ICP Asks IMF About Its Egypt's Program and Human Rights, IMF Ignores like Questions on Guinea Bissau & G77

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 8 -- When the International Monetary Fund held its biweekly briefing on December 8, Inner City Press submitted a number of questions, about Egypt:

"In Egypt, is it the IMF's understanding that none of the first tranche will be used to pay off old loans? Also, any comment on the arrest of Azza Soliman, amid the crackdown on civil society and the media?"

  IMF Spokesman Gerry Rice lumped most of the online questions together - with the exception of Reuters, which he named in order to offer a defense of “Madame Lagarde” - and on Egypt's recent tariff increases said these are NOT part of the IMF's program.

 Rice blamed the tariff increases, rather, on the World Trade Organization. He added that the IMF's staff report and other documents should be released very soon, in the next few days. We'll have more on that.

   Rice did not answer, or even take, these Inner City Press questions:

On Guinea-Bissau, by when does the IMF expect authorities to entirely unwind the bailouts of Banco da Africa Ocidental and Banco da União?

At the UN the Group of 77 and China has said of the IMF that “a new quota formula is needed that further shifts quota shares to developing countries while protecting the quota share of the poorest countries.” Does MD Lagarde agree?

  We'll have more on this - and, we hope, on the World Bank - in the near future.

Back on October 27, Inner City Press asked three questions including:

"On Yemen, what is the IMF's view and monitoring of President Hadi's action to move the Central Bank to Aden, including impact on the humanitarian situation?"

IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice read out the question and then said moving the bank is complicated, that the bank has done a good job. Beyond the Vine video of complete answer here.

Amid Guinea Bissau Stand-Off, “Orchestra” in UNSC with Angola, Nigeria Ambassador Joy Ogwu Tells Inner City Press

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 12 -- The list of problems the UN can't solve or even impact grows ever longer, fromSyria down to Burundi. But what about Guinea-Bissau, now that both Nigeria (that is, ECOWAS) and Angola, key to the Portuguese-speaking alliance CPLP, are on the Security Council?

  Inner City Press put the question to the Council's president for August, Nigeria's Joy Ogwu. She called it a good question, and said that now it is like an “orchestra” in the Security Council on Guinea Bissau. In the past, on the Council was Portugal - which is now threatening to cut aid to Guinea Bissau; still in the mix is Brazil, as chair of the UN Peacebuilding Configuration for Guinea-Bissau.

  Previous UN envoy Jose Ramos Horta has moved on, to head a panel on increasingly discredited UN Peacekeeping-- he still says he's “alarmed” by development in Guinea Bissau, adding there is no reason to dissolve the government, threatened by President José Mário Vaz over the objection of Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira among others.

  From the orchestra, that is, from the Security Council, here was the Press Statement Ambassador Joy Ogwu read out at the Council stakeout on August 12:

The members of the Security Council were briefed on 10 August 2015 by Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, on the situation in Guinea-Bissau.

The members of the Security Council took note of the ongoing tension between (the President and the Prime Minister, which threatens to undermine the progress made in Guinea-Bissau since the restoration of constitutional order following elections in 2014. They further underscored that the Bissau-Guinean people deserve stable, inclusive and co-operative institutions that act in the best interests of all Bissau-Guineans.

The members of the Security Council call on all of Guinea-Bissau’s political leadership, including the President and Prime Minister, to resume dialogue in order to work together in the governance of Guinea-Bissau as it emerges from previous periods of instability.

The members of the Security Council re-emphasized the importance of political stakeholders to engage in continuous and constructive dialogue within the established constitutional parameters.

The members of the Security Council recalled resolution 2203 (2015), and stressed the importance of national reconciliation, inclusive dialogue and good governance, and continued civilian control of government as essential for the attainment of lasting peace in Guinea-Bissau. They further stressed that the consolidation of peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau can only result from a consensual, inclusive and nationally owned process and respect for constitutional order that places the Bissau-Guinean people first.

The members of the Security Council welcomed ongoing efforts of regional and international actors, including, ECOWAS, the AU, the UN and its Guinea Bissau peace building Commission, the CPLP, and the EU to encourage dialogue among Guinea-Bissau’s political leadership. They particularly welcomed the efforts of Senegalese President Sall, Guinean President Conde, and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNIOGBIS Trovoada in this regard.

The members of the Security Council recalled the Council’s commitment to support the authorities of Guinea-Bissau and noted that the pledges made at the March 2015, Brussels International Donor Conference require a stable political environment in order to most effectively materialize.
The members of the Security Council commended the peaceful way Guinea Bissau's population, including, civil society and the military, are following the political situation in the country.
   

On Guinea Bissau, UN Won't Answer on Ramos-Horta Moonlighting for One Year

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 19 -- Ten days before the Guinea Bissau meeting on May 19 of the UN Security Council, Inner City Press asked:

Inner City Press: I'd like to ask about Guinea-Bissau and then some press freedom questions... can you confirm that Jose Ramos Horta is leaving? It's said that he’s leaving to go work at UBrainTV based in Tokyo and quote, “he has been an adviser for UbrainTV for more than a year.” I wanted to know, is it permissible to be a full-time SRSG and also be an adviser to a for-profit company? Was this cleared by the ethics office?

Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq: I don’t have any information about any other business that Mr. Ramos Horta may or may not have, so I don’t have any comment on that. Certainly, he continues with his work right now though.

  Since that May 9 exchange there has been no information from the UN Spokesperson's office. Inner City Press held off on this report, out of respect for Ramos-Horta. But doesn't the UN have to answer?

Guinea Bissau is poor and is getting poorer, even as the UNand International Monetary Fund crank out reports about transit strikes and cashew prices.

  An IMF team under Mauricio Villafuerte visited Bissau from February 10 to 13, and has today concluded that "Growth and fiscal prospects for 2014 hinge on the success of the cashew campaign and external support. The mission highlighted the importance of setting clear policy guidelines as soon as possible to avoid the uncertainty that undermined last year’s cashew campaign. In this context, the mission suggested to suspend contributions toward the industrialization program (FUNPI)."

  Meanwhile UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's report on Guinea Bissau, to be formally issued later as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/2014/105, highlights strikes by teachers and in the transport sector, and that "the drop in cashew nut prices in 2013 was one of the main shocks for 74 percent of households."

  The "socio-economic" section of Ban Ki-moon report on Bissau doesn't mention the FUNPI industrialization program to which the IMF suggests suspending contributions.Industrialization, we hardly knew ye.

  Ban Ki-moon's 16-page report on Guinea Bissau devotes two long paragraphs to "74 individuals claiming to be Syria nationals who had arrived in Bissau from Casablanca, attempted to board a commercial flight to Lisbon with fake Turkish passports... the air crew were allegedly forced to transport the 74 individuals to Lisbon [where they] requested asylum from Portugal. The airline suspended its flights to and from Bissau."

  As an aside, despite much European hand-wringing about Syria, the number of refugees and asylum seekers taken has been extremely low. Inner City Press asked UNHCR's Syria coordinator Amin Awad about that, for that video, from Minute 15:50, click here. Watch this site.

   

In UNSC Month, No Questions Taken by Lithuania on Somalia, Lebanon or Guinea Bissau Statements

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 27 -- How much credit should the monthly president of the UN Security Council take or get for the number of press statements adopted?

  Concluding its month as president, Lithuania's mission to the UN on February 27 bragged of four Resolutions, three Presidential Statements, 10 Press Statements, 14 public meetings & eight consultations, calling this the "highest number of products delivered since 2012."

  Notably, there appear to have been no question and answer stakeouts by the Mission with the media after these eight consultations. (Only the Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevicius took questions during his visit which included a stakeout featuring the EU's Catherine Ashton).

  Even when a Press Statement on Guinea Bissau was read out by the Lithuanian Mission on February 26, no questions about the briefing or consultations behind it were answered or taken. 

   The number of Press Statements in a month is largely a product of the number of terrorist incidents in the month, not the Security Council presidency's acumen.  In February there were three Press Statements on attacks in Lebanon, and two in Somalia.

   Even if controversial -- many are boilerplate denunciations of acts of terrorism -- the statements are drafted by the country which "holds the pen," France for Lebanon and the UK from Somalia, not by the president.

  One thing the presidency DOES control is how transparent it tried to be, including at least endeavoring to hold a question and answer stakeout after closed consultations. China's Liu Jieyi, for example, held nine such Q&A stakeouts in his recent months as president.

