by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack UN GATE, Oct 31 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Consider Somalia, on which UN spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming have refused all Press questions. On October 31 this, from a UN whistleblower sent to Inner City Press: Dear Matthew Russell Lee, Another travesty in the United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOS). A few days ago, the UNHQ dispatched code cables to all the Peacekeeping missions mandating a 15% reduction in their 2025-2026 budgets. With a third of the budget year now over, in practical terms this means that missions will need cut a greater percentage over the rest of this budget period to make this reduction target. That’s bad news for mandates and staff in the field, but it’s even worse news for UNSOS. Over the past couple years vendor payoff has been prevalent in UNSOS. The method used has been to manipulate the procurement system, exceptionally extending big value contacts with local companies for periods measured in years. One of these expired contracts had millions and millions of dollars in guaranteed yearly payouts, for services little used by the mission. It has been pure profit for the Somalia business elite and pure UN waste. Add to this the unbelievable construction boom the mission undertook since the present Director took charge a couple years ago. Much of that, has also been conducted on expired contracts and under exceptional procurement arrangements. Leading the charge is a company called Deeqa, which has been the recipient of member states money well into nine figures. Unlike all the other peacekeeping missions UNSOS will now take a 25% reduction this budget year. This means, compared to other missions, many more staff will be impacted by job loss. It’s hard not to tie this added job loss to the procurement waste here. What has happened here is so very well known, so the member states are reacting. It matters who the Secretary-General appoints to these senior posts. The present Director has long standing family ties to the Somali political establishment, and that was well known before her promotion into the job. She would have been the Government’s first choice. Staff are concerned that the post reductions here will not be done fairly. If things play out as expected many staff will go home, and the Director will be taken care of - like the other most senior UN appointments. Guterres, they say, should end censorship. Application was made on June 19, 2025, here. Still as of October 7 no answer at all from Melissa Fleming or Stephane Dujarric. Totally corrupt. Watch this site. *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.  Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com |
