At UN, Inner City Press Asks of Boko Haram's Victims' Marginalization, UNCTC's Non-Saudi Funding

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 10 -- When the Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Center Jehangir Khan took questions on February 10, Inner City Press asked him about the comparative marginalization of the victims of Boko Haram, and supported a request for information on the Center's non-Saudi funders. Video here.

  Khan, who is also the Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, said he agreed about Boko Haram; he said the issue would be addressed in the February 11 Conference on the Human Rights of Victims of Terrorism. We'll see.

Back on October 21, 2015, after a UN Security Council closed-door meeting about the victims of terrorism, Inner City Press asked two minister from Spain and victims' representatives from Spain and of Yazidis about media coverage of terrorism, specifically about threats to censor such coverage for example in Turkey.

  Pari Ibrahim of the Free Yezidi Foundation said that in fact media coverage was helpful in letting people know about the outrage or genocide that began on August 3, 2014.

   ETA victim Mari Mar Blanco praised the conviction under Spanish law of a person who tweets apologies for terrorism. But how is that defined?

    Spain's Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz said the country's laws, directed at ETA, needed to be updated for Jihadists.

  Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo said ISIS is challenging the Sykes Picot Line, is holding territory and using the West's tools to recruit. At least three of the four, maybe more, seems directed at getting Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to censor social media posts deemed helpful to ISIS. But how will that be defined? Are for some states, is that really the motive?  We'll have more on this.

   Pari Ibrahim of the Free Yezidi Foundation (pictured above) also spoke of a filing with the International Criminal Court, to go after ISIS members who are nationals of states who have joined the ICC. Spain's Margallo spoke of a second International Criminal Court, just for terrorists. But wouldn't that also require that states join, or a referral from the Security Council? We aim to have more on this too.

After Ban Ki-moon Said to "Snub" Bring Back Our Girls in Nigeria, UN Replies to Inner City Press, Stands Behind Ban's Paris Read-outs Silent on CAR Rapes

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 27 -- Right after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Nigeria declined to meet with Bring Back Our Girls representatives, as reported by local media, Inner City Press on the morning of April 25 asked Ban's spokesperson's office:

"On the Secretary General's trip, please explain why the SG refused to meet with the Bring Back Our Girls groups. If necessary, here is a report: 'members of the group who thronged to Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, in anticipation of a meeting with the UN scribe at 6:30pm, were left dejected as he failed to show up for the meeting. It was learnt that 45 minutes after the group sent out e-mails inviting media houses to cover a proposed meeting with Mr. Ki-moon, they were told it will no longer hold.' Please explain, on deadline."[We say dissed, they say "snubbed."]

   Two days later, Ban's Spokesperson's Office instead of explaining the reported "snub' of BBOG, mentioned another meeting that included two members of the group, telling Inner City Press that "the Secretary-General met with a group of victims of Boko Haram violence in Nigeria on Monday 24 August. Two representatives of Bring Back our Girls were among that group."

  The UN Spokesperson's office provided two other responses -- reiterating its read-outs of Ban's meeting in France, which included no reference at all to the alleged rapes in Central African Republic, including by French troops, which Ban has said so concern him, and stating that the UN has tested for legionella, despite claiming that it is exempt from any such requirement:

On #3 [Aug 25 (3)], what we have is in the readout.

On #4 [Aug 25 (4)], testing was completed by 20 August.

 Here were those questions:

"Aug 25 (3) Also on the Secretary General's trip, and the UN read-out for the SG's meeting with President Francois Hollande, please explain what the SG meant by his "commitment in addressing issues of misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse, by UN peacekeepers,” including as regards the USG for Peacekeeping Mr Herve Ladsous, and explain why sexual abuse by French “peacekeepers” in the Sangaris force was not mentioned or included in the UN read-out.

"Aug 25 (4) On Legionnaires Disease, please state whether testing was conducted in the UN by the August 20 New York deadline."  Tweeted photo here.

  Also asked on August 25 but not answered, about South Sudan (Inner City Press coverage since, including the full text of Salva Kiir's reservations, here)

"Aug 25 (1) In South Sudan, what is the UN's response to MSF citing disease caused by lack of shelter and sanitation in the camps positioned within the United Nations base in Malakal? What is UNMISS and its UN partners doing? Also, please state UNMISS' and DPKO's awareness of an impending assault on Panyijjar county, Unity State.

  On August 27, Inner City Press asked more specifically about Panyijjar county. Watch this site.

