UN's Lazzarini on Somaliland Airspace But Not UNMAS Bax & US, Bancroft Global Development: Of Aid and Impartiality

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 26, more here -- After the UN system unilaterally transferred Somaliland airspace to Mogadishu, UN flights were suspended until Turkish brokered talks defused the UN's gaffe.

   When the UN's top humanitarian in Mogadishu Philippe Lazzarini took questions by Twitter on May 26, Inner City Press asked: "UNilaterally transfer of  Somaliland airspace to Mogadishu - what was impact on humanitarian access? Status?"

   Lazzarini did answer this question -- but not the other one asked by Inner City Press, about the UN's loss of impartiality when the UN Mine Action Service's David Bax began working with the US / Bancroft Global Development, seebelow. 

   On Somaliland airspace, Lazzarini replied: "@innercitypress: Currently no impact. Airspace was temporarily suspended for UN flight last year, but since resolved."

  But what did the UN learn from the suspension? Inner City Press thanked and retweeted Lazzarini and then asked, "Not to be repeated?" This went UNanswered, as did this: "Given UNMAS Bax & (US) Bancroft Global Development, does UN (im)partiality impact aid access?"

  No answer to this. nor to a series of questions by Hargeisa based Free UN Coalition for Access member Mohamoud Walaaleye, including about Khaatumo.

Background: After the UN told Inner City Press that its Somalia de-mining boss David Bax was fully exonerated by an investigation by the UN Office of Project Services that followed an Inner City Press exclusive expose of Bax sharing information with US intelligence through Bancroft Global Development, Inner City Press has obtained a UNOPS letter to Bax that says "However, the Internal Audit and Investigations Group referred several issues to management, including your trip on an African Skies Limited flight."

  There is a problem here: as even the UN's report on mercenaries in Somalia notes, Bancroft has had a financial relationship with African Skies Limited, to provide security at the Mogadishu airport. Click here for UN report, see Paragraph 45. 

  So a favor from African Skies Limited is a favor from Bancoft, to which Bax gave information including genetic information from suicide bombs.

  UNOPS' Paul Lucas' "Dear David" letter, dated December 9, 2013, also references sexual harassment. That involved, among other things, putting UN staff at risk by doing favors for "a girlfriend," and breaking the rules of Bax' own UNOPS camp.

The larger question is even when the UN conducts an investigation and announces a results, including case exoneration, can it be believed? On investigation into charges of gang rape by UN peacekeepers in Mali, the UN has told Inner City Press that the investigation is complete -- but not the result.

   Back on November 4, 2013, Inner City Press asked Anton Katz, Chair of the UN "Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination" about the Group's report on Somalia - and if he had met David Bax. (He had, in Cape Town.)

The report states for example that

"The Working Group was informed by UNMAS that to avoid this problem, their agreement with Bancroft requires that when conducting EOD and counter-IED operations, Bancroft employees must remain a minimum of 500 metres behind any front line. This type of rule might serve as an appropriate safeguard in other contracts as well... The Working Group notes that at least one employee of Bancroft pleaded, and was found, guilty in a South African court of, inter alia, recruiting persons for mercenary activities in Côte d’Ivoire and providing logistical support for the venture [See High Court of South Africa (Transvaal Provincial Division), case number A2850/03 of 2 and 20 May 2005 (ZAGPHC 248).]"

  Why are the UN, AMISOM and UNMAS working with Bancroft Global Development? What do they do together? Inner City Press has been informed by whistleblowers beyond Somalia that Bax has been part of the process by which genetic and DNA information from IED bombings have been transferred to US intelligence.

  There are also detailed accounts of Bax using UN and private contractor resources, without mandate, for a close friend. The problem here, it is reiterated, is that it put others at risk on Bax's whim. We'll have more on this - because the UN Secretariat says again and again that it puts staff safety first. This for example is the rationale, as Inner City Press also exclusively reported, for threatening to close down in New York the UN cafeteria and Dag Hammarskjold Library. 

  As with January Security Council president, Inner City Press offered thanks to Katz for the briefing for the new Free UN Coalition for Access, which will continue to push for increased transparency from the UN on cases like that of Bax, particuarly given the slated changing of the guard in the UN Spokesperson's office, click here for that. Watch this site.

