UNITED NATIONS, March 11 -- After UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon unceremoniously demoted Anna Tibaijuka from heading the UN Office in Nairobi, reassigning that power to German UNEP chief Achim Steiner, the General Assembly rebelled and created a new, separate Under Secretary General position to run UNON.
(In her other job atop UN-HABITAT, Ms. Tibaijuka was replaced by Mr. Joan Clos of Spain. Since then, the UK has cut all of its funding to HABITAT, calling it “irrelevant.”)
It was understood that Ban should fill the UNON post with an African, and today he did. But the person he selected, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, while heading the UN office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), refused to clean up or even answer on documented nepotism in BINUCA:
In late 2009, Inner City Press asked Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, Special Representative of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Head of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA) about a series ofBONUCA hires of relatives of the head of the UN Department of Political Affairs Africa II Division, Sammy Buo. She said she would look into it, take action and report back.
Nine months later, having heard nothing from her or about any changes, Inner City Press asked her for an update. “I don't want to speak about the past,” she said.
Inner City Press asked, “But are the individuals, including the former employee of the Executive Outcomes private military firm, still employed by the UN in the CAR?” She would not answer.
How can the UN credibly preach transparency and anti-corruption if these are its practices?
And without answers, how will UNON fare?
Inner City Press formally asked the director of DPA's Africa II Division Sammy Kum Buo the following questions:
Mr. Buo -- I am writing a story about this morning's Security Council session on BONUCA / Central African Republic. I am also covering management issues in BONUCA and DPA and am writing for you to confirm or deny on deadline each of the following [about BONUCA staffers]
Is Gabriel Buh Kang a relative of yours? A cousin?
Is BONUCA staffer Ekei a relative of yours? Your niece?
What is the status of Brindou Germain Kabran ?
When in CAR, have you stayed with Brindou Germain Kabran?
Did you still collect DSA? Please provide records.
What can you say about the case of Gozo Tshamala?
On deadline, Matthew
Mr. Buo is also accused of hiring a former mercenary from Executive Outcomes, in violation of UN rules. While Mr. Buo has refused to respond, Inner City Press has discussed the matter with other Mission officials and finally, on December 21, 2010 with Mr. Buo's ten boss in DPA, Haile Menkerios (since made UNMIS chief).
Mr. Menkerios confirmed he was aware of the issue. Inner City Press asked Mr. Menkerios what DPA's response would be. It is a management issue, Mr. Menkerios replied, that will be responded to in a management way.
But has it been? Yet?