Here is a question answered on August 24:

Q Aug 24 (1) In Sudan, it is reported that North Darfur authorities banned UNAMID flights. Please confirm or deny this, when it happened and the UN's understanding of why, and the UN's response.

Answer: "On 22 August, the Government of Sudan denied authorization for UNAMID flights to and from El Fasher, North Darfur, with the exception of one flight from Khartoum. Media reports thereafter alleged that this decision followed accusations by North Darfur authorities that UNAMID did not adequately coordinate the visit of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) with them, on 21 and 22 August. 

"UNAMID rejects these allegations and confirms that the Government of Sudan, including the authorities in North Darfur, was fully involved in preparing, coordinating and participating in the AUPSC visit to Darfur."

  While appreciated, what was the impact of banning flights to and from North Darfur? The UN answered Inner City Press' follow up question on the status of the Ban by saying its "understanding is that the flights are running now."

  Since then, UNAMID has told local media that there was no hinderance of flights. Is this covering up, like UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous did on rapes in Tabit in Darfur, and in Minova in DR Congo before that?

 Here are the four other August 24 questions, two responded to on August 25, the other two still unanswered:

Aug 24 (2) In Somalia, now that AMISOM (which is supported by UNSOA) has admitted killing civilians at Merka (or Marka) in late July, what is the UN's response and how will the UN human rights due diligence policy be implemented?

[Inner City Press on August 25 asked UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft about this; we hope to have more.]

Aug 24 (3) While in France, does the Secretary General or his team intend to inquire into the belated French investigation into the child sexual abuse alleged against French Sangaris forces in the Central African Republic?

Aug 24 (4) In DRC, it is reported that in Kinshasa earlier this month the authorities rounded up copies of the C-News newspaper (censorship) and that in July the director of Full Contact Radio station broadcasting in Kananga was taken into custody after a broadcast alleging governmental dysfunctions... In Uvira, in South Kivu province, in August 2015, there was the arrest of Brinal Nundun, a journalist from Channel 7 TV, who was reporting on Burundian refugees in Uvira at the headquarters of the NGO "Action Ku  Sidon." His equipment was seized. What is the UN, DPKO or MONUSCO response to this?

 On August 25 at 5 pm, this UN response was received: "On your question on the DRC: MONUSCO continues to monitor closely the human rights situation in the DRC, including the situation with regard to  journalists. Using its good offices to facilitate an environment conducive to a peaceful electoral process, the Mission continues to encourage the Government to uphold fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech and freedom of the press. For example, the advocacy efforts of the Mission contributed recently to the release of a journalist who was in police custody in Uvira territory, South Kivu."

Aug 24 (5) It is said that Burundi police or security forces are to be deployed to MINUSMA in Mali. Please confirm or deny, and if confirm, state what screening would be in place given recent events in Burundi. Also, what is the UN's response to Amnesty International's report of Burundi security forces using torture?

  On August 25 at 5 pm the response below was received, and Inner City Press separately reported it as well:

"On your question on Burundi: There are currently no Military troops from Burundi in the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA). As of 31 July, there were 14 Police officers from Burundi serving as individual police officers in MINUSMA police component. No deployment of Burundi police officers to MINUSMA is planned for the foreseeable future. Following reports alleging human rights abuses on the part of some elements of the Burundian police, a decision has been taken to suspend the deployment of Burundian police officers to peacekeeping missions."

   A follow up has been asked. The UN is literally and figuratively on vacation, churning out canned statement but not answers. We'll continue on this.
 
  With the UN embroiled in rape scandals, exposed as playing host to spying for the US National Security Agency while its Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave a speech to 150 bankers later deemed “private,” is this dysfunction a product of the press not wanting answers or the UN not wanting to give them?

  On August 17, Inner City Press asked the UN's spokesperson for the day, Vannina Maestracci, about UN rapes in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo before it, about the spying for the NSA and about Ban's speech on August 14 to 150 people at the Buffalo headquarters of M&T Bank, subject to government charges on unfair lending and on money laundering. Video here.

   UN Associate Spokesperson Maestracci began by saying that the UN's contracts with AT&T, which turned over all information to the US, would not be made public. From the UN transcript:
Inner City Press: Would it be fair to assume that UN contractors paid by the UN are assumed not to be spying on people inside the UN?

Associate Spokesperson Maestracci:  I don't know what the procurement contract entails, and I don't like assuming as a general rule.  Oleg.