   

In Somalia, UNMAS Admits Works with FBI, Spins Referral on African Skies Ltd, UN Spox Haq Says Bax Totally Cleared by UNOPS

By Matthew Russell Lee, Follow Up on Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS,  April 4 -- When UN Mine Action Service director Agnès Marcaillou took questions on April 4, Inner City Press asked her about whistleblowers' complaints against the head of UNMAS in Somalia, David Bax. Video here.

 The UN told Inner City Press that its Somalia de-mining boss David Bax was fully exonerated by an investigation by the UN Office of Project Services that followed an Inner City Press exclusive expose of Bax sharing information with US intelligence through Bancroft Global Development.

  But Inner City Press later exclusively obtained a UNOPS letter to Bax that says "However, the Internal Audit and Investigations Group referred several issues to management, including your trip on an African Skies Limited flight."

  There is a problem here: as even the UN's report on mercenaries in Somalia notes, Bancroft has had a financial relationship with African Skies Limited, to provide security at the Mogadishu airport. Click here for UN report, see Paragraph 45. 

  So a favor from African Skies Limited is a favor from Bancoft, to which Bax gave information including genetic information from suicide bombs.

 On April 4, Inner City Press asked Agnès Marcaillou and UN Peacekeeping's Dmitry Titov about this UNOPS letter -- which Ms. Marcaillou told Inner City Press she had not seen.  (The whistleblower's initial complaint was also sent to UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, who never responded and refuses to answer Press questions, see videoand UK coverage.)

  Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, on the UN video, says to Marcaillou that UNOPS clearly said no further measures were warranted. Video at Minute 8:11.

  What then does the referral back to management of the African Skies issue mean? We'll have more on this.

   In the video, Agnès Marcaillou says that the UN works with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation -- she claims the UN trains them -- and Titov speaks of Bancroft, which numerous Somalia sources say is a company that works with US intelligence. We'll have more on this too -- for now, see this video, including Haq at the end.

  UNOPS' Paul Lucas' "Dear David" letter, dated December 9, 2013, also references sexual harassment. That involved, among other things, putting UN staff at risk by doing favors for "a girlfriend," and breaking the rules of Bax' own UNOPS camp.

The larger question is even when the UN conducts an investigation and announces a results, including case exoneration, can it be believed? On investigation into charges of gang rape by UN peacekeepers in Mali, the UN has told Inner City Press that the investigation is complete -- but not the result.

   Back on November 4, 2013, Inner City Press asked Anton Katz, Chair of the UN "Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination" about the Group's report on Somalia - and if he had met David Bax. (He had, in Cape Town.)

The report states for example that

"The Working Group was informed by UNMAS that to avoid this problem, their agreement with Bancroft requires that when conducting EOD and counter-IED operations, Bancroft employees must remain a minimum of 500 metres behind any front line. This type of rule might serve as an appropriate safeguard in other contracts as well... The Working Group notes that at least one employee of Bancroft pleaded, and was found, guilty in a South African court of, inter alia, recruiting persons for mercenary activities in Côte d’Ivoire and providing logistical support for the venture [See High Court of South Africa (Transvaal Provincial Division), case number A2850/03 of 2 and 20 May 2005 (ZAGPHC 248).]"

  Why are the UN, AMISOM and UNMAS working with Bancroft Global Development? What do they do together? Inner City Press has been informed by whistleblowers beyond Somalia that Bax has been part of the process by which genetic and DNA information from IED bombings have been transferred to US intelligence.

  There are also detailed accounts of Bax using UN and private contractor resources, without mandate, for a close friend. The problem here, it is reiterated, is that it put others at risk on Bax's whim. We'll have more on this - because the UN Secretariat says again and again that it puts staff safety first. This for example is the rationale, as Inner City Press alsoexclusively reported, for threatening to close down in New York the UN cafeteria and Dag Hammarskjold Library. 

  As with January Security Council president, Inner City Press offered thanks to Katz for the briefing for the new Free UN Coalition for Access, which will continue to push for increased transparency from the UN on cases like that of Bax, particuarly given the slated changing of the guard in the UN Spokesperson's office, click here for that. Watch this site.

