BREAKING: Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré Expels UN Coordinator Amid Child Rights Report Controversy

On August 18, 2025, President Ibrahim Traoré’s administration declared United Nations resident coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak persona non grata, following the publication of a UN report accusing both the government and jihadist groups of committing abuses against children between 2022 and 2024. This move underscores the escalating tensions between Burkina Faso’s military-led government and international organizations. [1]

This development is part of a broader pattern of President Traoré’s administration distancing itself from Western influence. Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, Traoré has expelled French troops, aligned more closely with Russia, and postponed elections until 2029. While these actions have garnered support from Pan-Africanist groups, they have also raised concerns about democratic backsliding and human rights abuses. [2]

For more updates on this and other national news, visit www.selemedia.org.Citations:

1. Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_in_Burkina_Faso?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. The Wall Street Journal: www.wsj.com/world/africa/who-is-ibrahim-traore-burkina-faso-ef9ace8d?utm_source=chatgpt.com