Credit: https://www.auwashingtondc.org/ H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao  served as  the African Union Ambassador to the United States of America since December 1, 2016.

By  Gary Raynaldo     /  DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  –   NEW YORK –  The  UN will not step into the raging storm swirling around the  abrupt termination of the African Union’s highly-respected Ambassador to the United States H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao. This despite potential issues of freedom of speech which the UN fervently champions.  The AU’s sacking of its popular diplomat  Chihombori-Quao has caused an uproar among People of African Descent around the world. During her three-year tenure as AU ambassador to the  U.S., Chihombori-Quao has been very outspoken against neo-colonialism on the African continent. She has also energized peoples of African descent to unite to build the “Africa We Want”.  The AU swiftly pushed  Chihombori-Quao out of her high-profile diplomatic posting, following a highly-critical speech  denouncing France’s colonization of Africa. 

Supporters of Ambassador Chihombori-Quao are of the opinion the AU and Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat took the action after pressure from France.  Ambassador Chihombori-Quao has been very vocal in denouncing what she believes is the French Republic’s continued exploitation of its former African colonies.  More than  60,000 people have already signed a Petition calling upon the African Union to  reinstate Ambassador Chihombori-Quao. AU Commission Chairman,  H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat Terminated U.S. Ambassador.  On Oct. 7, 2019,  the AU Commission Chairman,  H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat dispatched a termination letter to Chihombori-Quao, ordering  her to vacate her office in Washington D.C. by November 1.  The AU Commission Chairman made the unilateral decision without any hearing or explanation, according to the African Diaspora Congress, which has started a petition calling for Chihombori-Quao’s reinstatement.

African Union’s Situation With Its U.S. Ambassador Not An Issue For the UN

 “…who the African Union chooses to have represent itself, whether it’s at the United Nations or the United States, is an issue for them, and it’s not one for us to get involved.”

-Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary‑General, said  Oct. 22, 2019. 

Credit:  Gary Raynaldo  /  Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary‑General at press briefing at UN world headquarters Oct. 22, 2019.

Some African leaders, including Jerry John Rawlings, former president of the Republic of Ghana are of the opinion Ambassador Chihombori-Quao was fired for simply speaking her mind about some controversial and/or taboo subjects such as the legacy of French Colonialism in Africa. 

“For someone who spoke her mind about the  detrimental effects of colonization and the huge cost of French control in several parts of Africa, this is an act that can best be described as coming From French-controlled colonized minds.” 

– President  Jerry John Rawlings 

The dismissal of Arikana Chihombori-Quao, AU Ambassador to the United States raises serious questions about the independence of the AU… pic.twitter.com/XaN93IwTx3

— Jerry John Rawlings (@officeofJJR) October 13, 2019