Inner City Press:  Can we get a copy of the contract?

Associate Spokesperson Maestracci:  I doubt it.  Oleg.

 Inner City Press has since researched this and found a UN written policy militating for release of the contracts. Former UN Office of Internal Oversight Services chiefInga Britt Ahlenius, when she left, wrote to Ban that “I see no visible effort to deliver on your stated commitment to increased transparency.”

   Next on the UN rapes in CAR, on which Maestracci had read out a statement that UNICEF was providing the victim legal advice, Inner City Press asked

Inner City Press: You read out on UNICEF that they purport to be providing legal advice to the victim.  And I guess I just wonder, given that the… that the legal problem is caused by the UN system's own invocation of immunity, what advice are they giving, to sue those responsible or… it just seems like… isn't it kind of a conflict for the UN system to be the one providing, purporting to provide legal advice to a person victimized by the UN system who can't get justice because of UN immunity.  So, what's the advice, I guess I'm saying…?

Associate Spokesperson:  I'm not sure what the advice is because I'm here, not with UNICEF in the [Central African Republic], but I think they are showing all the possible avenues that she has and what she can do.  I mean, I think it's fairly… people might not know what these avenues are.  And it's important…

Inner City Press:  Can she sue UN?

Associate Spokesperson:  Can I speak?  And it's important for people to raise awareness and to make sure that they do know where to go.

Inner City Press: Where should she go?  I mean, I'm just saying it seems… it's a contradiction because if she tries to sue…
Associate Spokesperson:  And where…

Inner City Press:  …she's told that it's immune, that the UN is immune.

Associate Spokesperson:  That's not true.  There's an investigation going on.  And that, you know, it is going on.  Why don't we let it go on and see what it comes up with?

Inner City Press:  That's the second question I wanted to ask.
Associate Spokesperson:  You are so not interested in the answers.

Inner City Press: Yeah, I am interested. I wasn't getting an answer.  That's the problem.

Associate Spokesperson:  Erol, please.

 Vine here.

   So, for the second time Maestracci cut off the question, this time with the statement, “You are so not interested in the answers.” But even when Inner City Press emailed questions after the briefing to Maestracci and Ban's lead spokesman, no answers were received. This is today's UN.

  Further on the UN rapes, now in the DRC Congo, Inner City Press asked:

Inner City Press: Just for the record, the answer I was asking for is what legal advice UNICEF gave.  But, I hear… since you said to wait, I wanted to ask you this.  In 2012… I don't know if it was in this room or a previous UN briefing room… there was discussion of the rape of two girls in the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] by three… they believe they're from Uruguay but three peacekeepers in the DRC.  This was alleged by Dr. Victoria Fontan of the UN University of Peace in Costa Rica.  It was said there would be an investigation, but nothing has ever been said of either the peacekeepers being held responsible or the SRSG [Special Representative of the Secretary-General] of the Mission at the time or DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations].  So, I wanted to know… I'm asking you, I don't expect you necessarily to know from the podium, but this is an answer I'm extremely interested in — what happened?

Associate Spokesperson:  I don't know about the specific case obviously from 2012.  But, I think you've heard what the Secretary-General has been saying all of last week and what he's, what he's been pushing when it comes to both misconduct and… including… sorry, misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse.  I mean, he's been very strong.  He has shown his resolve to push this forward and to make sure that there is, you know, institutional accountability, responsibility, but also that Member States provide us with the information that we ask because, as you know, there is a limit, some things are up to Member States.  But, obviously, he's very determined to make progress in this, in this area for the victims of misconduct.

Inner City Press:  But, what happened in this case?

Associate Spokesperson:  I don't know.  I just said that.
Inner City Press: I'm asking, can you ask DPKO?  The two victims’ names were Gisele and Esperanz…

Associate Spokesperson:  Sure.  Why don't you send me an e-mail rather than saying everything here.  Oleg.

   Another cut off. And to the detailed email sent after the briefing, no answer at all. This is today's or Ban's UN. Here was the final exchange of the day, about Ban Ki-moon's speech to bankers:

Inner City Press: there was an article in The Buffalo News saying that the Secretary-General had gone to Buffalo and given a speech in front of 150 people in the M&T Bank headquarters for a couple of reasons.  One… I'm interested because M&T Bank has a bank merger that's been stalled out for three years due to allegations of money-laundering and lending discrimination, but mostly I wanted to know, did he give such a speech?  Can we get the text of the speech?  Why wasn't it given in advance?  And did he raise these issues about lending fairness and money laundering in his discussions with the CEO of the bank?

