UN to send new envoy to Somalia after flap led to expulsion

[Deeq A.]

The United Nations plans to replace an envoy who was ordered to leave Somalia after questioning the arrest of a political candidate with an extremist history.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Friday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has full confidence in Nicholas Haysom and deeply regrets Somalia’s decision to expel him.

But Haq says the secretary-general will appoint a new representative because “it’s crucial that the U.N. mission on the ground is able to go about its work.”

Somalia announced Tuesday it was expelling Haysom. The Somali government says he overreached by raising questions about the arrest an extremist group defector who was running for a regional presidency.

During a Security Council meeting Thursday on Somalia, Haysom warned about its “political turbulence” but didn’t directly address his ouster.

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