While Rebels Oppose Darfur Deal, US Supports It, Bassole to Send Letters, including to Khalil Ibrahim in Tripoli

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 23 -- The day after UN Security Council heard about what's called the Darfur Peace Agreement from the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso and Qatar, Inner City Press put questions about the agreement and rebel group's opposition to both of them, and US Permanent Representative Susan Rice.

When Ambassador Rice came out of the Security Council, Inner City Press asked her, “most of the rebel groups have spoken actually against the document. I wanted to know you know whether you think this will actually bring peace to Darfur.”

Rice replied that “we are of the view that that agreement represents a step, an important step, forward. Obviously, in and of itself it is not sufficient to end the conflict in Darfur, but we think it was an important step and we have supported it.”

But the Justice and Equality Movement, whose leader Khalil Ibrahim remains trapped in Tripoli which is being bombed by NATO, has spoken against the document, as have the rebel groups led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur and Minni Minnawi. Inner City Press put this question to the two foreign ministers.

Djibril Bassole, who stepped down as joint UN-AU mediator earlier this month, said “I think so far there is no rejection... they need to sit with the government in Khartoum.” He added, “the armed movements are still divided.”

Qatar's foreign minister Ahmad Bin Abdulah Al Mahmoud said that the document represents what people in Darfur want, and therefore puts pressure on the rebels. He said, “for first time, all stakeholders were in one room. JEM they participated as well as LJM.. The movements are psay]ing they are looking for right of people of Darfur. They were there, expressed their requirements... as Brother Bassole said... we going to send letters to movements.”

After other media questions in Arabic and French, Inner City Press followed up, asking how they would reach out to JEM's Khalil Ibrahim trapped in Tripoli.

Bassole said that “we have been trying to get him out of Tripoli, it is not that easy. We will keep working on it with our partners to keep him out of there” to sign.

Would they only get him out of harm's way in Tripoli IF he signs? The UN was asked long ago to get him out, as the UN got its own international staff out. But he remains there. Watch this site.

At UN, Doha Process on Darfur Ends in Whimper, No Rebels, No Rice

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 22 -- The issue of Darfur, once burning hot, degenerated Wednesday into a closed door UN Security Council meeting with no output. Even the scheduled press availability by Qatar's foreign minister, in New York to present the so-called Darfur Peace Agreement, got canceled.

“Where is George Clooney?” a representative of Qatari state media asked Inner City Press. More to the point, where was US Ambassador Susan Rice?

Qatar has hosted the Doha process, urging rebels to come in order to show the emirate's diplomatic prowess. But the final product has not been signed by the Justice and Equality Movement, whose leader Khalil Ibrahim the UN has refused to evacuate like its own staff from Tripoli, nor the factions led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur and Minni Minnawi.

From the “Astroturf” rebel movement led by former UN staff member Al-Tijani Al-Sissi, even Ali Karbino has broken away and joined the still-fighting rebels.

So what was or would be solved by the Darfur Peace Agreement?

The Security Council met for hours on Wednesday with former joint UN-AU mediator Djibril Bassole, now Burkina Faso's foreign minister, and his Qatari counterpart.

Afterward top UN peacekeeper Alain Le Roy told Inner City Press, no one has signed the agreement yet. The Council is going to issue a press statement to put pressure for them to sign.

No press statement was issued. The focus seemed to have shifted to South Sudan -- some surmised that Darfur had just been used as a bargaining chip, to indict Omar al Bashir as leverage to let South Sudan go. And after July 9? Watch this site.

As Ban Takes Darfur Deal from Bassole, IDPs & Rebels Ignored, Abandoned

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 20 -- Ignoring complaints from Darfur itself, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday accepted a yellow bound peace agreement from Burkina Faso foreign minister Djibril Bassole and his Qatari counterpart.

Bassole twice told Ban, even during the photo op, “congratulations on what will happen tomorrow” -- referring to the expected General Assembly approval of the Security Council's June 17 recommendation of Ban for a second five year term.

