Abyei Attack Also Wounded a Peacekeeper, Resettlement Postponed, Kiir to Uganda for Pope

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, November 27 -- In Abyei a peacekeeper and a young girl were killed, days after the UN Security Council meet about its UNISFA mission there. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a short statement. Inner City Press exclusively publishes a more detailed summary circulated inside the UN system there:

"It happened  at 09:30 pm.  We heard the shelling and then the small arms fires. It was coming from the northern side of the UN Camp.  According to people in the scene, the seven shelling  originated from north-west of Abyei town, of which, five landed near the vicinity of the Dinka Paramount Chief accommodation  and one  landed inside the compound.  The 7th landed in a primary school. Apart from unfortunate fatality of one of the TCC (Ethiopian) members and one injury , a  12 year  girl was also killed and other three young girls were injured. All wounded civilians are currently treated at Abyei hospital, while the wounded TCC member has been under treatment at the Level II Hospital."

 Ban Ki-moon' (or DPKO's Herve Ladsous') statement did not mention any wounded peacekeeper. Inner City Press has submitted a DPKO South Sudan question to the UN on November 27 in lieu of a noon media briefing. Meanwhile it here reports its sources say Salva Kiir may try to meet Pope Francis in Uganda; we'll have more on this.

 The Abyei incident has resulted in the cancellation of a planned tour of the area intended to assist in the resettlement of those displaced. The UN has written:

we will organize an inter-agency assessment mission to the potential villages of return on MONDAY, 30 NOVEMBER. Reports indicate that many people have already returned to Low, Tejalei and other villages. We will leave ABYEI TOWN AT 09:00 HOURS; RRC ABYEI IS THE MEETING POINT. The plan is to visit Midol, Low, Tejalei, Dungop and Noong villages, and return back to Abyei town before 16:00 hours.... Mr. Ogwal Benson Stanley of UNICEF is preparing one security clearance for all UN staff planning to participation in the assessment."

  But after the "incident" in Abyei, the same UN author wrote:

"Because of last night's security incident, we may postpone the assessment mission for a suitable date / time. Please kindly convey this message to Mr. Deng Juac Dau, the new Director of RRC who is currently in Agok and not reachable to phone. I shall discuss the possible dates with UNISFA and UN security and will inform the partner organizations on the revised plan accordingly."

  On November 24 after the UN Security Council met behind closed doors about Sudan and South Sudan and its UNISFA mission, Inner City Press asked the Council's President for November Matthew Rycroft if Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile were discussed. (None of the other selected questions were about Sudan or South Sudan, much less Abyei.) As transcribed the UK Mission:

Inner City Press: Did the issue of the Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan regions and their humanitarian situation come up in the consultations?

Amb. Rycroft: We had a good discussion about the whole range of issues that relate to Sudan and South Sudan, including the two areas. And we did hear very full briefings both from Haile Menkerios in Addis by video conference and from Herve Ladsous in the room. And on the humanitarian issues, we underlined the importance of humanitarian access, so we urged all of the parties to step up and do more to ensure that the people in these desperately deprived areas [re]ceived the humanitarian assistance that they so badly need.

 Ladsous rushed past the stakeout without taking questions; he has linked rapes to "R&R," video here. Rycroft also read out these press elements:

"This is to give you a readout of the consultations which the Security Council has just concluded on Sudan and South Sudan and UNISFA. We agreed the following elements:

- First of all, we expressed our support for President Mbeki, for the African Union through its high-level Implementation Panel and its Peace and Security Committee and its Special Envoy Menkerios for their work.

- We welcomed the discussion between the parties in Addis, but are disappointed that those have concluded without agreement, in particular without agreement on a cessation of hostilities.

- We urged the parties to avoid further acts of violence. We urged them to agree a cessation of hostilities, to return to talks in the very near future and to allow the facilitation of humanitarian assistance.

- We also urged the parties to agree a way forward, for an inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue.

- And finally, we welcomed the agreements reached by the government of Sudan and South Sudan on the border arrangement between their two countries and urged them to build on those agreements and to implement them."

 On October 29 when UN aid official John Ging held a press conference about Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, Inner City Press asked him about Blue Nile, Somaliland and then also about the flooding in the Tindouf camp. Video here.

  On Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan, Inner City Press asked what the reported commitment by the UN not to give aid to “rebels” really means. Ging said it means that the UN doesn't hand over aid to rebel groups and let them decide who needs it.

  Since Ging has spoken of “state formation” in Somalia, Inner City Press asked him if this includes Puntland and, more to the point, Somaliland. Ging replied that the UN maintains a single coordinator “for the whole country.” Video here.

  The floods in the Tindouf camp seem nearly off the radar, so Inner City Press asked Ging what the UN is going. He said more is expected - and we hope to have more on this.

 Since the Nepal earthquake, Inner City Press has been asking the International Monetary Fund if it would move to relieve the country's debt burden. See below.

  On July 8, Inner City Press asked UN humanitarian official John Ging about the IMF saying that post earthquake Nepal is NOT eligible for its Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust, and about reporting that the UN had "substandard" food in Nepal. Video here.

  Ging said the IMF issues is a real one, but that OCHA has no direct input with the IMF. If the IMF truly is a part of the UN system, shouldn't it?

 On the food issue, Ging said any such food was in a warehouse, not to be distributed. Inner City Press asked if he believed the government accepts this position (he does) - meanwhile a reader chimed in with this.

  On Nepal's debt, Inner City Press resubmitted the question for the IMF's embargoed June 25 briefing, and during it, IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice read out the question and answered it. Transcript here; video here from 47:50.

  Inner City Press' question: "On Nepal, in the run up to the June 25 International Conference of Nepal’s Reconstruction, and with the World Bank announcing $500 million, is the IMF intending to do anything beyond the $50 million (one year) and $124 million (overall) in its response in the last briefing? Through the IMF's Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust?"

  Rice said the IMF is represented at the conference in Katmandu -- contrary to some reports, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is NOT there -- and could be the request for the $50 M / $124 M to the Board in July. He emphasized this would be zero interest under the RCF but said Nepal is NOT eligible for the CCRT, GDP damage is not enough. 

  Inner City Press would ask, should that threshold be lowered?

  On Jordan, Inner City Press asked: "On Jordan, having seen the IMF's announcement about the end of July, has there been any movement on the criticism by the head of UNHCR and others that the IMF and World Bank in treating Jordan (and Lebanon, etc) as “middle income” can't or don't do enough to provide support given the volume of refugees they have received?"

  Rice said, in essence, that the IMF has been flexible and has given fiscal space to deal with the refugee issues (we'll add the transcript later).  

  Back on June 11 Rice said that Nepal had made a request to the IMF under the Rapid Credit Facility, and that the IMF will send a mission to the country coinciding with the donors' conference on June 25. He said Nepal could be eligible for $50 million annually, for a total of $124 million. We'll see.

   Rice also answer questions Inner City Press submitted on Ghana's Eurobond and about Jamaica. (He said these questions, “from the UN in New York,” remind of other things in the IMF briefing room other than Greece and Ukraine).

  On Ghana, Rice said that the Eurobond was “envisioned” in the recently agreed program. But what is the status of any talks about it? Inner City Press asked, “Ghana's Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper, says the government intends to issue a $1 billion 10-year Eurobond in 2015. What are the status of talks with the IMF in this regard?”

  On Jamaica, Inner City Press asked, “On Jamaica, please comment on criticism that the percentage of people in under the poverty line has grown alongside the IMF's program and that 'last year, Jamaica paid the IMF over $136 million more than it received.'”

   Rice acknowledged that in 2014-15 there was a negative flow out of the country to the IMF, of $163 million. But he said with the new program that has reversed, to in-flow into Jamaica of $127 million in 2015-16, projected to rise to $176 million in 2017-18. Rice acknowledge the rise in the poverty rate from 9.9% in 2007 to 20% in 2012, but said this had to do with the global financial crisis and is the reason for the IMF's program. We'll see.

   Inner City Press had also asked for updates if any on Yemen and Burundi -- apparently there are no updates -- and one on a quote from Romania's National Bank Governor Mugur Isarescu saying the IMF's “communication has sometimes been problematic.” Still, three answers are appreciated.

  On Greece, for the record, Rice said there are major difference between us, with little to no progress made in narrowin them. On Ukraine, he said the IMF can lend to a country that has arrears to private creditors provided other conditions are met. Ukraine certainly has Western political support.

Inner City Press Asks UNSC President Rycroft of Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan, Aid Access

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 24 -- After the UN Security Council met behind closed doors about Sudan and South Sudan and its UNISFA mission on November 24, Inner City Press asked the Council's President for November Matthew Rycroft if Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile were discussed. As transcribed the UK Mission:

Inner City Press: Did the issue of the Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan regions and their humanitarian situation come up in the consultations?

Amb. Rycroft: We had a good discussion about the whole range of issues that relate to Sudan and South Sudan, including the two areas. And we did hear very full briefings both from Haile Menkerios in Addis by video conference and from Herve Ladsous in the room. And on the humanitarian issues, we underlined the importance of humanitarian access, so we urged all of the parties to step up and do more to ensure that the people in these desperately deprived areas [re]ceived the humanitarian assistance that they so badly need.

 Ladsous rushed past the stakeout without taking questions; he has linked rapes to "R&R," video here. Rycroft also read out these press elements:

"This is to give you a readout of the consultations which the Security Council has just concluded on Sudan and South Sudan and UNISFA. We agreed the following elements:

- First of all, we expressed our support for President Mbeki, for the African Union through its high-level Implementation Panel and its Peace and Security Committee and its Special Envoy Menkerios for their work.

- We welcomed the discussion between the parties in Addis, but are disappointed that those have concluded without agreement, in particular without agreement on a cessation of hostilities.

- We urged the parties to avoid further acts of violence. We urged them to agree a cessation of hostilities, to return to talks in the very near future and to allow the facilitation of humanitarian assistance.

- We also urged the parties to agree a way forward, for an inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue.

- And finally, we welcomed the agreements reached by the government of Sudan and South Sudan on the border arrangement between their two countries and urged them to build on those agreements and to implement them."

 On October 29 when UN aid official John Ging held a press conference about Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, Inner City Press asked him about Blue Nile, Somaliland and then also about the flooding in the Tindouf camp. Video here.

  On Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan, Inner City Press asked what the reported commitment by the UN not to give aid to “rebels” really means. Ging said it means that the UN doesn't hand over aid to rebel groups and let them decide who needs it.

  Since Ging has spoken of “state formation” in Somalia, Inner City Press asked him if this includes Puntland and, more to the point, Somaliland. Ging replied that the UN maintains a single coordinator “for the whole country.” Video here.

  The floods in the Tindouf camp seem nearly off the radar, so Inner City Press asked Ging what the UN is going. He said more is expected - and we hope to have more on this.

 Since the Nepal earthquake, Inner City Press has been asking the International Monetary Fund if it would move to relieve the country's debt burden. See below.

  On July 8, Inner City Press asked UN humanitarian official John Ging about the IMF saying that post earthquake Nepal is NOT eligible for its Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust, and about reporting that the UN had "substandard" food in Nepal. Video here.

  Ging said the IMF issues is a real one, but that OCHA has no direct input with the IMF. If the IMF truly is a part of the UN system, shouldn't it?

 On the food issue, Ging said any such food was in a warehouse, not to be distributed. Inner City Press asked if he believed the government accepts this position (he does) - meanwhile a reader chimed in with this.

  On Nepal's debt, Inner City Press resubmitted the question for the IMF's embargoed June 25 briefing, and during it, IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice read out the question and answered it. Transcript here; video here from 47:50.

  Inner City Press' question: "On Nepal, in the run up to the June 25 International Conference of Nepal’s Reconstruction, and with the World Bank announcing $500 million, is the IMF intending to do anything beyond the $50 million (one year) and $124 million (overall) in its response in the last briefing? Through the IMF's Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust?"

  Rice said the IMF is represented at the conference in Katmandu -- contrary to some reports, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is NOT there -- and could be the request for the $50 M / $124 M to the Board in July. He emphasized this would be zero interest under the RCF but said Nepal is NOT eligible for the CCRT, GDP damage is not enough. 

  Inner City Press would ask, should that threshold be lowered?

  On Jordan, Inner City Press asked: "On Jordan, having seen the IMF's announcement about the end of July, has there been any movement on the criticism by the head of UNHCR and others that the IMF and World Bank in treating Jordan (and Lebanon, etc) as “middle income” can't or don't do enough to provide support given the volume of refugees they have received?"

  Rice said, in essence, that the IMF has been flexible and has given fiscal space to deal with the refugee issues (we'll add the transcript later).  

