UN chief 'shocked' after Ethiopia expels seven UN staff: Statement
AFP , Thursday 30 Sep 2021
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "shocked" Thursday by Ethiopia's decision to expel seven senior United Nations officials from the African country, which is facing the threat of famine in its war-torn Tigray region
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a High-level meeting to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action: Reparations, racial justice and equality for people of African descent as part of the UN General Assembly 76th session General Debate at the United Nations Headquarters on September 22, 2021 in New York. AFP
"I was shocked by the information that the Government of Ethiopia has declared seven UN officials ... as persona non grata," Guterres said in a statement after the announcement by Ethiopia's foreign ministry, which accused the officials of "meddling."
Guterres said he had "full confidence" in UN aid workers in Ethiopia, and that the body is engaging with the government "in the expectation that the concerned UN staff will be allowed to continue their important work.
Short link: