UNITED NATIONS, July 23 -- Sudan's Ambassador to the UN is finally leaving, after months of rumors and fight back, and just as his President, Omar al Bashir, successfully flaunts the International Criminal Court warrants against him by visit ICC member Chad, without getting arrested.
That perhaps is a fitting cap to Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed's time at the UN, during which he calls ICC Prosecutor Moreno Ocampo a rapist and a menace, only to be threatened with ICC prosecution.
Back in May, when reports had it that he was being ousted from the post due to his age and enemies in Khartoum, Inner City Press asked if it was true. The President is behind me, Abdalmahmood replied, he said I am the man who trimmed Ocampo. Article here.
Later, Abdalmahmood said he would only return to Khartoum to a job higher than his post at the UN. At a reception for Venezuela's independence two weeks ago, he intimated that the end was near, but said he would be sure to tell Inner City Press to what post he would return.
Now on July 23, he appears on Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's schedule, at 3:30 p.m., “farewell call.” So it's official: the Abdalmahmood era is over. At the time of this writing, it has not been reported any other other English language media included in Google News.
After his meeting with Ban Ki-moon, Abdalmahmood told Inner City Press it was a “cordial” meeting in which Ban “said I am one of few most memorable Ambassadors in the history of the UN!”
On his next job, Abdalmahmood told Inner City Press that “contacts are continuing with Khartoum to identify new position as many entities are competing, I will inform you shortly.” He indicated he may stay in the United States for now.
During the Venezuela reception, Abdalmahmood was greeted by many diplomats, including an elderly Indian ex Ambassador who Abdalmahmood introduced as central to the fight against apartheid. Abdalmahmood was posted in India for years, a stay he described one night while watching a fashion show combining tall Indian models with Untouchables who had traveled to New York for the event.
Once in the Khartoum airport during a visit by the Security Council, a wispy French journalist accused Abdalmahmood of defending genocide. Abdalmahmood demanded, who are you? The journalist backed away -- trimmed, as Abdalmahmood might put it.
Many human rights advocates who visit the UN consider Abdalmahmood disgusting, worthy of prosecution. More than one likened him to Joseph Goebbels, leading to the come back: a jovial Goebbels.
Others say he has just be doing his job, defending his country and president, and with some aplomb. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. But now Abdalmahmood is leaving.
This, we can say: the UN will be a less interesting place without him.