Associate Spokesperson:  So this was mainly a private visit.  He went to visit Buffalo and Niagara Falls, actually, and he was invited by someone he's known for a long time to address this… this group of people that you've mentioned.  We didn't put it out, again, because it was mostly, mainly, largely, a private visit.  He was with his family over the weekend.

Inner City Press: Were the people there all employees of the bank?  Was…

Associate Spokesperson:  No, I think it was community leaders from all over Buffalo, if I understand correctly.

Inner City Press: Do you have the remarks?

Associate Spokesperson:  I'll check, but, again:  mainly private visit and I don't think we'd be sharing them.  Anything else?  Great.  Have a good afternoon.

   No answers. This is today's or Ban's UN, UNtransparent and worse - and the Free UN Coalition for Access opposes it. Watch this site.
   

New Zealand UN Mission Twitter Q&A Replies on Boko Haram & Climate, Not on Burundi Not To Some From NZ

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 2 -- As he took over the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July, New Zealand's Permanent Representative to the UN Gerard van Bohemen on July 2 held a Twitter Q&A. Many questions, some answers. A beginning.

  Inner City Press asked repeatedly, what happened with or to the Burundi draft Press Statement van Bohemen had referred to earlier on July 2, video here. That question was not answered.

 But another Inner City Press question, about whether the UN will support the fight of the regional Multi-National Joint Task Force against Boko Haram, was responded to by van Bohemen: "Good question. #BokoHaram will likely be discussed in consultations on @UN_UNOWA next week. SRSG Chambas to brief."

  While diplomatically calling that one a "good question," van Bohemen called it a "great question" for a UN staffer to ask what the wooden (Kiwi) bird in the Mission's photos was.

  Likewise, the UN Mission of Lithuania (on the Security Council with New Zealand) was answered, and first; Jordan (also on the Council) was re-tweeted.

  While @350nz's question was answered, some other questions from New Zealand went UNanswered, for example:

"How will NZ meet its commitments to UNSCR 1325 & use #NZprez to pursue active solutions to women, peace & security?"

"why does NZ still import from phosphate from Western Sahara given Corell's legal opinion of 2002?"

Ambassador van Bohemen earlier on July 2 took questions about his Program of Work for the month. Video here, more here.

  It begins for real on July 7 with Bosnia and Herzegovina, on which van Bohemen said he hopes the draft resolution on Srebrenica can be adopted. (There are, Inner City Press understands, two drafts and a wide gulf).

 Jumping to July 9, there will be a briefing and then closed door consultations on Burundi, where for now Pierre Nkurunziza is set to go for a controversial third term on July 15.

  Inner City Press asked van Bohemen if the "product" being worked on is a Presidential Statement (it's a Press Statement) and if it might address the third term and postponing the July 15 voting. Wait and see, van Bohemen said.

  Van Bohemen said that the UN's Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura will be in New York next week and he will meet the envoy, as President of the Security Council. Then de Mistura will return to New York and brief the full Council on July 28.

  On July 14 there's the mission in the DR Congo -- van Bohemen, it turns out, was his country's deputy ambassador at the UN during the Rwanda genocide, and negotiated the statute of the ICTR International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda on which we'll have more -- and on July 16 there's Cypus, Somalia and Eritrea.

  On July 22 there's Iraq and on July 23, the day long open debate on the Middle East (that is, Palestine.) New Zealand's big debate is about SIDS, small island developing states, on July 30 with its foreign minister. At the UN on July 1, the representative of Barbados proposed renaming SIDS as "LODS" -- large ocean developing states.

  New Zealand's many footnotes for the months, items that could be raised, include Ukraine, Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and reviews of peacebuilding and Peace Operations.

  Inner City Press asked van Bohemen if under his Presidency the Security Council will seek information about peacekeepers' sexual abuse, for example in the Central African Republic where Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has had to convene an "Independent" Panel incuding Hassan Jallow of the ICTR. On this, van Bohemen said there is interest in the Council.

 On June 30 van Bohemen spoke off the cuff about the problems he sees in the Council -- divisions on Syria and Yemen, for example -- and proposed that in July all 15 Permanent Representatives commit to actually talk about the resolutions and statements the Council issues. On that, he held a breakfast with Ambassadors to beginning the talking, on which we'll have more.

