On Sudan Ritual of UN SC, Rice Says It's Only Way To Keep Tabs, Critics Say Colonial, Outmoded

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 10 -- As the UN Security Council met Tuesday on Sudan and South Sudan, several Council members complained to Inner City Press that the biweekly sessions had become a mere "ritual" or "make work."

  "It is wasn't for the Mbeki panel," one of them asked Inner City Press, referring to the African Union High Level trio chaired by former South African president Thabo Mbeki, "what could the Security Council even claim it's doing on the issue?"

  This months' Council president Nestor Osorio has told Inner City Press that arrangements are being made for Mbeki to come brief the Security Council on or about July 26, just before a deadline in the AU roadmap. "That's the real meeting," the complaint continued. "This is just... a P-Five problem. It's colonial."

  The analysis continued that the "Western Three" send as Permanent Representatives diplomats who are convinced with the importance of the Security Council. "Maybe that was true after the Second World War," the non-Western diplomat continued. "But now the Council is not suited to the problems it is trying to address."

  A cynic noted that some regional groups still want the UN to pay for their actions, like ECOWAS' talked about reclaiming of Timbuktu and Northern Mali. And who, we note, is paying for Mbeki, and for the team of Joint envoy on Syria Kofi Annan, dubbed the Seven Million Dollar Man?

  Just then US Ambassador Susan Rice came out of the Security Council, where they'd spent the morning on the Sudan issue. Inner City Press asked her, are these sessions useful? Some of your colleague say they've become just ritual.

  Ambassador Rice turned and gave a serious answer, that these session are "the only way to keep tabs" on the parties and their compliance with commitments. And perhaps it does serve for that. 

  Notably, several sources leaving the Security Council after Ambassador Rice told Inner City Press that the August 2 deadline shouldn't be seen like a religious text, as long as there is progress.

  What is sad is how little concern, at least as reflected by media, there is with the Sudan - South Sudan conflict, or even with the protests inside Sudan. Is that the Security Council's fault? Or of the Western Three? Watch this site.

Footnote: Tuesday's session was so low key it was difficult to get a commitment for a UN TV stakeout by Sudan's Ambassador. Envoy Haile Menkerios, who genially spoke with Inner City Press last week in the North Lawn building, was not available to talk, as even Cyprus envoy Lisa Buttenheim had been. What has happened, on the Sudan issue? And whose fault is it?

At UN Sudan Analogies of Skeletons & Siblings, Oil at the Root, Engineering Nobel?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 27 -- After US Ambassador Susan Rice circulated a draft resolution on Sudan midday on Thursday, a process not only of review but also snarking started at the UN.

  The most contentious portion of the draft is Operative Paragraph 9, which

"Expresses its intention to review compliance by Sudan and South Sudan with the decisions contained in this resolution, and expresses its determination, in the event that one or both of the parties have not complied, to take appropriate additional measures under Article 41 of the Charter."

  As more than one diplomat wondered, how can the Council threaten sanctions if a country doesn't engage in mediation, or engage in ways that others want?

  Alongside a first read-through session Thursday afternoon, one Security Council member told Inner City Press the fight between Sudan and South Sudan is a like "a battle of skeletons," in which neither side really has the force to push the fight through. 

 

  Another analogy offered analogized South Sudan to a younger brother who attacks his older sibling, counting on the parent - in this case mostly the United States - to step in to break it up.

But Sudanese diplomats have complained to Inner City Press that the South Sudanese army is equipped with weapons "never seen in this conflict for decades," and not old or used Gaddafi weapons.

  Sudan's other complaint, of course, is that the goalposts keep being moved, and the country is now $7 billion a year poorer due to the loss of South Sudan, which now stopped pumping oil. It's said that Thabo Mbeki and his panel are supposed to try to raise a third of that from other countries, without so far much success.

  The draft resolution would have the Council "strongly condemning... the damage to economic infrastructure, in particular oil installations."

  With the serious damage to the Heglig oil facilities, the problem is more intractable. Even if the gap in oil transfer fees, between $36 and 50 cents per barrel, were bridge the pipeline to take oil from South Sudan's Unity State to Port Sudan is now broken in Heglig.

  Here's an idea: whoever sends enough engineers and construction workers to fix the damage in Heglig, to ease the financial problems that fuel this conflict, should be considered for a Nobel Peace Prize. Watch this site.

Amid Talk of Regime Change, South Sudan Holds onto Oil Town Heglig, Says Offered to Help Sudan With IMF

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 17 -- Amid reports of the South Sudanese forces in Heglig being joined by a range of Sudanese rebels seeking to overthrow the Omar al Bashir government, Inner City Press on Tuesday asked US Ambassador Susan Rice if this had been mentioned in the day's Security Council briefing by Thabo Mbeki, and what the US thought of the presence in Heglig of the Darfur-based rebels of the Justice & Equality Movement, now with weapons of the Gaddafi government of Libya.