   

UN Told Inner City Press David Bax Was Cleared in Somalia, But UNOPS Letter Shows Referral on African Skies Ltd, Bancroft Contractor

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, February 24 -- After the UN told Inner City Press that its Somalia de-mining boss David Bax was fully exonerated by an investigation by the UN Office of Project Services that followed an Inner City Press exclusive expose of Bax sharing information with US intelligence through Bancroft Global Development, Inner City Press has obtained a UNOPS letter to Bax that says "However, the Internal Audit and Investigations Group referred several issues to management, including your trip on an African Skies Limited flight."

  There is a problem here: as even the UN's report on mercenaries in Somalia notes, Bancroft has had a financial relationship with African Skies Limited, to provide security at the Mogadishu airport. Click here for UN report, see Paragraph 45. 

  So a favor from African Skies Limited is a favor from Bancroft, to which Bax gave information including genetic information from suicide bombs.

  UNOPS' Paul Lucas' "Dear David" letter, dated December 9, 2013, also references sexual harassment. That involved, among other things, putting UN staff at risk by doing favors for "a girlfriend," and breaking the rules of Bax' own UNOPS camp.

The larger question is even when the UN conducts an investigation and announces a results, including case exoneration, can it be believed? On investigation into charges of gang rape by UN peacekeepers in Mali, the UN has told Inner City Press that the investigation is complete -- but not the result.

   Back on November 4, 2013, Inner City Press asked Anton Katz, Chair of the UN "Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination" about the Group's report on Somalia - and if he had met David Bax. (He had, in Cape Town.)

The report states for example that

"The Working Group was informed by UNMAS that to avoid this problem, their agreement with Bancroft requires that when conducting EOD and counter-IED operations, Bancroft employees must remain a minimum of 500 metres behind any front line. This type of rule might serve as an appropriate safeguard in other contracts as well... The Working Group notes that at least one employee of Bancroft pleaded, and was found, guilty in a South African court of, inter alia, recruiting persons for mercenary activities in Côte d’Ivoire and providing logistical support for the venture [See High Court of South Africa (Transvaal Provincial Division), case number A2850/03 of 2 and 20 May 2005 (ZAGPHC 248).]"

  Why are the UN, AMISOM and UNMAS working with Bancroft Global Development? What do they do together? Inner City Press has been informed by whistleblowers beyond Somalia that Bax has been part of the process by which genetic and DNA information from IED bombings have been transferred to US intelligence.

  There are also detailed accounts of Bax using UN and private contractor resources, without mandate, for a close friend. The problem here, it is reiterated, is that it put others at risk on Bax's whim. We'll have more on this - because the UN Secretariat says again and again that it puts staff safety first. This for example is the rationale, as Inner City Press also exclusively reported, for threatening to close down in New York the UN cafeteria and Dag Hammarskjold Library. 

  As with January Security Council president, Inner City Press offered thanks to Katz for the briefing for the new Free UN Coalition for Access, which will continue to push for increased transparency from the UN on cases like that of Bax, particuarly given the slated changing of the guard in the UN Spokesperson's office, click here for that. Watch this site.

   

In Somalia, UN Clears UNMAS "Cowboy" Bax, Despite Its Own Report on Bancroft Global Development

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 6 -- Back on June 22, 2013, Inner City Press first reported complaints about Somalia UN Mine Action Service boss David Bax,  including his work alongside US-based Bancroft Global Development. 

  After that, the UN said Bax was being investigated by UNOPS, the UN Office of Project Services, and that it would have nothing to say until that investigation was completed.

   On November 4, 2013, Inner City Press asked Anton Katz, Chair of the UN "Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination" about the Group's report on Somalia - and if he had met David Bax. (He had, in Cape Town.)

The report states for example that

"The Working Group was informed by UNMAS that to avoid this problem, their agreement with Bancroft requires that when conducting EOD and counter-IED operations, Bancroft employees must remain a minimum of 500 metres behind any front line. This type of rule might serve as an appropriate safeguard in other contracts as well... The Working Group notes that at least one employee of Bancroft pleaded, and was found, guilty in a South African court of, inter alia, recruiting persons for mercenary activities in Côte d’Ivoire and providing logistical support for the venture [See High Court of South Africa (Transvaal Provincial Division), case number A2850/03 of 2 and 20 May 2005 (ZAGPHC 248).]"