   Here is Inner City Pro's transcription of van Bohemen remarks at what's called the wrap-up session which ended Malaysia's Presidency for June of the Security Council:

My team was so keen that I should offer my personal reflections that they declined to give me [notes], so I'm going to see how we go. We did have some very good debates this month... I thought the discussion of peace-building was also very interesting and again exposes some of the areas we need to be prepared to go into, if we’re going to make the best use of the machinery that covers this area, beyond this Council.

We also had good results on MINUSMA and UNAMID, even though there were some quite deep seated differences amongst delegations about aspects of whether those mandates needed to be adjusted. I thought it was good that we managed to get over those differences and adopt them as a united Council. I do hope, as I said yesterday, that this new mandate for UNAMID provides an opportunity in particular for a better relationship between the government of Sudan and this Council.

But if we look behind the formal outcomes, what we achieved this month, and look at problems of the world, we have to acknowledge we haven’t done all that well. On Syria, Yemen, and Libya, we have got real problems. There are peace talks fitfully under way in Libya, perhaps underway in Yemen, and nothing at all in Syria. We have real problems in Burundi, which is demonstrating how difficult it is to get engaged in prevention, if the other party doesn’t want to talk to you, it’s very difficult to be an engaged participant. And that is a real difficulty. And we’ve just heard some graphically horrible statistics about what’s happening in South Sudan.

These are situations that reflect very badly on all of us and I don’t mean just the member of the Council, but I mean as an international community. There are things about the Council which I think we can properly take on our shoulders but we also have to admit that there are real limits as to what the Council can do. If you look in your quiver to see what arrows you can fire, there aren’t that many, particularly if other countries aren’t prepared to put their troops on the line, if people aren’t prepared to authorize more aggressive use of force. And even if they were, we know how difficult it is to actually achieve in these outcomes. So I don’t want to say it’s all about the Council’s problems. It isn’t.

But turning to what’s behind that, in particular if you look at Syria, we have a real problem, because the Council is divided. Similar divisions are playing out in Yemen. Because of those divisions, we are not able to really talk to each other, but instead score points. That’s not helpful. As to the way we go about our business, some comments have already been made to this, and I want to endorse entirely what the ambassador from the United Kingdom has said, about the need to engage more informally. After all, these are informal consultations in that room, and yet they’ve managed to build up a cadre of practice that is so self-denying that it’s unbelievable at times, as is what you can and can’t talk about it, or how you can talk about it.

I also agree with the delegation of Spain, that the business of pen holding and how resolutions are negotiated is an issue we need to think about. One option might be the co-pen-holder proposal, but at least I would ask the Permanent members to think if you are one of the Five how it looks when the resolution comes from one of the five, to the five, and then to the ten, and then that’s going to be put to the vote in a day or two. This isn’t the most useful way of engagement.

I also think we as ambassadors have a responsibility to engage more in the products we negotiate, which are negotiated and adopted. While of course we recognize the great work done by experts and political coordinators, we in the end are responsible for the products of this council. And how often do we really talk about them? How often do we actually have a conversation as ambassadors about what we are doing? I really believe we need to do that, to reach down and say, let’s bring this to the room and talk about it, as a group.

So, there’s a kind of sneak preview of the things I would like to explore next month when I’m the President. I don’t know how I’ll get on, but I do hope you’ll help me. Thank you.

   Inner City Press (and InnerCityPro.com) will be covering the Security Council closely. Watch them.

   

On Boko Haram, Still No UN Security Council Action on Multinational Joint Task Force, Chapter VII & Funding Questions

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 11-- The long-delayed UN Security Council resolution on Boko Haram and the Multi-National Joint Task Force has still not been adopted, two months and counting since the French presidency of the Council in which it was predicted.

  Inner City Press is informed by the Permanent Representative of one of the MNJTF countries that the hold up has been the change of government in Nigeria, and continuing questions under Buhari whether Nigeria would accept a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, or only Chapter VI. But where is the funding?

  On June 11 the head of the UN Office on Central African Abdoulaye Bathily told the Security Council that 

“Boko Haram remained a serious threat to the Lake Chad Basin region. The dire humanitarian situation in this region, resulting from attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram, continued to affect the population, including hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Cameroon and Chad. Insecurity and insufficient resources continued to strain the already stretched response capacities of governments and UN entities in the affected countries.