  Ambassador Rice replied that "there was discussion in the context of Mbeki's briefing, about the perception in Khartoum that the South's objectives are regime change, and he reported indeed that the North has said that if that is so, their objective is now also regime change."

  As Inner City Press exclusively reported after Mbeki's and his fellow panelists' last closed door briefing of the Security Council, members of the Council heard that South Sudan thinks that without oil revenue, the Bashir government could remain in power for only eight or so months. 

 

  That was after South Sudan stopped pumping oil, denying Sudan an oil transfer fee. Now with the takeover of Sudan's largest remaining oil field, Heglig, the timetable may be getting shorter.

  Ambassador Rice continued, "One would hope this is rhetoric, and not the object of either side... Both sides have provided support to proxies in each other's territory, it has continued in both directions and needs to end, as we [the US] have said on a national basis, and as the Security Council has said on an international basis."

South Sudan's charge d'affaires Agnes Oswaha, for her part, told the Press that "we leave regime change to the citizen of the continuing state of the Sudan, if they want to change the regime." 

 

Inner City Press asked Ambassador Oswaha to confirm that that her government has shot down a Sudanese MiG 29 jet, something that the UN which has an expensive peacekeeping mission in South Sudan was unable or willing to do at Tuesday's noon briefing when Inner City Press asked.

Yes, Oswaha replied, there were MiG 29 jets "hovering, we shot one of them down, that's the reality... There are Antonovs, the situation not safe, we try protect our citizens."

Oswaha denied that the goal of taking Heglig was to "punish Sudan, which lost already one-forth of the oil... That wasn't our intention. We offered them $2.6 billion as a transition grant, offered to help with theirdebt, pursuing their debtors, the World Bank or the IMF to help with that process." To which we will be turning next: watch this site.

As S. Sudan Complains of Arrests at Machar's in Khartoum, Mbeki to Brief April 17

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 16 -- As the conflict between North and South Sudan continues to escalate, Thabo Mbeki is now scheduled to brief the Security Council on April 17 at 11:30 am, Inner City Press has learned.

Earlier on April 16, Inner City Press asked by US Ambassador Susan Rice, this month's Security Council president, and UN deputy spokesman Eduardo Del Buey about Sudan's bombing of the UN peacekeeping camp at Mayom, and South Sudan's continued occupation of Heglig.

Among Inner City Press' questions to Rice was one about complaints South Sudan filed with the Council over the weekend, that "the house of [South Sudan Vice President] Riek Machar in Khartoum had been raided by the Sudanese authorities and people arrested."

Rice didn't answer that part of the question, but the April 15 letter states that among the seven arrested in Machar's house, two were minors; the house was vandalized and all the furniture removed.

Del Buey's read out on the conflict was limited to three bombings by Sudan in South Sudan's Unity State, nothing on bombings in Upper Nile and Warrap States complained of in South Sudan's April 14 letter, nor the occupation of Heglig, presumably a topic when Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke over the weekend with Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Karti.

Since Ban spoke with South Sudan president Salva Kiir, and usually tried to speak to heads of state not their minister, some surmised either than Ban was avoiding Sudan's president Omar al Bashir since he is indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, or that Bashir wouldn't take Ban's call. Or both, as was suggested to Inner City Press.

Ban's envoy Gambari, however, has taken photos with Bashir at a wedding reception for Chad's Idriss Deby and the daughter of janjaweed military founder Musa Hilal, and his UN gave flights to ICC indicted Ahmed Harun, so perhaps the latter is more likely. Watch this site.

On Sudan, After Mbeki and Jau Briefings It's Call for "Balance," Will US Do It?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 29 -- The impact of the Thabo Mbeki panel's briefing of the Security Council on February 27 was felt on February 29 as the Council heard complaints from Sudan that assistance for attacks, on Jau and elsewhere, came from South Sudan.

While by all accounts UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous had no substantive information about Jau, only second hand reports, afterward several Permanent Representatives said Jau will be "rolled into" a Presidential Statement the US is charged with drafting, supporting the Mbeki panel.

Inner City Press spoke exclusively with Mbeki after Monday's meeting, and put the video online. Since then, sources who were in the meeting have told Inner City Press that Mbeki and his co-panelist said that South Sudan is to blame for walking away from agreements.

It was said that South Sudan believes that without oil pumping, Khartoum can only last eight months, while Juba can last at least 12 months. One Council member, on this, told Inner City Press it is very bad, playing chicken this way.