  Back on June 11 Rice said that Nepal had made a request to the IMF under the Rapid Credit Facility, and that the IMF will send a mission to the country coinciding with the donors' conference on June 25. He said Nepal could be eligible for $50 million annually, for a total of $124 million. We'll see.

   Rice also answer questions Inner City Press submitted on Ghana's Eurobond and about Jamaica. (He said these questions, “from the UN in New York,” remind of other things in the IMF briefing room other than Greece and Ukraine).

  On Ghana, Rice said that the Eurobond was “envisioned” in the recently agreed program. But what is the status of any talks about it? Inner City Press asked, “Ghana's Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper, says the government intends to issue a $1 billion 10-year Eurobond in 2015. What are the status of talks with the IMF in this regard?”

  On Jamaica, Inner City Press asked, “On Jamaica, please comment on criticism that the percentage of people in under the poverty line has grown alongside the IMF's program and that 'last year, Jamaica paid the IMF over $136 million more than it received.'”

   Rice acknowledged that in 2014-15 there was a negative flow out of the country to the IMF, of $163 million. But he said with the new program that has reversed, to in-flow into Jamaica of $127 million in 2015-16, projected to rise to $176 million in 2017-18. Rice acknowledge the rise in the poverty rate from 9.9% in 2007 to 20% in 2012, but said this had to do with the global financial crisis and is the reason for the IMF's program. We'll see.

   Inner City Press had also asked for updates if any on Yemen and Burundi -- apparently there are no updates -- and one on a quote from Romania's National Bank Governor Mugur Isarescu saying the IMF's “communication has sometimes been problematic.” Still, three answers are appreciated.

  On Greece, for the record, Rice said there are major difference between us, with little to no progress made in narrowin them. On Ukraine, he said the IMF can lend to a country that has arrears to private creditors provided other conditions are met. Ukraine certainly has Western political support.

In Abyei, Sudan Balloting Panned, Referendum Lobbied For, Closed Doors

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 14 -- When the UN Security Council's closed-door meeting about Abyei ended on October 7, UN Peacekeeping's Edmond Mulet walked briskly out and to the elevator. 

  A Sudanese diplomat raced after him, catching him before the elevator door closed and speaking for a minute. The diplomat told Inner City Press there are “issues” on the ostensibly non-controversial technical roll-over of the mandate of the UN mission in Abyei, UNISFA.

  The mandate was unanimously extended a week later on October 14, after behind the scenes griping that, unlike on also unanimous Haiti mandate extension on October 14, did not give rise to explanation of vote by any Council member.

  (South Sudan Permanent Representative and former UN official Francis Deng said that those pushing to recognition of the Dinka's unilateral referendum in Abyei "might" be sitting behind him.)

   Inner City Press spoke with a number of Security Council members and learned one issue was this unilateralism  -- specifically, the Dinka held their own unilateral referendum, and now the Sudanese want to include Abyei in their own elections.

At least two Council members said behind closed doors that Sudan is within its rights on this, and others agreed afterward. But it was said such inclusion would fan tensions -- all this behind closed doors.

The October 7 Abyei meeting, and a meeting earlier that day on the tail end of the Syria chemical weapons mission, were both behind closed doors. This is when the Free UN Coalition for Access has asked that Council president's hold question and answer stakeouts. It did not happen on October 7, and there were no explanations of vote on October 14.

  At the October 7 noon briefing when FUNCA asked, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said his Office was to blame for the lack of notice to the press of October's UNSC President's read-out at the UNTV stakeout of multiple press statements. Issues sail through in this fashion. We'll have more on this.

   

After Abyei Meeting of UNSC, Sudan Diplomat Races After UN's Mulet, Of Voting & Transparency

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 7 -- When the UN Security Council's closed-door meeting on Abyei ended, UN Peacekeeping's Edmond Mulet walked briskly out and to the elevator. A Sudanese diplomat raced after him, catching him before the elevator door closed and speaking for a minute. The diplomat told Inner City Press there are “issues” on the ostensibly non-controversial technical roll-over of the mandate of the UN mission in Abyei, UNISFA.

Inner City Press spoke with a number of Security Council members and learned one issue is unilateralism -- specifically, the Dinka held their own unilateral referendum, and now the Sudanese want to include Abyei in their own elections.