   But no Q&A stakeouts? And not even yet answering aquestion, rather than praise, on the lack of transparency?Another answer said Lithuania will aim for better going forward. We will be looking for that.

  As the most recent example, on February 26 the Security Council issued a Press Statement, now here, on which the Lithuanian deputy who read-out the statement took no questions.

   Three months ago, when UN envoy Jose Ramos-Horta came to brief in person, Inner City Press asked him about the proposed Amnesty Law for the authors of the 2012 coup. Ramos-Horta on November 26 expressed support for it only if there are iron-clad commitments by the military to stay out of politics. So: a conditional amnesty that would end if that commitment were broken?

  So on February 26, when Lithuania's Deputy Permanent Representative Rita Kazragiene came out to read the Council's press statement, including "the fight against impunity," Inner City Press waited and once she was finished asked if the Amnesty Law, which Ramos-Horta spoke about, had come up in consultations.  

  But Rita Kazragiene declined to answer any questions. One wonders why, given that the Security Council and UN have a hard enough time trying to raise the profile of the problems in Guinea Bissau. Why NOT answer a question?

  At the beginning of the month, Inner City Press on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access urged that Lithuania come to the stakeout and take questions after each closed door consultation. As noted, during China's more recent presidency, for example, Permanent Representative Liu Jieyi held nine Q&A stakeouts.  

  So far during this, Lithuania's, month, with all the scheduled meetings over and only one day left? None. (Though as noted Lithuania's foreign minister did answer questions, including one Inner City Press pushed to ask, about Ukraine, as it also had to press to ask the EU's Cathy Ashton.)

  Lithuania is chair of the new Central African Republic sanctions committee, with an interesting mandate. When will it be spoken about, and questions taken? We'll retain an open mind and see.

   

As Guinea Bissau Press Statement by UNSC Cites Impunity, No Amnesty Question Taken by Lithuania asUNSC Prez, FUNCA Urges Q&A

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 26 -- After those in power in Guinea Bissau again postponed elections, the UN Security Council on February 26 issued a Press Statement, below, on which the month's presidency, Lithuania, took no questions.

   Three months ago, when UN envoy Jose Ramos-Horta came to brief in person, Inner City Press asked him about the proposed Amnesty Law for the authors of the 2012 coup. Ramos-Horta on November 26 expressed support for it only if there are iron-clad commitments by the military to stay out of politics. So: a conditional amnesty that would end if that commitment were broken?

  So on February 26, when Lithuania's Deputy Permanent Representative Rita Kazragiene came out to read the Council's press statement, including "the fight against impunity," Inner City Press waited and once she was finished asked if the Amnesty Law, which Ramos-Horta spoke about had come up in consultations.  

  But Rita Kazragiene declined to answer any questions. One wonders why, given that the Security Council and UN have a hard enough time trying to raise the profile of the problems in Guinea Bissau. Why NOT answer a question?

  At the beginning of the month, Inner City Press on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access urged that Lithuania come to the stakeout and take questions after each closed door consultation. During China's more recent presidency, for example, Permanent Representative Liu Jieyi held nine Q&A stakeouts.  

  So far during this, Lithuania's, month? None. (Though Lithuania's foreign minister did answer questions, including one Inner City Press pushed to ask, about Ukraine, as it also had to press to ask the EU's Cathy Ashton.)

  Lithuania is chair of the new Central African Republic sanctions committee, with an interesting mandate. When will it be spoken about, and questions taken? We'll see.

Here is the February 26 Guinea Bissau press statement, which even as of 4:30 pm wasn't up on the UN's website, so we publish it here:

Press Statement on the Situation in Guinea Bissau – 26 February 2014

On 26 February 2014, the members of the Security Council were briefed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Jose Ramos-Horta, and the Chair of the Guinea-Bissau Configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar Patriota.

The members of the Security Council note that the normalization of the political, security, social and economic situation in Guinea-Bissau is dependent on the return to constitutional order through, inter alia, credible elections, as well as on reforms in the defence, security and justice sectors, the promotion of the rule of law, the protection of human rights, the promotion of socioeconomic development, an improvement in the humanitarian situation and the fight against impunity and drug trafficking. They also note that the restoration of constitutional order would facilitate the full re-engagement of international partners.