At his June 6 press conference announcing he wants a second term, Ban was asked about his “failure” on Darfur in his first five years. As it happens, there is escalating fighting, reports of Zaghawas killed, and rejection of this so-called peace agreement by the Justice & Equality Movement (JEM) and others.

JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim has been trapped in Libya for weeks. Inner City Press asked the UN about requests to it by JEM to help remove Ibrahim from Tripoli, as the UN did with its international staff. Apparently it was never done; Khalil Ibrahime was abandoned.

Radio Dabanga (June 8) reported that JEM

“accused the Sudanese government of planning an attempt to assassinate its leader, Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, in Libya. Jibril Adam Bilal, the spokesperson of the movement, said in a press release that the movement managed to foil the plot to kill the chairman of the movement. The Darfuri rebels claimed that they were able to determine the source of the attempt and stop it by foreknowledge of the means of the attempt. Jibril Bilal affirmed that the movement knew which governmental entitities had paid 25 billion Sudanese pounds to an organization called Bijer B to carry out the operation and there is an investigation going on to know more facts. Jibril warned the National Congress Party that it is stupid to try these attempts which have unknown consequences and would lead the country to a path the country has never taken before.”

Then again, the UN might just deny the Radio Dabanga report, as it did on June 20 when asked about reported failure to deliver food to IDP camps in El Geneina, Darfur:

Inner City Press: I wanted to ask about in Darfur, there is a report again by Radio Dabanga that food has stopped being delivered to the IDP camps in El Geneina. I tried over the weekend to write to both WFP [World Food Programme] and UNMIS - I mean UNAMID [African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur] — to ask whether it is true and why this would happen. Is that something you can confirm?

Spokesperson Martin Nesirky: I’ll see what the World Food Programme or our colleagues at the UN Mission have on that.

Three hours later, Nesirky's office sent this:

Subject: Your question on Darfur and Sudan
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 3:45 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

The World Food Programme has confirmed that the food distributions to El Geneina are on track, and any reports suggesting that such distributions have stopped are inaccurate.

Here's what WFP then sent Inner City Press:

“We are not stopping food distribution in any of the nine camps that we serve in El Geneina in West Darfur. Distribution plan is on schedule, very much within the 30-day cycle. We completed distribution in two camps (El Hujaj and Jaama) and today distribution will start in El Riyadh. In other camps (Abu Zar, Ardamata, Kirinding 1 and 2, and Dorti) distribution will start from the 22nd onwards. In Sultan camp, food voucher distribution started yesterday and so far we have not seen any trouble.”

And there's the key word: “voucher” distribution. Because the camp residents are opposing the use of vouchers and “traders” --

“A sheikh from one of the camps said that the Program used to distribute the food rations every month but did not do so this month after they were informed by the displaced people that they, the displaced people, would not receive their food rations from traders. The sheikh said that they demand an explanation from WFP regarding the delay, stating that the representatives of the WFP who used to meet with the sheikhs after intervals have stopped doing so. The sheikh stated that diseases such as malnutrition and diarrhea have spread in camps because of the lack of relief materials.”

The UN as reported above refused to speak to the actual people in the camps, just as it ignores the actual rebels in Darfur. The plan to declare peace in Darfur appears to be to ignored and isolate the rebel movements, and hold photo ops in New York. Watch this site.

At UN, As Ban Credits Bassole for Darfur “Progress,” He Left Post on June 8

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 9 -- When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced on June 6 for a second term, he was asked about failing on Darfur, one of his top two stated priorities in his first term. Ban replied that process is accelerating, and credited Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole.

On June 9, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky:

Inner City Press: if I understood it correctly Mr. Djibril Bassolé was described as stepping down as the joint AU/UN mediator. But he has since been quoted as saying he remains a mediator. And he did go to these Doha talks. So, is he the UN’s mediator or not? It’s unclear. He says that he is, but it was said here that he is not. Which is it?