At least one Council member insisted Sudan is within its rights on this, and others agreed afterward. But it's said such inclusion would fan tensions. So who can ask Sudan to stop, particularly when for example it is blocked from any debt relief?

The Abyei meeting, and a meeting earlier on October 7 on the tail end of the Syria chemical weapons mission, were both behind closed doors. This is when the Free UN Coalition for Access has asked that Council president's hold question and answer stakeouts. It did not happen on October 7.

  At the day's noon briefing when FUNCA asked, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said his Office was to blame for the lack of notice to the press of October's UNSC President's read-out at the UNTV stakeout of multiple press statements. We'll have more on this.

   

By UN, Chants of "Stop the Killing in Sudan" & "Shame on Ban Ki-moon;" Of Ladsous, Darfur and ICC

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 20, more here -- Across First Avenue from the UN on the Saturday before the General Debate, the chants were "Stop the killing in Sudan" and "Bashir to the ICC" (a sign added Ahmed Haroun), then "Shame on Ban Ki-moon."

   The UN, protected by large NYPD cement blocks, seemed unconcerned, preparing for the projection of environmental images against its facade four hours later.

  The head of UN Peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous, met with ICC-indictee Omar al-Bashir, and refused to answer Press questions about what was discussed. (Video compilation here, UK coverage here). His Department of Peacekeeping Operations flew ICC-indicted Haroun in a UN helicopter to Abyei to talk to the same type of pro-government militia he led in war crimes in Darfur. 

  Now even as the Mission in Darfur UNAMID is belatedly investigating itself for covering up attacks on civilians, the head of UNAMID Chambas is being given another post, atop UNOWA in Dakar, Senegal, as Inner City Press first reported. This is today's UN.

  Back on July 15 when the Coalition for the International Criminal Court and Human Rights Watch came to brief the UN press corps about the ICC, Inner City Press asked them about  Ladsous meeting with Bashir, and about his mission in the Congo flying the leader of the FDLR militia at least to Kinshasa.

  CICC convenor William Pace replied that the UN Secretariat should be instructed to limit all non-essential contacts.

  HRW's Richard Dicker said he was unaware of Ladsous' meeting with Bashir -- strange, since HRW's UN lobbyist has been queried about it -- but correctly brought up UN Peacekeeping's previously flying in Sudan of Ahmed Harun.

  "That same standard applies to FDLR leadership,” Dicker said. Well, who's going to tell Ladsous, or the French government which installed Ladsous as the fourth French head of UN Peacekeeping in a row?

  There was talk of how ICC judges are elected. Inner City Press previously reported on France offering to support a candidate deemed unqualified if his country would support France's candidate. Maybe they never heard of that one, either? Watch this site.

   

In Abyei, South Sudan's Salva Kiir Didn't Comply & Withdraw SPLA, New UN Report Says - Quietly, Advance Copy

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 13 -- The UN's new report on Abyei, to become public under symbol S/2014/336, again mechanically paints a picture of widespread violations by both Sudan and South Sudan, in the shadow of the crisis in the latter.

  To South Sudan, the UN report says UNISFA Commander Tesfamariam and envoy Haile Menkerios went to meet Salva Kiir on February 25. Kiir said his government would take measures to ensure withdrawal from the SPLA and SSNPS forces by March 10.

  The report continues that "on 11 March, with no progress in the withdrawal of the SPLA and SSNPS forces," Tesfamariam again went to Juba. The report does not mention Kiir. 

  There have been more agreements, like the one with Riek Machar in Addis putting off elections for two or three more years, since the March 10 non-withdrawal. But the UN chugs along, with a head of UN Peacekeeping Herve Ladsous who refuses to answer Press questions on any of this. 

  In its previously report the UN's all-Ethiopia UNISFA mission in Abyei "observed the presence around 660 military elements of the SPLA and South Sudan National Police Service... armed with AK-47 rifles and anti-tank rocket propelled grenades; many of them have established military-type settlements, including fire trenches."

  This of course violates the June 2011 agreement; the UN adds that it "poses security risks to Misseriya nomads migrating through the area."

  Sudan, on the other hand, is reported also violate the agreement: "Sudan oil police continued to maintain approximately 120 to 150 personnel inside the Diffra oil complex in northern Abyei... about 30 Sudan oil personnel were observed in the vicinity of the Beer Adrak oil pump station and in Mekines, outside their usual area of deployment in the Diffra oil complex." What now?

