Exclusive: Somalia's Jama Mis-Wired $4.5 M, Letter Shows, Mogadishu in Manhattan IV, Censors Spin Sanctions, Full SEMG Report Here

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, February 18 -- Beyond the most recent Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group report, which Inner City Press is today putting online in full, the dysfunction of the Somali Mission and foreign service has reached levels not before seen.

  Until now: click here for bank letter exclusively published by Inner City Press.

  In 2010 Inner City Press covered disputes in which Idd Beddel Mohamed tried to get into the Somali Mission on 61st Street only to be confronted by police in an incident Inner City Press dubbed "Mogadishu in Manhattan."

  Days after that, Inner City Press asked then Somali Minister of Information, Post and Telecommunications Abdulkareem Jama about Idd Beddel Mohamed; Jama said that wasn't decided yet.

Jama went up to become chief of staff to (now former) President Sharif. Now, Inner City Press exclusively publishes this letter from Raiffesen Bank, concerning a failed electronic transfer of $4.5 million by Abdulkareem Hassan Jama. Click here to view.

  Somali sources tell Inner City Press that in a continuation of Mogadishu in Manhattan (that is, IV) Idd Beddel Mohamed went and tried to retrieve the funds but was again rebuffed.

  Meanwhile there's foreclosure of the Somali government's condominium on 61st Street in Manhattan, following the demolition of its ill-kept house in suburban New Rochelle. (Click here for Rep. Nita Lowey's press release about the demolition.)

  These things are not talked about but should be. Likewise, reports like that of the Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group are selectively quoted but not as here published in full -- in this case, by Reuters which left a more readily available UN report that the Free Syrian Army uses child soldiers unreported on for five days until the last round of Geneva talks were over. 

  At the same time, Reuters UN bureau chief has moved to censor leaked copies of his own anti-Press complaint to the UN, mis-using the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act to get his "for the record" complaint to the UN banned from Google's Search. That's censorship in Manhattan -- but this is Mogadishu in Manhattan IV. Watch this site.

   

At UN, Kay Tells ICP No Quotes Around Somaliland, Aware of Bax Probe; Idd Beddel Rides Again, Mogadishu in Manhattan

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 12 -- When UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay came out of the UN Security Council on Thursday there were only two journalists waiting at the stakeout. Such is the domination of the Syria issue at the UN. But Kay agreed to take questions, and Inner City Press asked him a half dozen.

The first concerned the text of his speech to the Security Council. On its third page it referred repeatedly to "Somaliland" in quotation marks, while the references for example to Puntland and the Jubba regions had no quotation marks. Why not?

Kay quickly said that there should not have been quotation marks around Somaliland. Inner City Press asked him about the demand for self-determination; he referred to the Turkey mediated talks, and that UN flights started going in again.

Inner City Press asked Kay about Kismayo and Kenya, and also about the widespread sanctions violations reported by the Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group. Kay replied that there was recently a productive Troop Contribution Countries meeting; he said the export of charcoal from Kismayo fuels the conflict and must be stopped.

Referring to the attack on the UN Compound in Mogadishu and the loss of life, Inner City Press also asked about what the UN continues to say is an ongoing investigation by UNOPS into UN Mine Action Service chief David Bax. Kay said he is aware of the investigation, but only that.

  So here's a bit more: it is alleged that a component of the AMISOM mission provides personal security to Bax on what can only be called an irregular basis.

  This comes after the UN tried to whitewash Bax through the same pass-through now used to try to pre-spin the Syria chemical weapons report as "fingering" Assad. As Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said earlier at the same stakeout microphone Kay used, sometimes the media can be a weapon. Not for expose but cover up. 

  On the lines of the former, back on August 7 Inner City Press reported that Mogadishu signed a deal with an oil firm called Soma Oil and Gas, led by UK former Conservative Party leader Baron [Michael] Howard of Lympne. (A report being inquired into by Inner City Press has it that Somali Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Idd Beddel Mohamad, a/k/a Mogadishu in Manhattan, claims he formed a similarly named company and so the contract is void.)

