By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/africa1back072509.html
UNITED NATIONS, July 25 -- This week at the UN showed that in Africa, it is back to the future. The representative of Cote d'Ivoire Alcide Djedje, in front of the Security Council, told the Press about "unacceptable" comments by France. Video here.
Off camera, Ivorian sources told Inner City Press that French president Nicolas Sarkozy not only spoke of "cleaning up" Abdijan, but had complained to Ban Ki-moon during their meeting in New York that Laurent Gbagbo "is not worth of confidence." Which even the sources acknowledged may well be true -- but colonial power France is not the one to say it.
On July 24, Russia sent to the Security Council its president's representative to Sudan, Mikhail Margelov, who blusteringly briefed Russian journalists at a table beside the stakeout. Afterward, a long time correspondent explained to Inner City Press the headline Moscow wanted: in Africa, Russia is back. The theory is that during the USSR days, Russia had a lot of projects there, and upper crust Africans were educated in Russia. Now they aim to recapitalize on those connections, as natural resources run short. Back to the future, indeed....
Inside the Security Council on July 24, Sudan's Deputy Permanent Representative took a shot at France, for harboring in Paris Darfur rebels who, in his telling, refuse to join the peace process and favor only the armed struggle.
After the Council session, top UN peacekeeper Alain Le Roy rushed by the stakeout with an aide. Inside, he had spoke of armored personnel carriers stuck in Port Sudan. But when Inner City Press called out about the long stalled Nepali APCs, Le Roy's aide said the problem has been solved. We'll see -- watch this site.
Footnote: Two days after the UN refused in response to Inner City Press' question to confirm they were giving the Darfur force commander job to Rwandan Lt. General Patrick Nyanvumba, on Friday they announced it. Back on July 22:
Inner City Press: Can you confirm that the Rwandan Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba has been appointed to replace Mr. Agwai in Darfur?
Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe: Well, if we have an appointment generally it’s announced, it’s sent to the Security Council. So if it’s not out yet, we don’t have an announcement yet.
Inner City Press: it’s reported in the Kenyan press quoting Rwandan officials…
Deputy Spokesperson Okabe: Well, the Secretary-General, when he appoints a Force Commander, writes about his intention to appoint someone like that to the Security Council. As far as I know, that letter has not gone yet.
The letter, it's reported, was dated July 16. The UN Spokesperson's Office seems to be the last to know. Including about questions, publicly raised, about Nyamvumba....