The members of the Security Council note that the conclusion of the voter registration process is a significant step towards the holding of presidential and legislative elections, and welcomed the efforts of the authorities in charge of the transitional period for its completion, and commend the people of Guinea Bissau for their commitment to exercise their democratic right in a peaceful manner. They also commend Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the governments of Timor-Leste and Nigeria for providing timely technical and financial assistance for the voter registration process and welcome the intention of ECOWAS to strengthen its mission to assist the authorities in charge of the transitional period in providing security for the upcoming elections.

The members of the Security Council encourage all national stakeholders to maintain the momentum begun with the registration process and to work toward timely elections and to renew their commitment to ensuring a conducive environment in the final weeks before the elections. The members of the Security Council commend Guinea-Bissau’s international partners for their pledges of financial and technical support to the electoral process and urge them to work in close coordination with the National Electoral Commission to ensure the speedy disbursement of their stated commitments in order to facilitate a smooth electoral process, stressing the need for a redoubled effort at enhanced coordination of electoral assistance under the leadership of SRSG Ramos-Horta, in line with Security Council resolution 2103 (2013) and in close collaboration with the United Nations country team.

The members of the Security Council express their concern at the continuing delays in the electoral process and underline that such delays have a negative impact on the country's social and economic well-being, and on the already fragile security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Guinea-Bissau. They stress the imperative to hold presidential and legislative elections without further delay. They urge the authorities in charge of the transitional period to create a conducive environment for the safe, full and equal participation of all actors including women, in the electoral process.

The members of the Security Council condemn the episodes of violence in Guinea-Bissau which have contributed to atmosphere of fear and intimidation among the population. They reiterate their concern about the prevailing culture of impunity and lack of accountability in Guinea-Bissau. They urge, in this regard, the authorities in charge of the transitional period to take swift action to fight effectively impunity and promote justice by ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.

The members of the Security Council urge national stakeholders, including political parties and their supporters, the defence and security forces, civil society organizations, traditional and religious leaders, women’s and youth groups, as well as the media, to refrain from any action that could hamper the electoral process, to facilitate the conduct of peaceful and credible elections, and to respect the election results as an expression of the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau. They call upon the military to respect the constitutional order, including the electoral process, and to submit themselves fully to civilian control. The Members of the Security Council recall their readiness to consider further measures, as necessary, including targeted sanctions against both civilian and military individuals who undermine efforts to restore the constitutional order.

The members of the Security Council express support for the leadership of SRSG Ramos-Horta and commend his role in facilitating a conducive pre-electoral environment, as well as his proposals for strengthened continued international engagement after the elections for key reforms and the strengthening of state institutions, as well as good governance and inclusive social and economic development.

   

On Guinea Bissau, IMF Focuses on Cashews & Cuts to Industry, UN on Strikes & Syrians

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 18 -- Guinea Bissau is poor and is getting poorer, even as the UN and International Monetary Fund crank out reports about transit strikes and cashew prices.

  An IMF team under Mauricio Villafuerte visited Bissau from February 10 to 13, and has today concluded that "Growth and fiscal prospects for 2014 hinge on the success of the cashew campaign and external support. The mission highlighted the importance of setting clear policy guidelines as soon as possible to avoid the uncertainty that undermined last year’s cashew campaign. In this context, the mission suggested to suspend contributions toward the industrialization program (FUNPI)."

  Meanwhile UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's report on Guinea Bissau, to be formally issued later as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/2014/105, highlights strikes by teachers and in the transport sector, and that "the drop in cashew nut prices in 2013 was one of the main shocks for 74 percent of households."

  The "socio-economic" section of Ban Ki-moon report on Bissau doesn't mention the FUNPI industrialization program to which the IMF suggests suspending contributions.Industrialization, we hardly knew ye.

  Ban Ki-moon's 16-page report on Guinea Bissau devotes two long paragraphs to "74 individuals claiming to be Syria nationals who had arrived in Bissau from Casablanca, attempted to board a commercial flight to Lisbon with fake Turkish passports... the air crew were allegedly forced to transport the 74 individuals to Lisbon [where they] requested asylum from Portugal. The airline suspended its flights to and from Bissau."

  As an aside, despite much European hand-wringing about Syria, the number of refugees and asylum seekers taken has been extremely low. Inner City Press asked UNHCR's Syria coordinator Amin Awad about that, for that video, from Minute 15:50, click here. Watch this site.