  Now we can add: Idd sent letters to the UK company advising them that the contract they entered with the Somali government is void. Idd has also given interviews saying he would resign over this. Sources say this is creating havoc around diplomatic activity, as Idd did in the past, purporting to fire an intern who was subsequently rehired. Modadishu in Manhattan, indeed. Watch this site.

   

Of Somaliland & EU Conference, Somalia Oil & Idd Beddel, UN Fumbles & Spoon-Feeds

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 7 -- The UN has congratulated itself for how it handles Somalia, at least of late. The most recent UN Security Council resolution ignored issues raised by Somaliland; its letter to the Council wasn't even distributed.

  Now comes word to Inner City Press from Hargeisa that president Ahmed M. Silanyo has decided that Somaliland will NOT attend the European Union's "Somalia" conference in Brussels, per Free UN Coalition for Access member Mohamoud Walaaleye.

  This comes after Puntland severed relations with Mogadishu -- Inner City Press asked for and got UN envoy the response of envoy Nicholas Kay, formerly the UK's ambassador to Sudan, here -- and then a critique by Jubaland, not yet responded to.

  Mogadishu signed a deal with an oil firm called Soma Oil and Gas, led by UK former Conservative Party leader Baron [Michael] Howard of Lympne. (A report being inquired into by Inner City Press has it that Somali Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Idd Beddel Mohamad, a/k/a Mogadishu in Manhattan, claims he formed a similarly named company and so the contract is void.)

  Somaliland went in another direction: Turkey-based Genel Energy. A proxy war for oil?

  Before the attack on the Turkish compound on Mogadishu, in the attack on the UN compound it's reported that UN Mine Action Service boss David Bax was the hero. Maybe -- but he is accused of sexual harassment and of playing a role in the passing of genetic information to US intelligence. August 7 Q&A here.

  The UN stonewalled Inner City Press after its exclusive report to this effect on June 22; reclusive UN official Herve Ladsous through his spokesperson Kieran Dwyer spoon-fed a pro-Bax and UNMAS spin to a friendly scribe. This dysfunctional approach is unacceptable; the UN's spin on Somalia and environs isn't working either. Watch this site.

   

On Somalia, UNSC Led by France Plays Cheap on Ships, Mogadishu in Manhattan III

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 7 -- After "three or four" countries blocked a 12 month extension of the Somalia peacekeeping mission and funding of a maritime component, Wednesday morning the UN Security Council adopted by a 15-0 vote a mere four month extension.

   Inner City Press covered the negotiations, here, and is now putting online the earlier 12-month draft, here, as a public service.

  After the vote, countries ranging from South Africa and India to Guatemala said in their explanations of vote that the maritime component should have been included. 

  South Africa's Deputy Permanent Representative Doctor Mashabane came to the stakeout and Inner City Press asked him, how many votes did you have for the maritime component?

  Ten, he said, adding that it was blocked by "three or four" Council members. (Another well placed source told Inner City Press the cheapness came mostly "from France.")

  Inner City Press asked if Kenya will now withdraw its ships, since the Security Council didn't approve funding for this maritime component. Mashabane said he couldn't speak for Kenya, but added that the African Union doesn't just wake up and make requests, and that its requests should be treated with more respect by the UN Security Council.

  This is a topic that Italy's Romano Prodi was paid by the UN to study. Now he is paid as an Under Secretary General, working from Italy, covering the Sahel and Mali. France wants approval to spend UN money in Mali. Why not for the job done and to be done in Somalia?

  Further inquiry with a proponent or defender of the compromise yields the position that the four month rollover will allow more time to consult with Somalia's president, on issues like the arms embargo. That way, the argument goes, the process will be more Somali led.

  There was also some downplaying of Kenya getting shorted. Its sailors, it's said, are already getting "paid by the EU."

