By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, June 4 -- Now that the fighting in Burkina Faso has killed civilians, the UN's long silence seems all the more strange, when contrasted to its comments on unrest in other countries.
On June 1, Inner City Press asked the Office of the Spokesperson for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon what the UN had to say about the ongoing mutiny in Burkina Faso, which resulted in 24-year rules Blaise Campaore dissolving the government and calling home UN Darfur mediator Djibril Bassole as foreign minister.
From the UN's transcript:
INNER CITY PRESS: I just wonder if anyone at the UN is tracking these mutinies in Burkina Faso where the army has been for several months rebelling against the Government. There is just now a recent outbreak of shooting in the main town, and I just wonder, does the Secretary-General have, you know, I don’t know… is there… Burkina Faso is a big contributor of peacekeepers, a big player in peace initiatives in Africa — has there been any statement at any point by the UN about this ongoing turmoil in Burkina Faso?
That day, the UN Spokesperson's office had no comment, merely saying that Ban's Department of Political Affairs was watching and would be checked with. Later Inner City Press was told that Ban's envoy for West Africa Said Djinnit was “of course monitoring,” but chose not to say anything.
And now, Campaore's forces have rumbled into the second city of Baso Dioulasso and at least seven have been killed, including a young girl. Colonial power France is said to be watching. Some wonder, watching to make sure the UN doesn't criticize? We'll see.