   

UN Stays Upbeat on Guinea Bissau, Security Council Might Visit, Send 200 Guards to Libya to Protect UN Mission After Inaction on Civilians

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 26 -- Twice in Guinea Bissau since the 2012 coup the election have been put off. When UN envoy Jose Ramos-Horta emerged from the UN Security Council on Tuesday evening, Inner City Press asked him if he thinks that this time they will happen, in March 2014, and if military chief of staff Antonio Indjai will in fact relinquish power.

 Ramos-Horta was upbeat, saying he thinks this time it will happen. When Inner City Press asked about the proposed Amnesty Law for the authors of the 2012 coup, Ramos-Horta expressed support for it only if there are iron-clad commitments by the military to stay out of politics. So: a conditional amnesty that would end if that commitment were broken?

 The West African States in ECOWAS want to send two formed police units, and want international support - read, money - for it.

Sources in the Council's consultations told Inner City Press there is discussion of a Security Council trip to Guinea Bissau in January, and of a Presidential Statement to be drafted by Togo which "has the pen." Inner City Press asked Togolese Permanent Representative Kodjo Menan and he said yes, this might be his last big act on the Council (Togo leaves in December, to be replaced by Nigeria).

  On the trip, the idea was "floated," along with statements about Guinea Bissau's resources including, yes, cashews. Less than two million people -- and forty political parties.

  In a stealth session after Ramos Horta left, Council diplomats heard a plan from the UN to send some 200 guards for its mission in Libya. 

  Inner City Press has been writing about the Council's failure to even get a briefing on the killing of dozens of civilians in Tripoli by militias, and now the state of emergency in Benghazi. Tellingly, the Security Council only heard on Libya now when it came to protecting the UN itself. Watch this site.

   

On African Union Request to UN Security Council For ICC Deferral on Kenya, Ban Ki-moon's Africa Adviser Maged Made No Calls, of Trip of 5 and Signers

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 23 -- Before the African Union summit which gave rise to, as Inner City Presspublished in full yesterday, an AU request to the UN Security Council to defer the International Criminal Court's Kenya case, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and others made calls to AU heads of state.

  Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky about the calls on October 14. Nesirky replied, "I can tell you that a number of telephone calls were made, and not just by the Secretary-General."

  On October 23, the day after publishing the full text of the AU letter (here), Inner City Press asked Ban's Special Adviser on Africa Maged Abdelaziz (formerly Egypt's Ambassador to the UN) about the calls, and whether he made any of this.

  He said he had not made any of the calls, but that he was aware of them. He told Inner City Press that five AU heads of state will travel to The Hague and to New York. He said the AU is not "against" the ICC, but when there are failures to respond to AU requests, the issue of targeting arises.

  Before the AU and Kenya letters were filed, French Ambassador Gerard Araud told Inner City Press he thought the ICC ruling that President Kenyatta would not have to be "continuous present" during this case meant the Security Council would not have to get to the issue of deferral.

  Now the request is filed, but Western media are quoting unnamed Western diplomats that the request will not be granted. At the US State Department briefing on October 23, deputy spokesperson Marie Harf was asked about the request and said it is being studied.

  Someone will have to go on the record. As to the AU letter, Inner City Press asked an African mission to the UN and was told that the lack of some signatures (Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde and Cameroon) is "not an issue," and was reminded that there are only 49 signature lines because the follow countries are, for now, suspended: Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Sao Tome & Principe, Central African Republic (see Araud, above) and Egypt (see Maged Abdelaziz, above).

  Forty five signatures, including ICC backers Cote d'Ivoire and Botswana, for example, are a lot. Now what is the Security Council's response? Watch this site.

   

At UN, US Samantha Power Calls Putin Patron of Assad, Takes 3 Questions from Jarba's Hosts, None on UN Report on Syria Chemical Weapons

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 5 -- The UN Security Council stakeout was jammed when US Ambassador Samantha Power came to say that Russia has blocked the Council and that military action against Syria is legitimate, there was a simple question not answered or allowed: what about the UN Report?

  Many countries say, wait and see the UN report. Other say, act only through the Security Council. But the UN report question was neither answered nor allowed.