  “The Economic Community of Central African States demonstrated its commitment to address the Boko Haram threat during several Summits of Heads of State and Government. The deployment of Chadian groups to the border areas of Cameroon and Nigeria and the recent inauguration of the Headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force on Boko Haram signaled increasing cooperation between States in the fight against Boko Haram.

  “Military operations have put Boko Haram on the defensive, but recent attacks by the terrorist group highlight the need for the affected states to remain vigilant and engaged. While the fight against Boko Haram is not over, we must start looking ahead to the stabilization phase in order to secure military gains. This will involve international support" --

 But where is the international support?
  
  Back on March 30 Inner City Press asked French Ambassador Francois Delattre if it is agreed that the resolution, which faces other issues about the trust fund and financing, should be under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

  Delattre reiterated that negotiations continued; he is understood to later have told another diplomat that consultations at the Deputy Permanent Representative or Permanent Representative level would be needed. Nothing came of it.

Since then the scandal of France's Sangaris force in the Central African Republic has broken and continues to develop...

  Back on January 19, with Boko Haram reaching beyond Nigeria, Chad has sent its forces into Cameroon. Inner City Press asked Chad's ambassador to the UN if his country wants a UN resolution and UN funding.

  Yes, he said, unfortunately the Security Council has yet to ask but is expected to adopt a Presidential Statement later on January 19 (see below.)

  A Presidential Statement, of course, doesn't provide any funding for soldiers.

  Back on December 8, Inner City Press reported on the push by  Chad, Cameroon and others to get a UN Security Council resolution. They hoped for it that month, but later other Council members told Inner City Press of resistance from members who wanted to see more details; theses sources complained of Security Council double standards.

  Chad, which already expressed anger that the UN's "Sahel" office is not headquartered in one of the Sahel countries and at being taken for granted by, among others, its predecessor as Security Council president, still seems ready to push for a resolution - and funding.  

  The Presidential Statement read out past 6 pm on January 19 urged more planning, while praising Chad or at least the vote in Chad's National Assembly. The rush was before a January 20 meeting in Niger. What's that phrase? "Show me the money."

 The Security Council's January 19 Presidential Statement, S/PRST/2015/4, "takes note of the decision of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Member States and Benin to operationalize the Multinational Joint Task Force, including through the establishment of a joint Headquarters and the deployment of national contingents, to conduct military operations against Boko Haram.”

   It "welcomes the vote by the National Assembly of Chad on 16 January 2015 which authorized Chadian armed troops and security forces to assist Cameroonian and Nigerian soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.”

   And it “welcomes plans for a regional meeting in Niamey, Niger, on 20 January 2015 to discuss the regional response to the threat posed by Boko Haram. The Security Council urges the LCBC Member States and Benin to undertake further planning toward the sustainable, viable and effective operationalization of the Multinational Joint Task Force.”

 Doesn't sustainable mean money? Watch this site.

   

On Boko Haram UN Security Council Draft, Chapter VII of UN Charter Not Yet Agreed To, Inner City Press is Told, Funding Questions

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 30 -- The long-delayed UN Security Council resolution on Boko Haram and the Multi-National Joint Task Force has still not been adopted, with one day remaining in France's presidency of the Council.

  Inner City Press on March 30 asked French Ambassador Francois Delattre if it is agreed that the resolution, which faces other issues about the trust fund and financing, should be under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

  Delattre reiterated that negotiations continue; he is understood to later have told another diplomat that consultations at the Deputy Permanent Representative or Permanent Representative level will be needed. He said that passage during France's March presidency is now unlikely.

  Inner City Press is informed that Nigeria is not on board with Chapter VII; others name other nay-sayers within the Western P3, along when Inner City Press asked it was told that these will follow what the African members want -- one of which is, of course, Nigeria. Watch this site.

  Back on January 19, with Boko Haram reaching beyond Nigeria, Chad has sent its forces into Cameroon. Inner City Press asked Chad's ambassador to the UN if his country wants a UN resolution and UN funding.

  Yes, he said, unfortunately the Security Council has yet to ask but is expected to adopt a Presidential Statement later on January 19 (see below.)

  A Presidential Statement, of course, doesn't provide any funding for soldiers.

  Back on December 8, Inner City Press reported on the push by  Chad, Cameroon and others to get a UN Security Council resolution. They hoped for it that month, but later other Council members told Inner City Press of resistance from members who wanted to see more details; theses sources complained of Security Council double standards.