  The last time the UN Security Council considered Abyei, back on November 25, 2013, Sudan's and South Sudan's ambassadors traded speeches about Abyei in the Council, and things got personal.

  While the Security Council urged against the unilateral referendum held in Abyei, South Sudan's Francis Deng on Monday praised it. He said the Miseriya had been out of the area "in their own homeland" 125 miles away when the referendum was held.

  Inner City Press has previously reported that Deng's family comes from Abyei, and has questioned if he owns property there. It makes for a more dramatic story.

  Sudan's Permanent Representative Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman took the floor to say Deng's speech was against the current tenor between Khartoum and Juba, and was based on "personal interests" and not the interests of the whole of South Sudan.

  It's rare these days at the UN for arguments to turn personal in this way. Relatedly, some in the Council note that soon after Ambassador Susan Rice was promoted to Washington, there were no more twice a month meetings on Sudan and South Sudan. In fairness we report that others say that's a coincidence. Like Deng's personal story? Both are compelling. 

  Now on February 26, Daffa-Alla has moved on from his posting in New York, and it is reported that Francis Deng has been recalled to Juba. Watch this site.

   

In Abyei, New UN Report Says South Sudan Has 660 Soldiers, Sudan 150 Oil Personnel, Violations Both

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 26 -- The UN's new report on Abyei, to become public under symbol S/2014/126, paints a picture of widespread violations by both Sudan and South Sudan, in the shadow of the crisis in the latter.

  From South Sudan, the UN report says its all-Ethiopia UNISFA mission in Abyei "observed the presence around 660 military elements of the SPLA and South Sudan National Police Service... armed with AK-47 rifles and anti-tank rocket propelled grenades; many of them have established military-type settlements, including fire trenches."

  This of course violates the June 2011 agreement; the UN adds that it "poses security risks to Misseriya nomads migrating through the area."

  Sudan, on the other hand, is reported also violate the agreement: "Sudan oil police continued to maintain approximately 120 to 150 personnel inside the Diffra oil complex in northern Abyei... about 30 Sudan oil personnel were observed in the vicinity of the Beer Adrak oil pump station and in Mekines, outside their usual area of deployment in the Diffra oil complex." What now?

  The last time the UN Security Council considered Abyei, back on November 25, 2013, Sudan's and South Sudan's ambassadors traded speeches about Abyei in the Council, and things got personal.

  While the Security Council urged against the unilateral referendum held in Abyei, South Sudan's Francis Deng on Monday praised it. He said the Miseriya had been out of the area "in their own homeland" 125 miles away when the referendum was held.

  Inner City Press has previously reported that Deng's family comes from Abyei, and has questioned if he owns property there. It makes for a more dramatic story.

  Sudan's Permanent Representative Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman took the floor to say Deng's speech was against the current tenor between Khartoum and Juba, and was based on "personal interests" and not the interests of the whole of South Sudan.

  It's rare these days at the UN for arguments to turn personal in this way. Relatedly, some in the Council note that soon after Ambassador Susan Rice was promoted to Washington, there were no more twice a month meetings on Sudan and South Sudan. In fairness we report that others say that's a coincidence. Like Deng's personal story? Both are compelling. 

  Now on February 26, Daffa-Alla has moved on from his posting in New York, and it is reported that Francis Deng has been recalled to Juba. Watch this site.

  

With DR Congo's Mende Citing "Terrorist Attack," Will France Draft UNSC Statement, As Full Battalion Shifted to South Sudan?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 30 -- Amid the gunfire in Kinshasa, the spokesperson for Joseph Kabila has called it a "terrorist attack." 

   Following minster of information Lambert Mende's statement, and the events, the question arises: will France, which holds the UN Security Council "pen" on the DRC and controlled the Council's recent trip there now draft a Council press statement on the chaos?

  While this remains to be seen -- France has been silent in the Council of last on the breakdown in its former colony the Central African Republic, even as eight African peacekeepers have been killed -- it must be noted that the UN has proposed removing a full battalion of peacekeepers from its MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Click here for long form analysis on Beacon Reader.

  For a week since Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that he would move peacekeepers and "assets" including attack helicopters from DRC, Darfur, Abyei, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire to South Sudan, Inner City Press has asked Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky about any UN analysis or recognition of the potential impacts on the places the peacekeepers would be removed from.

