by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
UN GATE, Sept 7 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? While its UNMISS Mission steals a radio station and land by the Juba airport, it stands by as Riek Machar is disappeared - South Sudan and UNMISS, about which his spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuse all Press questions. Inner City Press has asked them, and others, about the newest sex abuse case against the UN there. Now this, from a UN whistleblower sent to Inner City Press:
Dear Matthew Russell Lee,
Nicholas Fink Haysom, a South African national and the Special Envoy in South Sudan, has been absent from the mission for the past 6 months. This prolonged absence has left the UN’s largest peacekeeping operation effectively headless, in open violation of the Organization’s own rules, which do not permit a Special Envoy to remain outside the mission for such an extended period.
His Deputy, who had been carrying the weight of political negotiations, was recently elevated to the rank of USG and has since departed—leaving behind a vacuum of leadership and capacity. What remains is a mission adrift: directionless, ineffective, and paralyzed at a moment when South Sudan urgently requires strong, credible international engagement. Rather than stepping aside to allow capable leadership, the SRSG has attempted to “govern” virtually from an undisclosed location. Sources confirm he is gravely ill, suffering from heart complications and limited mobility, leaving him incapable of performing even the most basic functions of his office. His tenure has been defined not by progress but by inaction, self-promotion, and a hollow reliance on the legacy of Nelson Mandela and his reputation as a so-called “constitutional lawyer.”
His actual contribution to the peace process has been negligible—if not outright counterproductive. This is not an isolated failure. Haysom was previously expelled from Somalia for negligence and weak leadership, yet the UN continues to recycle him into sensitive political roles—this time at the age of 80.
Such decisions lay bare the Organization’s political hypocrisy and managerial bankruptcy: senior officials are shielded by connections and patronage while accountability is applied only to the powerless. Meanwhile, Haysom continues to draw an annual net salary of nearly USD 160,837—collected for half a year without producing results.
Reports suggest that his office staff, including his Chief of Staff, spend much of their time preparing coffee and tea to keep him alert, as he seldom remains at his desk for more than two hours before retreating to his bed. At times, he reportedly naps in his office chair. This spectacle insults the dedicated staff on the ground and further erodes the credibility of the mission.
A USG is supposed to serve as the senior executive leader of a UN department or office—translating the Secretary-General’s agenda into tangible results, leading staff, advising on global policy, and representing the Organization with host government officials. Yet in this case, the role has been reduced to a figurehead shielded from scrutiny and accountability.
Sound like Guterres himself. Inner City Press has nothing against Haysom, but UN spokespeople - 40 people, in fact - have refused to respond in any way to repeated written questions about Haysom's absence. Today's UN is rotten.
Guterres, they say, should end censorship. Application was made on June 19, 2025. Watch this site.
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