Spokesperson: I think it was also said here that he has a split role at the moment and will continue to — was continuing, I should say — was continuing to serve as one of the mediators in the run-up to the meeting that you spoke about. But there will be a change in that status, and I think I’ll be able to give you precisely what that change is after this.

Just after the briefing ended, Nesirky said he would look into it. Later this was added to the UN's transcript:

[The Spokesperson’s Office later said that Djibril Bassole’s contract as a United Nations-African Union envoy ended Wednesday, 8 June.]

So Ban's man on Darfur is no longer in the post.

And where do we stand? Rebels supporting Minni Minawai and Abdel Wahid al Nur did not sign onto the recent Doha process. The head of the joint UN - AU peacekeeping mission UNAMID, Ibrahim Gambari, is often in New York, most recently listed as giving a speech in Connecticut on June 4. What is the UN doing in Darfur? It is not clear. Watch this site.

Amid Burkina Faso Unrest, UN & Djinnit Stay Silent, Under France's Watchful Eye

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 4 -- Now that the fighting in Burkina Faso has killed civilians, the UN's long silence seems all the more strange, when contrasted to its comments on unrest in other countries.

On June 1, Inner City Press asked the Office of the Spokesperson for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon what the UN had to say about the ongoing mutiny in Burkina Faso, which resulted in 24-year rules Blaise Campaore dissolving the government and calling home UN Darfur mediator Djibril Bassole as foreign minister.

From the UN's transcript:

INNER CITY PRESS: I just wonder if anyone at the UN is tracking these mutinies in Burkina Faso where the army has been for several months rebelling against the Government. There is just now a recent outbreak of shooting in the main town, and I just wonder, does the Secretary-General have, you know, I don’t know… is there… Burkina Faso is a big contributor of peacekeepers, a big player in peace initiatives in Africa — has there been any statement at any point by the UN about this ongoing turmoil in Burkina Faso?

That day, the UN Spokesperson's office had no comment, merely saying that Ban's Department of Political Affairs was watching and would be checked with. Later Inner City Press was told that Ban's envoy for West Africa Said Djinnit was “of course monitoring,” but chose not to say anything.

And now, Campaore's forces have rumbled into the second city of Baso Dioulasso and at least seven have been killed, including a young girl. Colonial power France is said to be watching. Some wonder, watching to make sure the UN doesn't criticize? We'll see.

As Sudan Ends Doha Talks on Darfur, UN Ignores Questions of Rape & Referendum

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 30 -- When Omar al Bashir of Sudan threatened to pull out of the Darfur peace talks in Doha, Inner City Press asked the Office of the Spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of comment. The question was ignored, then after a complaint answered thusly: “On the Doha peace talks: We have asked for a response and will send it when we have it.”

After this delay, Bashir actually pulled out of the Doha talks. Inner City Press went to the Spokesman's Office in the basement of UN headquarters but still received no comment. Another senior Ban Ki-moon official said “it's up to Bassole,” the joint UN-African Union mediator. He, it appears, has not spokesperson.

But, days ago, Inner City Press asked Ban's Spokesman's Office to “Confirm or deny reports of Sudanese government rapes near UN peacekeepers in North Darfur.

Even in a response after Inner City Press complained, this question was ignored. So was this:

On Sudan, please confirm or deny that the Department of Political Affairs in a recent briefing to NGOs said that

UN projects no consolidated results before end Jan – result likely to be announced February 2.

Major technical challenges now are training staff, deploying materials, and being ready to handle results management (this is still a serious risk because little done to prepare for results period)

Probability of extension to polling remains high

Arab League visit to Sudan (Qaddafi and Mubarak) - castigated Bashir, pretty clear now that LAS will not try to spoil what is almost international consensus on recognition - there is even talk they will offer an independent S. Sudan membership in the LAS.

Bosnian Presidency likely to take cues from US and UK.