  Why are the UN, AMISOM and UNMAS working with Bancroft Global Development? What do they do together? Inner City Press has been informed by whistleblowers beyond Somalia that Bax has been part of the process by which genetic and DNA information from IED bombings have been transferred to US intelligence.

  After Inner City Press first reported this -- and others have tried to rehabilitate Bax -- the UN repeated that UNOPS is investigating, and that it would have nothing to say in the interim.

  Now on January 6, after Inner City Press asked several times over the holiday, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq read out at the noon briefing that UNOPS finished its investigation of Bax and found "no misconduct." Really?   

  So, is it OK for the UN to share genetic information with US intelligence? Were Bax' action on the day of the attack on the compound, and the way he ran "his camp," acceptably to the UN? What is the message?

  As with January Security Council president, Inner City Press offered thanks to Katz for the briefing for the new Free UN Coalition for Access, which will continue to push for increased transparency from the UN on cases like that of Bax. Given what has been made public by whistleblowers, to merely say "no misconduct" is not enough. Watch this site.

   

UN Mercenaries Group Chief Met Bancroft Global Dev't in Somalia, David Bax in Cape Town: Still No Results of (Cover Up?) Probe

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 4 -- With the UN still providing no update on its investigation of Somalia UN Mine Action Service boss David Bax, first reported by Inner City Press, his work alongside US-based Bancroft Global Development arose Monday at the UN.

Inner City Press asked Anton Katz, Chair of the UN "Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination" about the Group's report on Somalia - and if he has met David Bax. (He has, in Cape Town.)

The report states for example that

"The Working Group was informed by UNMAS that to avoid this problem, their agreement with Bancroft requires that when conducting EOD and counter-IED operations, Bancroft employees must remain a minimum of 500 metres behind any front line. This type of rule might serve as an appropriate safeguard in other contracts as well... The Working Group notes that at least one employee of Bancroft pleaded, and was found, guilty in a South African court of, inter alia, recruiting persons for mercenary activities in Côte d’Ivoire and providing logistical support for the venture [See High Court of South Africa (Transvaal Provincial Division), case number A2850/03 of 2 and 20 May 2005 (ZAGPHC 248).]"

  Why are the UN, AMISOM and UNMAS working with Bancroft Global Development? What do they do together? Inner City Press has been informed by whistleblowers beyond Somalia that Bax has been part of the process by which genetic and DNA information from IED bombings have been transferred to US intelligence.

  After Inner City Press first reported this -- and others have tried to rehabilitate Bax -- the UN said that UNOPS is investigating, and that it would have nothing to say while it does. But the UN has still said nothing. UN investigation as a way to sweep things under the carpet?

  Katz was highly specific, distinguishing Mark Thatcher in Equatorial Guinea and the "Dogs of War" from privatized security in prisons. He discussed Syria and Jihadists, Libya, WEOG and tellingly at the request of UNCA's 2013 president Pamela Falk, drones. Will any of these answers to make-work questions ever see the light of day? Her electronics made noise, and she claimed to speak for "the UN correspondents" -- but that is not true.

  As with November's Security Council president, Inner City Press offered thanks for the briefing for the new Free UN Coalition for Access, which will continue to push for increased transparency from the UN on cases like that of Bax. Watch this site.

   

UN Doesn't Deny Bax in Somalia Gives Info to US, Says He Isn't Armed, But Denel? Third Follow Up on Exclusive

By Matthew Russell Lee, 3d Follow Up on Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, June 26 -- In Somalia, UN Mine Action Service chief David Bax passes information to US intelligence: a whistleblower in Mogadishu has alleged this and Inner City Press exclusively reported it on June 22, four days ago.

But despite multiple requests to different parts of the UN for a confirmation or denial, the UN has remained silent. Until now.

