelled by Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta after Barbara Manzi was declared persona non grata in 2022. The move underscores the junta’s growing intolerance toward independent oversight and criticism of its actions.

The junta spokesperson accused Carol Flore-Smereczniak of contributing to a damaging April report that exposed severe violations against children in Burkina Faso. Authorities dismissed the findings, which implicated government forces, allied militias, and Islamist armed groups in widespread abuses.

Report reveals shocking scale of child rights violations

Between July 2022 and June 2024, the UN documented 2,483 grave violations affecting 2,255 children, including killings, abductions, and the recruitment of minors by armed factions. Islamist groups were responsible for 65% of these violations, while state security forces and civilian auxiliaries—such as the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP)—accounted for the remainder.

The report also highlighted a disturbing rise in attacks on schools and raised serious concerns over the detention of children based on suspected ties to armed groups. These findings align with extensive documentation by Human Rights Watch since 2016, which has recorded targeted violence against students, teachers, and educational institutions by militant factions.

Junta escalates criticism of UN over language and framing

In recent months, Burkina Faso’s leadership has repeatedly criticized UN terminology, including objections to phrases like ‘non-state armed groups’ when referring to militant factions. Authorities also took issue with the UN’s characterization of the VDP as ‘militias’.

In a July statement, the foreign minister called for a ‘realignment’ of UN interventions in Burkina Faso, urging the organization to align its efforts with the government’s stated vision for the country. Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, the military leadership has intensified repression against media outlets, political opponents, and dissenting voices, further straining relations with international bodies.

Call for collaboration over confrontation

Rather than censuring independent observers, experts argue that the junta should engage constructively with the UN to implement protective measures for vulnerable populations, particularly children caught in the crossfire of ongoing conflict.