UNITED NATIONS, July 13, updated -- Amid military government and famine in Niger, an emerging narco state in Guinea Bissau and ever allegations of ballot box stuffing in Guinea, the UN's envoy to West Africa Said Djinnit told the Press on Tuesday that all is going well. In a belated stake out with four reporters, Djinnit sung the praises of his office, which is based in Senegal.
Inner City Press asked about the allegation of elections fraud in Guinea, which have forced the postponement of the second round of voting from July 18 to August 1. Djinnit replied that “we were not surprised” by the irregularities.
On the control of Niger by coup leaders, he said said this would end in March 2011, and praised the coup leaders for being more willing to work with the international community about the famine than the previous president had been.
He dodged questions on Guinea Bissau, saying that the UN's direct envoy to that country would be speaking on the topic soon.
Djinnit's dodging began before he came to the stakeout. When he emerged from the Security Council at noon, he stood by the microphone, as if prepared to speak. But seeing only Inner City Press present -- as had been the case the previous afternoon for the Security Council Press Statement on the bombings in Uganda which the President had read out -- Djinnit walked away from the microphone. “Come back at 12:30,” Inner City Press was told.
At 12:30, two other reporters appeared: one to ask about Guinea Bissau, the other a well known Nigerian correspondent who, along with Inner City Press, told Djinnit's seeming spokeswoman that he might was well take questions, since and and three reporters were present. The spokeswoman told the UN TV cameraman, if more reporters don't come, he won't speak.
Bad idea, Inner City Press said, if Djinnit is still cashing the UN system's checks.
The Nigerian correspondent was more forceful. Our editors wants stories, he told Djinnit, expressing outrage that he wouldn't speak. Djinnit remarked archly, you must be from a trade union background, and went to the microphone, where all three reporters asked questions.
Afterwards, Djinnit's seeming spokeswoman approached the reporters, hissing criticism of the Nigerian reporter's “tone of voice.” What's her name, the reporter asked Inner City Press. While the UN Office on West Africa's web site last updated its “News” in 2007, has not press releases from 2010, and no contact name on its last 2009 press release, now we can report: according to actual spokespeople, it was Aikaterini Limenopoulou, with the UN Department of Political Affairs. The conduct, it should be clear, is attributable to Mr. Djinnit. Talk about diplomacy.
Footnote: Inner City Press' last interaction with Djinnit involved asking him to confirm that he had applied for a UN envoy job in Sudan. He smiled but would not answer. Apparently he didn't like the question, or subsequent article. It just gets worse and worse.
