UNITED NATIONS, March 30 -- Niger, the world's sixth largest producer of uranium and the venue of a recent coup d'etat led by a former UN peacekeeper, Salou Djibo, faces a severe drought. The UN's Central Emergency Relief Fund has put up $6 million, and on March 30 a press conference for the purpose of fundraising was held by the UN's Resident Coordinator for Niger, Khardiata Lo N'diaye.
Did the seizure of power by force have any impact on the humanitarian situation, Inner City Press asked. Khardiata Lo N'diaye replied that the "de facto authorities have put the humanitarian issues at the top of their priorities." Video here, from Minute 3:48.
Cursory research finds that "state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation... paid a $272 million signing bonus to the administration of Tandja, who had appointed his own son Ousmane as commercial attaché to the Nigerien Embassy in Hong Kong, a move NGOs say helped Chinese companies curry favor with the African ex-president."
Inner City Press asked, with all due respect, if any contribution had been sought or received from China, and whether the ostensibly diplomatic UN mission of Robert Fowler, as a bridge between the government and the Tuareg, had been in touch with the UN Country Team, and was in any way still active. Video here, from Minute 12:08.
Khardiata Lo N'diaye responded with a series of buzz words -- chronical vulnerability, development trends, sub regional Sahelian security issues. She did not answer if China has made any contribution, only emphasizing the the appeal for funds "is open."
Where is former colonial power France? Only days before, the UN's Resident Coordinator for Guinea held a similar press conference, asking for funds, although in Guinea's case some funds would go for elections. The OCHA spokesman denied that was any connection between these two humanitarian press conferences about countries with recent coups.
The UN is fumbling elections in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan. Could the answer be putting a humanitarian face on military rule? Watch this site.