  On June 26, after the Free UN Coalition for Access re-directed the question from UNMAS about its chief Agnes Marcaillou to the Somalia Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN envoy Nicholas Kay did not answer Inner City Press on this), the following arrived:

Subject: Your questions on Somalia.
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 9:43 AM
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at] innercitypress.com

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations does not discuss internal communications or emails received with media correspondents. UNMAS personnel are not authorised to carry guns and do not do so.

  This is an evasive answer. The request was and is not only to confirm receipt by DPKO chief Herve Ladsous of the whistleblower's complaint but for a substantive confirmation or denial of whether UNMAS' David Bax provides evidence, including genetic information and parts of bombs, to US intelligence, including through the intermediary Bancroft Global Development. 

  But the UN will not answer -- yet. Instead, they have opened a witch hunt to try to find the whistleblower(s).

On the second part of the response, Inner City Press had asked about the UN's South African state owned military contractor Denel, paid by the UN in Somalia. (Inner City Press first wrote about this on June 19, here.)

   Beyond other photographs reviewed by Inner City Press, several are in the public domain, listing “unidentified foreigners” as part of the group going into the bombed compound. See here, here and here. The UN must explain this.

There are also complaints from a wider range of UN staff in Mogadishu, not only of favoritism by Bax but quid pro quo in hiring and accommodation, even... attempts at hypnotism. We'll have more on this -- because the UN must answer these questions. Watch this site.

  

Exclusive: In Somalia, UN Mine Action's Bax Gives Info to US, Travels Armed with Denel, Whistleblowers Tell Inner City Press

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, June 22 – In Somalia the UN Mine Action Service is passing along genetic information from bombings to US intelligence agencies, in a move some say has endangered the lives of UN personnel.

  In the wake of the deadly attack on the UN compound in Mogadishu, among the victims were three employees of South African state owned arms manufacturer Denel.

  At the UN in New York, Inner City Press asked UN Security Council president Mark Lyall Grant (video here from Minute 4:30) then UN spokesman Eduardo Del Bueyabout Denel. 

   The UN replied to Inner City Press, “Regarding your question at noon about the contractors killed in Mogadishu on Wednesday, we can confirm that the three contractors were employed by MECHEM, a demining company based in South Africa.”

Now Inner City Press has exclusively been provided by whistleblowers with detailed complaints about the UN Mine Action Service's David Bax, including that he shares both genetic information and physical evidence from bombings with American intelligence services, including through shadow private military contractor Bancroft Global Development.

  According to the whistleblowers, this combined with Bax and “his” Denel contractors traveling armed around Mogadishu leads to a perception that they and the UN have taken sides, and helps to make them a target.

  Earlier this month Inner City Press reported that the UN Development Program, involved with UNMAS and Bax, was soliciting private security services for the UN Common Compounds in Somaliland. While the Request for Proposal said these services would be unarmed, Inner City Press put questions to the UN that have yet to be answered.

The UN has told Inner City Press that while it does employee private military contractors, for example in Iraq, it is in an unarmed capacity. So why would Bax and the Denel / Mechem contractors be going around Mogadishu armed?

  There are other complaints and questions about Bax and UNMAS in Mogadishu which Inner City Press has put to the Director of UNMAS Agnes Marcaillou and to Dmitri Titov of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  DPKO's chief Herve Ladsous has said he will not answer Inner City Press' questions. These three are aware of the complaints. 

  Other questions to UN envoy to Mogadishu Nicholas Kay have gone unanswered. So too has a request for confirmation or denial sent to the UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS) e-mail address Bax listed for an April 2013 UN Mine Action conference.

  But the UN should answer about allegedly providing information to US intelligence services, about how South African Bax, pictured here with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, hired the South African state firm Denel, and why they go around armed.  

Here (above) is Bax at right with Ban as well as Qatar's Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser and his then chief of staff Mutlaq M. Al-Qahtani. by UN Photo, Mark Garten; genetic evidence and Bancroft not shown

  The whistleblowers describe Bax as “ruling over” the UN compound, abusing his power to decide who gets which accommodation and job, and even controlling and profiting from the sale of liquor in the UN compound's bar. 

  They describe a grisly video of this weeks bomb attack and its victims that Bax made and screened in this UN bar. They conclude, “he's going to get us all killed.” What will the UN's Herve Ladsous, the head of the Mine Action Service and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon do? Watch this site.