  A real issue seems to be that the EU "African Peace Facility" which has directed funds to AMISOM will now be shifted over to Mali.

    Some say the US was most opposed to the provision directing Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to study, with the AU, funding to replace this European Union facility. This is a reason it would be good to have more stakeouts by the US.

Mogadishu in Manhattan III: Finally, Inner City Press has exclusively learned of another round of intrigue in the Somali Mission to the UN. Idd Beddel Mohamed, who had made previous forays for promotion within the Mission, is now said to be "campaigning in Mogadishu," and that this includes a letter to the UN Secretariat again naming him(self) to a position. 

 Inner City Press is putting the letter online, here, as a public service and more.

  The problem, the sources say, is that the letter is from the FORMER Minister. They say that the date of the letter is one day after the designated prime minster left New York after the attending the General Debate. 

  During his stay at the UN GA, nothing of any contents of the letter was discussed or brought to the attention of the Somali Ambassador. However, Idd Beddel flew to Mogadishu and sent the letter straight to the Secretary General's office "bypassing the whole Somalia mission." Now what?  Watch this site.

Mogadishu in Manhattan Redux, The Return to Represent Somalia at UN of Idd Beddel Mohamed

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 5 -- After more than a year's absence from the UN in New York, Somali diplomat Idd Beddel Mohamed has returned, following the appointment of a new foreign minister of the Transitional Federal Government.

Wednesday he stood in front of the UN Security Council waiting to attend a briefing for all UN member states on January's program of work of the Council -- but refused to answer Press questions such as, “Are you the Somali Permanent Representative now?”

There has been something of a coup in the Somali Mission to the UN. Before Idd Beddel Mohamed's return, sources in the Mission snarked that Idd Beddel Mohamed had been remiss in December 2009 when, after another change in the TFG, he was ordered back to Mogadishu.

The sources said Idd Beddel Mohamed refused to return to Somalia, but instead went to Canada. They told Inner City Press a variety of things, not yet published, about Idd Beddel Mohamed's time in Canada.

Then they said that the new foreign minister of the TFG had written directly to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon re-naming Idd Beddel Mohamed a representative, and saying that the long time Permanent Representative was being recalled to Somalia.

Inner City Press immediately asked Ban Ki-moon's Spokesperson's Office to confirm receipt of such a letter, on December 23. Having no answer, Inner City Press repeated the question several times between Christmas and New Years. Finally this answer arrived:

From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org

Subject: Answer

To: Inner City Press

We can confirm receipt of a 17 December letter from the Somali Foreign Minister recalling the Permanent Representative for consultations. The Permanent Representative himself sent the Secretary-General a 22 December letter confirming his recall.

Inner City Press prepared to write a follow up article, but wanted to speak to Idd Beddel Mohamed himself. But on January 5 in front of the first UN Security Council meeting of the year, Idd Beddel Mohamed refused to answer any Press questions.

Even as diplomats from two other African countries, to whom Idd Beddel Mohamed was speaking, stopped to great Inner City Press, Idd Beddel Mohamed scowled and looked away. Apparently he did not like the story about his time in Canada. We are always eager to hear, and publish, more. But it is clear that the chaos in Mogadishu is playing out in real time in Manhattan, and now without any explanations.

Also on Somalia, Inner City Press asked India's Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri, incoming chairman of the Somalia sanctions committee, to comment on the TFG's (and Puntland's) use of the private military contractor Saracen, which is affiliated with the brother of Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, main TFG supporter. He said he will study and comment on this shortly. Video here. Watch this site.

Mogadishu in Manhattan, After Cops Called on DPR, TFG Says Controls 55%

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 17 -- Days after a fight in the Somali Mission to the UN in New York, reported exclusively by Inner City Press, the new Somali Minister of Information, Post and Telecommunications Abdulkareem Jama came to the UN to describe the new government he is a part of.