  Chad, which already expressed anger that the UN's "Sahel" office is not headquartered in one of the Sahel countries and at being taken for granted by, among others, its predecessor as Security Council president, still seems ready to push for a resolution - and funding.  

  The Presidential Statement read out past 6 pm on January 19 urged more planning, while praising Chad or at least the vote in Chad's National Assembly. The rush was before a January 20 meeting in Niger. What's that phrase? "Show me the money."

 The Security Council's January 19 Presidential Statement, S/PRST/2015/4, "takes note of the decision of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Member States and Benin to operationalize the Multinational Joint Task Force, including through the establishment of a joint Headquarters and the deployment of national contingents, to conduct military operations against Boko Haram.”

   It "welcomes the vote by the National Assembly of Chad on 16 January 2015 which authorized Chadian armed troops and security forces to assist Cameroonian and Nigerian soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.”

   And it “welcomes plans for a regional meeting in Niamey, Niger, on 20 January 2015 to discuss the regional response to the threat posed by Boko Haram. The Security Council urges the LCBC Member States and Benin to undertake further planning toward the sustainable, viable and effective operationalization of the Multinational Joint Task Force.”

 Doesn't sustainable mean money? Watch this site.

   

UN Said to Give Boko Haram Post to Onanga-Anyanga, Burundi Trip Controlled

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, March 9 -- When the UN gives out high positions it announces them -- usually. 

  Sometimes Inner City Press is contacted by whistleblowing UN staff or diplomats who say they cannot believe that the UN gave a job without disclosing it. So it was with Augustine Mahiga being quietly named an adviser to the UN Department of Political Affairs, here. Now this:

   Parfait Onanga-Anyanga of Gabon, out of a UN job since December when the UN's Mission in Burundi shut down -- and a nice guy, by the way -- has been made the UN's coordinator on Boko Haram, sources exclusively tell Inner City Press, with the UN having made no public announcement.

   Inner City Press learned this two weeks ago, and waited at each day's noon briefing for the announcement to be made. On March 9, the announcement was of a new head of OCHA, Stephen O'Brien of the UK, analyzed here. With the Security Council now on its way to the Central African Republic, Addis Ababa and then Burundi, Inner City Press runs this story. 

   As noted, the Security Council's French-drafted “Terms of Reference” for the trip to Burundi -- which Inner City Press put online here -- didn't even mention the extrajudicial killings in Cibitoke. 

  For all previous Security Council trips, UN resident correspondent were told if they were interested in covering the trip to contact the UN Spokesperson's Office (although as reported, the French mission then exercised a veto on which journalists could go).

  This time it was said journalists had to directly contact the French Mission to the UN, and only that mission. There seemed to be no point. Now after that, it is said that Angola is a co-sponsor, with the US tri-sponsoring the Burundi leg. Inner City Press was asked, “Have you seen the US embassy in Bjumbura?” We'll have more on all this.

   

Taking Over UN Security Council for March, French PR Delattre Takes No Question on Burundi, Mali or CAR, “I Have to Run” - Trip Terms of Reference Here

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 3 -- When French Ambassador Francois Delattre said he would answer answers about his upcoming month as UN Security Council president, it seemed that Central African Republic and Burundi, to which Delattre has planned and controlled a Council trip he calls important, and former French colonies on the Council's agenda like Mali and Cote d'Ivoire could be asked about.

   But no.

  Instead, Delattre's press attache steered between Agence France Presse and Le Monde, Gulf media and the Reuters wire which had already planted a Libya naval embargo question with the UNCA head for whom the first question was set aside.  (The Free UN Coalition for Access opposes such self-serving set-asides.)

  No question was taken about any of the former French colonies which fill up the agenda of the Security Council and of UN Peacekeeping, which France has controlled four times in a row.

 There is a history here, which one hoped would be just that, history, but which there will be other times to review. Will Delattre always "have to run"?

  (Inner City Press has asked questions at all of the last Program of Work press conferences held by other presidencies, going backwards: China, Chile, Chad, Australia, etc.)

   Recently under Herve Ladsous, who relatedly refuses Press questions, UN Peacekeeping has hit new lows, with for example an OIOS investigation showing that Deputy Permanent Representative Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire has taken bribes to sell UN post in MONUSCO in the DR Congo -- which has again refused to fight the FDLR -- and in MINUSTAH in Haiti. 

