- UN envoy Carol Flore-Smereczniak expelled by Burkina Faso.
- The report linked the army and militias to child abuse in conflict.
- Junta rejected findings as “unfounded.”
- Violence has worsened despite military promises.
- Country moving closer to Russia, away from France.
Burkina Faso’s military leaders have expelled the United Nations’ top representative, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, after a report accused both jihadists and government forces of grave child rights violations. She was declared persona non grata and ordered to leave.
Flore-Smereczniak, who took office in July 2024, was involved in a UN report released in March. The study documented over 2,000 cases of children being recruited, killed, or abused between 2021 and 2023. It implicated Islamist militants as well as soldiers and local defence groups.
The government of Captain Ibrahim Traoré dismissed the findings as baseless. In a statement, it argued that the report had “no legal proof” and unfairly tarnished what it called the “brave Burkinabé fighters.”
This is not the first such move. In 2022, Flore-Smereczniak’s predecessor, Barbara Manzi, was also expelled after raising alarms about the impact of war on schools and hospitals.
Burkina Faso has struggled with an Islamist insurgency since 2015. The violence has killed thousands and forced millions from their homes. Traoré, who seized power in 2022, had promised to bring peace within months, but attacks have only increased.
Data shows jihadist group JNIM carried out over 280 strikes in the first half of 2025, twice as many as in the same period of 2024.
Under Traoré, the junta has broken ties with France and moved closer to Russia. Critics say freedoms are shrinking as the government cracks down on dissent and is accused of targeting civilians.
Last year, the junta extended military rule by five years and cleared Traoré to run in the 2029 elections, further cementing his grip on power.
The United Nations has not yet issued an official response to this latest expulsion. However, Secretary-General António Guterres had earlier expressed regret when Barbara Manzi was forced out in 2022, saying the UN remains committed to working with the people of Burkina Faso despite political tensions.
