Representative of the CNSP junta at UN headquarters
In the current context of recurring coups d’état in West Africa, the UN General Assembly opens its debates with a complex diplomatic situation. Among the questions that arise is that of the representation of the new authorities in place following the coups. Among the countries concerned, we find Niger, which experienced a coup d’état on July 26, 2023.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, president of the junta which still holds elected President Mohamed Bazoum prisoner, chose to send his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yaou Sangaré Bakary, to represent him at the UN General Assembly. However, his presence raises questions about his legitimacy as Niger’s official representative. The United Nations also decided to suspend his intervention at the podium, fearing a thorny diplomatic situation.
For its part, Guinea, which also experienced a coup d’état, is represented by the head of the CNRD junta, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya. This is his first official international outing as president of the Guinean transition. His participation in the UN General Assembly allows him to offer visibility and international legitimacy to his regime. However, it is also under pressure to finance the transition, with an estimated need of $600 million. International partners are also scrutinizing the behavior of this ruling junta and the first financial scandals are beginning to emerge, which could complicate financial support.
On the Mali side, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdoulaye Diop, is eagerly awaited. Human rights NGOs hope that it will provide guarantees regarding the protection of civilians, particularly in a context where MINUSMA is leaving the country. Abuses committed by the Malian Armed Forces and Wagner’s Russian proxies have been documented, and it is essential to ensure the protection of civilians in the face of this violence.
Overall, the question of the representation of the new authorities resulting from the coups d’état arises acutely. The diplomatic and financial stakes are high, and it is essential for these countries to meet international expectations while respecting human rights and guaranteeing the stability of the political transition. The UN General Assembly provides an important forum for these representatives, but it also highlights the challenges they face in exercising power in times of transition.