Danish diplomat Birgitte Nygaard Markussen was appointed to the role last week. Her responsibilities include managing relations with countries along a 6,000-kilometer area from Africa’s Atlantic coast to the Red Sea, a region troubled by war, drug trafficking, and instability.
Fajon was suggested by the European External Action Service, the EU’s foreign policy branch, according to four people familiar with the discussions, but her candidacy was withdrawn after objections from the Slovenian government.
Since assuming office in June, Janša has criticized the previous Slovenian government, where Fajon was the foreign minister.
Janša has stated that Fajon, a former MEP from the nation’s center-left party, was never officially nominated and was promoted “by a secretary who reported directly to her.” The government has filed criminal charges, citing irregularities.
Slovenia’s center-left president, Nataša Pirc Musar, criticized the decision last week, expressing her disappointment and claiming it would result in Slovenia’s underrepresentation in international roles. “The failure to appoint Tanja Fajon as the EU Special Representative for the Sahel may be a small victory for a certain political faction, but it is a significant defeat for the country,” she stated.
“The EU Special Representatives are appointed by the Council on a proposal from the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,” said Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier. “We do not comment on ongoing national cases.”
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