Burkina Faso’s military rulers have ordered the expulsion of the UN’s highest ranking official in the country following a report on children affected by the jihadist conflict.
Carol Flore-Smereczniak was declared “persona non grata” due to her involvement in drafting the March report.
The study, which covered a two year span, recorded over 2,000 cases of child recruitment, killings, sexual violence, and abuse, implicating Islamist militants, government troops, and civilian defense groups.
The junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré since seizing power in September 2022, rejected the findings, saying it was never consulted and that the report was based on unfounded claims.