  That document -- in French -- Inner City Press has put online here, as credited by, for example, The Independent (UK).

  Delattre said that the anti-Boko Haram Multi National Joint Task Force is very important to France. But in March 3 Program of Work is it only a footnote - and, significantly, it was not even a footnote in France's draft Program of Work of February 24, which Inner City Press published here.

  At the end, Inner City Press said clearly, “One question on Burundi?” It chose that because the Security Council is traveling there this month, and France “has the pen” on the country. 

  But Delattre shrugged and said, in English, “I have to run.”

  Here are France's draft “Terms of Reference” for Burundi and Central African Republic (and the African Union visit) which were leaked to Inner City Press by a country not enamored by France's domination of peacekeeping for its former colonies:

France's African Trip Draft "Terms of Reference," Burundi, CAR, African Union by Matthew Russell Lee

 What about the Cibitoke massacre in / by Burundi? We'll have more on this.

   

As China Heads UNSC, Inner City Press Asks Liu Jieyi Asks of Boko Haram and Burundi, FUNCA Asks For Q&A Stakeouts

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 3 -- With China taking over the UN Security Council presidency for February, Chinese Permanent Representative Liu Jieyi on February 3 fielded questions from the media. Video here and embedded below.

  Inner City Press, after requesting that he hold question and answer stakeouts after Council consultations, asked Ambassador Liu about the regional fight against Boko Haram, and about Burundi being in the footnotes of the Program of Work for the month.

   Ambassador Liu said that China supports African countries' "rising up" against terrorism and Boko Haram and stands ready to support any such request, saying that other countries should "rally around" it. Inner City Press has previously reported on Chad's request for a resolution. How much longer?

  On Burundi, Ambassador Liu explained that items are put in the footnotes at the request of a Council member, and expressed a desire that Burundi progress with reconciliation, economic and social development (the elections are upcoming.) Other items in the footnotes for this month are Ukraine, Mali and the Central African Republic.

   Ambassador Liu said that no Council member has yet expressed an intention to table a resolution about Palestine in February. He was asked if the debate scheduled for February 23 is targeted at any country and said no. He answered a final question about poverty reduction by referring to the post-2015 development goals, noting however that these are beyond the mandate of the Security Council.

   Yemen will be considered on February 11 -- who will be in charge them? The son of Ali Saleh? The Houthis? Iraq will be considered on February 17; current UN envoy Mladenov is, as Inner City Press first reported on January 30, slated to move to replace Robert Serry as UN Special Coordinator on the Middle East. So who will replace Mladenov in Iraq? Watch this site.

Footnote: The request that Security Council presidents give a summary of closed-door consultations, and take questions on that topic, is one that the Free UN Coalition for Access had made and will continue to make to each incoming Security Council president. Countries' willingness to explain the Security Council's working so that the public, particularly the impacted public, can understanding is not always what knee-jerk coverage of the Council would have one believe. Watch this site.

   

IMF Tells Inner City Press That Nigeria, Hit By Oil Prices, May Need a Program, Welcome to Apply - UN Security Council Cheap on Boko Haram?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 19 -- The International Monetary Fund said that in response to fallen oil prices, “Nigeria will have to adjust” and “might need a program from the Fund,” IMF chief economic Olivier Blanchard answered Inner City Press from Beijing on January 20.

   To the IMF's World Economic Outlook Update press conference, Inner City Press submitted this question: “Please summarize what the decline in oil prices may mean for countries in Africa, and what the IMF is prepared to do about those countries negatively impacted.”

    As the second online question taken, this question was put to Blanchard, who responded:

“Most African countries are importers and so are helped. Some countries are not and the main example is Nigeria. Nigeria will have to adjust. I do not know at this stage whether they can adjust on their own or they might need a program from the Fund. If they did any member is welcome to come at this stage I have no information about it.”

  Earlier on January 19, the UN Security Council issued a Presidential Statement about, but not funding, the fight against Boko Haram. Security Council sources leaving the meeting told Inner City Press that for funding, those in the region -- i.e. Nigeria -- should be looked to first.

  But if Nigeria may even need to apply for an IMF program, is it reasonable for the powers in the UN and it Permanent Five members of the Security Council to expect it to be entire responsible for fighting Boko Haram?

  We'll have more on this.

Footnote: while Blanchard's "main example" was Nigeria, what about Angola? What about Equatorial Guinea? To the north, what about Libya? Questions, questions...