Slovenia backs Danish diplomat as EU Sahel envoy after Fajon withdrawal

EU member states agreed to appoint Danish diplomat Birgitte Nygaard Markussen as the European Union's special representative for the Sahel region. The appointment came after the Slovenian government withdrew the nomination of former deputy prime minister and foreign minister Tanja Fajon. Critics said the Fajon nomination lacked proper procedural transparency, noting that the general secretary of Slovenia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs signed the nomination without a formal government decision.

The controversy also involved former ministry secretary Barbara Žvokelj, who signed the nomination letter and is now set to become Slovenia's ambassador to Denmark. The new Danish envoy is expected to focus on the EU's Sahel policy and coordination with African partners.