By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un3darfur092509.html
UNITED NATIONS, September 25 -- Given the UN's focus on Sudan and specifically Darfur, the position of lead mediator, vacant since the tenure of Rodolphe Adada was not extended, is a hotly contested post.
Inner City Press learned Friday that, beyond the candidacies of long time UN Africa hand Haile Menkerios and previous South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, reported exclusively by Inner City Press, Tanzania's Foreign Minister is competing, against Tanzania's UN Ambassador.
While its rare to have two candidates from the same country, the UN and "the West" are said to be looking for the candidate most accommodative of their views.
U.S. envoy to Sudan Scott Gration was asked this week about the ouster of Adada. "That's above my pay grade," he replied. He praised the replacer of UNAMID force commander Martin Luther Agwai. But Inner City Press has learned that Agwai, despite being said to leave the UN, will be paid for three additional months, splitting his time between El Fasher and Manhattan. We will have more on this.
Those returning to the UN from the whirlwind G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh found a reception, complete with lobster, shrimp and an ice sculpture with Sudan's flag in it, underway on the fourth floor. It was the Group of 77 and China reception, hosted by Deng Alor Kuol, the foreign minister of Sudan which chairs the G-77. Information but not liquor flowed. At the end, a clean up worker said the flag of the Republic of Sudan would be put in the dining room's sink. It's hot in there, he said. It melts very fast.
