Overview

• Burkina Faso declared UN coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak persona non grata, ejecting her over a report on violations against children released in March.
• The United Nations said it regretted the decision and cited its privileges and immunities that allow staff to remain to carry out official duties.
• The UN report documented abuses between July 2022 and June 2024, including 1,386 children killed or maimed and more than 2,000 cases of recruitment, sexual violence and other violations.
• The findings attributed violations to all parties to the conflict, with most acts committed by armed groups, a characterization the junta rejected as unfounded and based on insufficient consultation.
• Flore-Smereczniak took the post in July 2024 after the 2022 expulsion of predecessor Barbara Manzi, reflecting ongoing friction as a jihadist insurgency since 2015 has devastated the country.