  The US Mission chose three questions: from CBS, Al-Arabiya and Reuters. And these three did not ask about the UN report. In fact, all three questioners selected by the US Mission are Executive Committee members of the UN Correspondents Association, which hosted Saudi-funded Syria rebel boss Jarba for a faux "UN briefing" in July.

  So, what about the UN report?

After Power and her entourage had left, Inner City Press asked a Russian Mission diplomat of the invitation to the US Mission. Yes, this morning, he said.

  Inner City Press asked, Were you convinced by the evidence?

  No, he said.

So what about the UN report? Watch this site.

Footnote: confined to a footnote by this above-described three question stakeout, nothing was said about Sudan and South Sudan (a more deadly conflict), and the President of the Security Council, Gary Quinlan, did not come to do a stakeout about those consultations and those on Guinea-Bissau. Much respect to the UN.

Exclusive: For UN General Assembly, Guinea-Bissau to Send Interim Prez, Ramos-Horta Tells Inner City Press; "Not Legit," a CPLP-er Says

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, September 5 -- With the UN General Debate less than three weeks ago, the question of who will represent Guinea-Bissau became Inner City Press' focus on Thursday morning (alongside, of course, Syria).

  Before a closed-door consultation of the UN Security Council on Guinea-Bissau, Inner City Press asked UN envoy (and Nobel Prize winner) Jose Ramos-Horta who would be coming to New York for the debate.

  "The interim president," Ramos-Horta said. It was quiet outside the Security Council, with no other journalists present. It is considered more professional, apparently, to watch the G20 on television.

  Inner City Press asked Cote d'Ivoire Permanent Representative Bamba about Guinea Bissau. He said hopefully that an interim minister might be allowed to address the Security Council, or its members.

  It was suggested it is now a "more inclusive" government. But a representative of the Portuguese speaking group Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CPLP) exclusively told Inner City Press, "Not yet a legitimate one."

If a government is viewed as not legitimate by a sub-regional group, a credentials fight may follow.

  Earlier this week the Free UN Coalition for Access@FUNCA_info put online the new speakers' list, and DGACM's cover letter. Qatar now has a spot in the first morning along with Barack Obama -- what will have happened in Syria by then? DR Congo's Joseph Kabila now has a spot on the second morning. 

  But it appears that now the Department of Public Information has finalized the elimination of media seats on the General Assembly floor -- a new low. Every constituency or "stakeholder" has to have more limited space. But now this UN tries to cut the media to NOTHING, and its Alliance says nothing. Access? Watch this site.

   

At UN, West Africa Envoy Said Djinnit Brags About Guinea, Dodges Press on Mali: Fakeout at the Stakeout

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 10 -- On West Africa, UN envoy Said Djinnit gave a surprisingly upbeat (some said, self-serving) briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday morning. The UN said, by e-mail then at the noon briefing, that Djinnit would take press questions at 12:30.

The noon briefing ended at 12:22, and Inner City Press and two other members of the Free UN Coalition for Access went immediately to the Council stakeout, ready to question Djinnit. But even after Council members streamed out of the chamber, he did not appear.

Trying to ensure that questions could be asked,@FUNCA_info asked both the UN Spokesperson's office and the Department of Political Affairs, which oversees Djinnit's Dakar-based operation, where Djinnit might be. Neither answered, but another staff member told Inner City Press Djinnit claimed he had come to the stakeout, “you guys weren't there,” so he left.

  If he went, it was before 12:30. Click here to view the day's noon briefing (the announcement that Djinnit would appear at approximately 12:30 is at Minute 2:40), and note that it began at noon and was 22 minutes long. The new Press Briefing Room is right next to the Security Council and stakeout: no eight minutes there.

  One wag mused, given Djinnit's excuse, what should we think of his report and statement to the Council?

Djinnit found a way to brag about now only Guinea but Guinea Bissau. The real question is, with three UN envoys in the mix - Djinnit, Bert Koenders of MINUSMA andRomano Prodi of, well, Bologna -- how could it be that it was Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso who mediated and made the deal about Kidal?

And -- this is a question -- has that deal now been broken? MINUSMA engaged with attacker outside Kidal. Is MINUSMA covered by the International Criminal Court? Click here for that. These are questions Djinnit should have taken and answered, and should still answer. Watch this site.