He said that many of the 18 new ministers are from the Somali diaspora. Of former Deputy Permanent Representative Idd Beddel Mohamed, who showed up at the Somali Mission saying that the new foreign minister gave him authorization to return, only to have the police called to throw him out, Abdulkareem Jama said that wasn't yet decided.

The chaos of Mogadishu, then, is echoed in Manhattan.

Abdulkareem Jama put a relentlessly upbeat spin on Somalia, saying that Mogadishu is 55% controlled by the Transitional Federal Government. Inner City Press asked about reports of the TFG and Puntland using private military contractors or mercenaries.

Abdulkareem Jama said that the contractor's work involves training for “VIP protection” and for a coast guard. He did not address whether the arrangement, which is shielded in secrecy, may violate the UN's Somalia sanctions regime.

Inner City Press asked about the memorandum of understanding between the World Food Program and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to deliver food in areas controlled by Al Shabab, which has barred WFP.

Abdulkareem Jama spoke favorably of the deal. But WFP still refuses to provide a copy of the MOU -- Inner City Press has asked -- and even the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it has not seen the MOU.

Following the Obama administration naming the TFG as a user of child soldiers, Inner City Press asked Abdulkareem Jama for the update. He said that child soldiers have been identified and are being kept in a camp until they reach the age they can decide what they want to do. Video here.

Of once and perhaps future UN official Charles Petrie, whom the UN claimed would be working for the UN in Mogadishu, Abdulkareem Jama said Petrie will be working for the EU or someone else, not the UN.

Of the TFG's deputy minister for water barring work by UNICEF and others and then rescinding the order, Abdulkareem Jama said that the deputy minister had been frustrated but had taken the order back. Again, the chaos of Mogadishu, reflected in Manhattan. We wait to hear from Idd Beddel Mohamed. Watch this site.

Footnote: Somalia's Permanent Representative said that on December 22, the Security Council “will” pass a resolution authorizing 4000 more troops for AMISOM. While technically the resolution is not yet agreed to (or “in blue”) Council sources tell Inner City Press that is the number: 4000. We'll be here.

As Former Somali Diplomat Is Barred from Mission to UN, Is UNICEF Barred by TFG? WFP Withholds MOU with IOC

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 15 -- As the UN World Food Program continues to withhold its Somalia Memorandum of Understanding with the Organization of the Islamic Conference, even from other UN officials, a once and perhaps future Somali diplomat has reportedly reappeared at the country's Mission to the UN and had the police called on him.

Idd Beddel Mohamed, who Inner City Press interviewed in 2007 as Deputy Permanent Representative denounced UN payments to warlords, recently came back to the Somali Mission, according to sources, saying that the new Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Oomar had authorized him to enter.

But the current Permanent Representative said he'd heard no such thing, the sources say, the police were called to oust Idd Beddel Mohamed.

Meanwhile, after both Mark Bowden, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia and Ms. Kiki Gbeho, Head of the Somalia Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs told Inner City Press they had not even seen WFP's agreement with the OIC, on December 14 Inner City Press asked OCHA chief Valerie Amos about it.

Ms. Amos answered that OCHA can't compel any UN system agency to “coordinate” with it. Video here.

On December 15, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky if Secretary General Ban Ki-moon thought that UN system agencies should reach and withhold secret deals. Nesirky said he had nothing to add to what Mr. Bowden and Ms. Gbeho had said.

A WFP spokesperson has emailed offering to talk about the MOU and has been asked to provide a copy. He replied "I can't email the MOU to you." Watch this site.

Footnote: at the December 15 noon briefing, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Nesirky about reports that the Somali Transitional Federal Government has ordered UNICEF and other UN agencies to stop their work in Somalia, for missing a meeting about the drought.

Previously, Inner City Press asked UNICEF's spokesman, but he is out of the office for a long time (question have been backing up for the past two weeks). Nesirky said that events have moved on and that the Somali block is not (any longer?) in place. We'll see.