The range of descriptions of the Mbeki panel briefing reflected how various Council members wanted the Mbeki panel briefing to be reported. Western countries supportive of South Sudan said little about it. Those more attuned to Khartoum said little, but now say that the mood of the Council has change, statements on Sudan must be "more balanced." What will the US do? Watch this site.

Footnote: at Wednesday's noon briefing, Inner City Press asked how Ladsous could brief since the UN on Monday said it had no access to Jau and could not confirm anything, and if Ladsous would speak to the press. On his way out of the Council, Ladsous did not say a word to the media. The vigil continues.

As Sudan Complains of 2nd Round in Jau, US Wants Translation, Juba Says 2 Jau's

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 28 -- The town and topic of Jau, on the ill-defined border of Sudan and South Sudan, was again discussed in UN Security Council closed door consultations on Tuesday, Inner City Press has learned.

Sudan has complained in writing to the Council that the recent taking of Jau by the united SPLM-North and Darfur-based Justice and Equality Movement was, in fact, assisted by South Sudan.

On Monday outside another closed door Council meeting, a "holistic" briefing by Thabo Mbeki on the range of Sudan and South Sudan issues including oil, South Sudan's Ambassador David Choat told Inner City Press there are two Jau's - one in Sudan and the other in South Sudan.

Council sources tell Inner City Press that the United States wanted to push back the briefing and session on Sudan's complaint about Jau "until the letter is translated;" still, a well placed source predicted a session on it will take place tomorrow Wednesday, the final day of Togo's Council presidency.

During the last round of fighting about Jau in December 2011, the chief of UN Peacekeeping Herve Ladsous said in essence it is up to the parties -- Sudan and South Sudan -- to decide on which side of the border Jau is located.

There was been little progress since. Tuesday it was announced that UN Mission in South Sudan chief Hilde Johnson is traveling to Uganda, Kenya and Sudan itself, which she has often said is not in her mandate. What is the trip about and what will be accomplished? And, again, what DID Johnson mean when she answered Inner City Press on camera that Russia "subsequently" told the UN its helicopters would fly, after grouding them? What WAS the death toll in Pibor? Watch this site.

Mbeki Goes Holistic With UN Council, Tells ICP South Sudan Has One Story on Oil, Khartoum Another

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, February 27 -- After meeting with the UN Security Council for more than three hours on Monday, Thabo Mbeki stopped and spoke with Inner City Press. "It's an interactive session," he said, "first time since we've been coming here. You don't read your written speech, you discuss it. The idea is a holistic and integrated understanding of the Sudan issues."

He might have said Sudans, plural, as the Permanent Representatives of South Sudan as well as the North waited outside during the meeting. The format was called "private interactive dialogue," so neither could attend.

Mbeki cautioned against "responding to Darfur on its own, respond to Abyei on its own, respond to South Sudan," saying that the international community and Security Council should "look at the totality."

Inner City Press asked Mbeki, on camera, about South Sudan stopping pumping oil because they can't be assured, the North Sudan will pay what it should.

Mbeki said, "They will say that, the North will say something else." Video here

During the closed door meeting, which included US Envoy to Sudan Princeton Lyman and his UK courterpart, Inner City Press spoke with South Sudan's Permanent Representative David Choat, whose counter question was what is it that Mbeki doesn't understand about Juba's decisions?

The decision to stop pumping oil was criticized by the UN's Valerie Amos. But Choat asked Inner City Press, is the money supposed to be only for refugees? What about South Sudan's citizens?

Sudan's Permanent Representative, on the other hand, pitched late arriving and early leaving media about South Sudan "confiscating" barges. South Sudan says it's Khartoum that wouldn't let them head South on the White Nile. Meanwhile it's understood that Sudan would prefer to deal one on one with South Sudan, while Juba likes or feels it need the UN.

Inner City Press asked Mbeki if he and the Panel wanted a statement. "They've agreed they will do some statement," Mbeki replied.

UK Permanent Representative told Inner City Press his country had proposed a Council statement supporting the Panel, and various Permanent Representatives told Inner City Press they supported the concept but would have to see a draft.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative Abdullah Hussain Haroon told Inner City Press, "this panel has done a fabulous job." He noted that Mbeki "footsteps of Nelson Mandela... All three of them, people of impeccable." He compared the panel favorably to that of the Arab League on Syria.

An unresolved note: more than one participants told Inner City Press that Mbeki warned against pushes for regime change in the North. But no one would confirm this on camera.

Summaries included that the goal is "two viable countries," that the problems of South Sudan involve converting a national liberation movement into a government and dealing with problems like in Jonglei, where the UN responded slowly, having remained without military helicopters. North Sudan, he said, has issues with "democratization" and representation of different regions.

The Security Council's president for February, Togo's Kodjo Menan, told Inner City Press, "the only thing I want to have both parties work together, apply the agreement they have already signed." And so it goes at the UN.