Niger’s coup leaders accused the United Nations’ head of causing problems for their participation in the General Assembly, saying it could hurt efforts to resolve the crisis in their country.
Rebel soldiers, who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and have kept him and his family at home, are in talks to return to civilian rule.
The junta wants a three-year transition, while ECOWAS calls for Bazoum’s immediate return. Western governments and global bodies like the UN criticized the coup, especially during this week’s General Assembly in New York.
The military blamed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for obstructing Niger’s participation, which they say undermines crisis resolution efforts. Bakary Yaou Sangare, who was Niger’s UN ambassador before the coup and is now the foreign minister, was chosen to represent the new leaders.
However, there was also an application by the overthrown government to represent Niamey.
“In case of competing credentials from a Member State the secretary-general defers the matter to the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly who will deliberate on the matter,” Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
“The secretary-general does not decide.”
The matter will be decided by the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly. As the committee has not yet met, no Niger representative was added to the speakers’ list.
The junta strongly denounced what they see as Mr. Guterres’ interference in their sovereign state’s internal affairs.