  Nesirky has not answered the questions. None of them. Another question Inner City Press asked, about tensions between South Korea and Japan including in South Sudan after Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's visit to a shrine for Japan's World War Two dead, Nesirky answered but first to other media on a regional or politicized basis, 13 hours before a more general "Note to Correspondents." These practices are being opposed by the new Free UN Coalition for Access.

  Mende's use of the word "terrorist" has significance: the Security Council routinely issues fast press statements condemning terrorist attacks. (See yesterday's Inner City Press story here.) So will France propose a press statement now on the DRC? And will it address, as the UN Secretariat hasn't, the pull out of a battalion from MONUSCO at this time? Watch this site.

Footnote: Meanwhile for hours after what Mende called the "terrorist attack," nothing has been heard from the UN's envoy to the DRC Martin Kobler. One wag wondered if Kobler was "pulling a Hilde Johnson" -- the UN's envoy in South Sudan said little in the days after the fighting and killing in Juba. Is Kobler now as aligned with Kabila as Johnson is with Salva Kiir?

  Kobler's MONUSCO mission was blithely tweeting out photographs of blue helmets holding hands with Congolese children... in Pinga in North Kivu, far far away. This is the Department of Peacekeeping Operations under Herve Ladsous, who "has a policy" of not answering Press questions, video here, UK coverage here. This is the UN of late: no answers, just spin.

   

After UN's Ladsous Met Sudan's Bashir, Prosecutor Bensouda Tells Inner City Press ICC "Has No Info" - Non-Essential Meeting? Double Standards

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 11 -- When on Sudan the International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda briefed the UN Security Council on Wednesday, about the need to arrest Sudanese president Omar al Bashir, there was an elephant in the room: UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, who met with Bashir in July.

  Actually, Ladsous had been in the Security Council in the morning, but unlike the other two briefers did not speak to or take any questions from the press when he left.

  Bensouda said that either Sudan could come contest the indictment of Bashir (and others including Ahmad Haroon, to whom Ladsous' UN Peacekeeping has given free flights to and from Abyei) -- or, arrests should be made. Ladsous made no arrests in July.

  After Wednesday's meeting, Inner City Press waited and asked Bensouda what she as prosecutor thought of UN official Ladsous having met with Bashir.

  Bensouda said, "we are consistently saying that these non essential meetings should be avoided.... I do not know what was the purpose of that meeting."

  She cited a UN policy -- put out by the Office of Legal Affairs but apparently not respected by Ladsous' Department of Peacekeeping Operations -- of only essential meetings being held with indictees.

  Inner City Press asked her if, as a major / vocal state party to the Rome Statute told it, the UN is now going to give the Court or Association of State Parties prior notice before contacts like Ladsous' with Bashir.

  Bensouda replied that she wounldn't call it notice, but "we have discussed some visits before, why it was essential."

  So, Inner City Press asked, what about Ladsous' July 2013 meeting with Bashir?

  Bensouda said, "the one in July, we have not had any information about it."

  Ladsous has a history, of not answering Press questions.Video here, UK coverage here. But this is one he should answer. Will he?

  Sudanese Permanent Representative Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman, after harshly criticizing Bensouda in his speech in the Council, agreed to answer a few Inner City Press questions afterward in the so called Turkish Lounge next to the Security Council. 

 While this used to be the media's space, during the UN renovation the UN took money from Turkey for the space. Now, it is said, reporters can only go there if invited by a diplomat. This is challenged by the new Free UN Coalition for Access as a decline in working conditions and access under this UN.

  Wednesday as noted Inner City Press was invited into the Turkish Lounge area, but nevertheless was told to get back in the penned stakeout. (In noting this, the focus is not on the one endeavoring to implement the vague policy, but on the policy and vagueness themselves, which are an invitation, too often accepted, for more UN double standards.)

    Meanwhile scribes favored by -- and spying for -- the UN and its Censorship Alliance (click here) plop down in the Turkish Lounge to make cell phone calls.

  Likewise while disfavored NGOs are told they cannot be at the stakeout, last week Human Rights Watch's UN lobbyist, a former France 24 and Le Monde journalist, was at the stakeout spinning Central African Republic, with no mention of its problems' French colonial roots. As Sudan says: double standards. As Inner City Press says: Ladsous is the elephant in the room. Watch this site.