In Central African Republic, UN Doesn't Count Bodies or Know of Kony Search, If Djotodia Can Run

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 9 -- In the Central African Republic, the UN is either blind or dumb or both. How else to explain its inability Tuesday to answer either whether the search for Joseph Kony in CAR continues, or how many South African soldiers were killed, 13 or 23?

  Inner City Press put both questions to UN envoy Margaret Vogt, when she called in to Tuesday's noon briefing. Video here from Minute 21:34 and 28:45.

 Vogt was polite and in a sense honest: of Kony, she said it was not possible for her to say if the search continues, since the UN is not “on ground” in Obo (which Inner City Press has previously reported on).

  This is more honest than another arm of the UN, which insisted that the search for Kony continues even as both Uganda and the US said it has been suspended in CAR.

  On how many South African were killed, one wonders if it is that the UN does do “body counts,” as Vogt put it, or does wants to show up South Africa, which for example is set to be a component of the “intervention brigade” slated for Eastern Congo.

But if the UN doesn't know military, it should know the political. Inner City Press asked Vogt about Michel Djotodia being able to run for president in 18 months. Vogt said he said, under the Libreville and N'djamena agreements. But Djotodia spokesman say he CAN run. So who do you believe?

Outside the Security Council on Tuesday morning, a Chadian diplomat told Inner City Press he tried to go into the consultations on CAR, but couldn't get in. We are impacted, he said. UNbelievable. Watch this site.

Despite the Dying in Darfur, UN Takes Less Interest, US Fixed on Kony

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 24 -- A year ago the debate on Darfur and extending the mandate of the UN - African Union mission there was tense, with Permanent Representatives of the P5 countries clashing on how the resolution should be phrased.

   This year despite continued fighting in Darfur, spilling over into South Sudan and Southern Kordofan, there is decidedly less interest. 

  During Tuesday's consultations, three P5 Permanent Representatives never came, and the two that did left as soon as they had spoken in consultations.

   Meanwhile the Permanent Representative of Sudan Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman spoke at length in the chamber, then afterward exclusively to Inner City Press. 

  He denied that his country had bombed into South Sudan, while saying it has the right to bomb in its own borders against those who are rebelling.

   He and outgoing envoy Ibrahim Gambari made much of the LJM formation, created in a sense to negotiate with the government and headed by a former UN staff member, al Sissi Tijani. JEM and the other factions are not much talked about.

   Afterward Inner City Press asked July's Council president about how real LJM is or isn't, and about the factions who've joined the Sudan Revolutionary Front. 

  Osorio said it is complicated, adding that he and unnamed other Security Council members will be going to Darfur in September.

  Inner City Press has been there, in trailers in the El Fasher camp which now has a new mansion. Ibrahim Gambari declined to speak at the stakeout but indicated he'll have a discussion with the Press quite soon. Inner City Press asked him Tuesday about one of the posts it's heard that he may take. I am considering all of my options, Gambari answered.

  In the Chamber, Gambari mentioned a bombing near Tawila on July 18 - the same day the UN sent Inner City Press this:

Subject: Your question on Darfur
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Wed, Jul 18, 2012 at 12:22 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

On 16 July, UNAMID's Team Site in Tawilla reported heavy shooting and impacts at Kushina village (approximately 29km south east of Tawilla, North Darfur).

Reportedly, a Government of Sudan military helicopter was shot down by an unidentified faction, which led to a firefight between the Government and the faction.

 On the resolution, Deputy Permanent Representatives and political coordinators, not only of the Permanent Five members, last week had meetings until 8 pm, tinkering with the resolution.

  One of Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman's big points was that Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army should not be mentioned in the resolution. 

  Afterward he told Inner City Press, Uganda is a long way from Sudan, the problem should be solved there. But the LRA hasn't been there for years. Some say the UK is not adamant that the LRA be in the resolution, but the US is. Can you say, Kony 2012? Watch this site.