UN doesn't accept Ethiopia's eviction of officials

News
Oct 02 2021 03:19 PM
P C Thomas

UN doesn't accept Ethiopia's eviction of officials

Ethiopia has announced that it is expelling seven United Nations officials it accused of “interfering” in the country’s internal affairs, as pressure increases on the Ethiopian government over its deadly blockade of the region from Tigray. The United Nation has that it does not accept the application of the doctrine of persona non grata concerning officials, effectively rejecting Ethiopia's expulsion of seven UN staff members.

"This is a doctrine that applies to diplomatic agents accredited by one state to another state. The application of this doctrine to UN officials is contrary to obligations under the Charter of the UN and the privileges and immunities to be accorded to the UN and its officials," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "The UN is sending a note verbale to the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to clarify that it is the long-standing legal position of the organisation not to accept the application of the doctrine of persona non grata with respect to UN officials," Haq said, adding that the Secretary-General received a call on Friday from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in which Guterres reiterated the position of the UN concerning the doctrine of persona non grata.

Whenever concerns arise with regard to the conduct of UN personnel, the requirement is that such concerns are appropriately conveyed to the organization. It is then for the secretary-general to make the necessary determinations and take the necessary steps to address the matter, said Haq. "So, that is our standing principle." At the same time, the Secretary-General is sending a letter to the UN Security Council to inform the council on the situation in Ethiopia and the recent developments regarding UN staff, he said.