Ban's Spokesman's Office simply ignored this question about statements that NGOs have to Inner City Press attributed to Ban's DPA. After an argument that December 31 is another day to answer, the question has been reiterated by Inner City Press. Watch this site.

Sudan Death Sentences Met with UN Silence, LRA in Darfur Called Unconfirmed

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 11 -- With authorities in Sudan condemning to death some 20 alleged rebels, Inner City Press on Thursday asked UN acting deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq if the peacekeeping mission in Darfur or its chief Ibrahim Gambari had anything to say about the death sentences, which the Liberation and Justice Movement rebels says violates their ceasefire agreement with Khartoum. Video here at 8:18.

“There is no comment from Mr. Gambari or UNAMID,” Haq answered. On whether the death sentences will undermine LJM's negotiations in Doha with the government of Omar al Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and genocide, Haq said of mediator Djibril Bassole that if there's a problem, “he'll inform... the public about any particular obstacle.”

But Bassole rarely reports to the public on the Doha process, which does not include JEM or the movement of Abdul Wahid Nur or now the Movement of Nomads.

Meanwhile Inner City Press asked Haq if UNAMID will do anything about the Lord's Resistance Army and its leader Joseph Kony, also indicted by the ICC, who are now reported to be in Darfur. “Those reports have not been confirmed,” Haq said. He'd begun by saying, “If you need to have the last question” -- before responding with a pre-prepared statement. Video here at 19:39.

Nor would Haq confirm reports that the UN-supported African Union peacekeepers in Somalia have blocked Somali parliamentarians from meeting. Haq said to ask the African Union, despite the UN's own envoy Augustine Mahiga. Video here, from Minute 17:29.

The Somalia work of either the UN or European Union was supposed to be boosted on November 1 by the inclusion of longtime UN official Charles Petrie. But tens days past that deadline, Petrie is still quoted about his last UN assignment, Burundi, condemning violence. We'll check on Petrie's location, Haq said. Video here, from Minute 14:25.

But there are simple questions pending in his office for more than a week now, including one about Genocide Prevention reiterated this week. Watch this site.

Footnote: The Security Council on Thursday moved its Western Sahara briefing up from November 23 to November 16 after their Sudan debate. France has said next week was too busy. Watch this site.

Amid Sudan Deaths, Bashir Victory Declaration, Silence at UN, Disdain for Rebels

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/sudan3progov042610.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 26 -- With Sudan's Omar al Bashir declaring victory in Sudan amid deadly clashes and kidnapped UN peacekeepers, in New York the UN Security Council, which had been scheduled to meet about Sudan, was silent Monday morning.

The Council's schedule provided for a meeting about UNMIS, the UN Mission in South Sudan. Inner City Press was told that UNMIS chief Haile Menkerios would be present and take questions. But at this key moment, in the UN's basement, the Council sat empty.

Over in the UN's three story North Lawn building, an Assistant Secretary General told Inner City Press that Bashir's 68% of the vote made him look more legitimate than "those countries where the leader claims ninety-eight percent."

Is this why the UN is implicitly blessing the election? "This way we avoid violence," said the ASG. And the UN gets to stay in the country. But at what cost to its credibility?

Moments later, a South African diplomat told Inner City Press his country's peacekeepers had been released. Just as Al Bashir said it would be: once the results -- and his winning -- were announced. As they say in legal Latin, res ipsa loquitur: the things speaks for itself.

On Friday, before al Bashir declared victory, Inner City Press asked the UN about violence:

Inner City Press: There are these reports of 50 civilians killed in South Darfur that I am sure, I believe, the UN has probably seen. There are also, it’s reported that Mr. [Djibril] Bassole was told by JEM [Justice and Equality Movement] that they believe the Government is about to begin another military assault in Darfur. What’s the UN doing, just as an update? Has it gone to Jebel Marra? Is it trying to investigate the death of civilians? And can you confirm JEM’s concerns?

Spokesperson Martin Nesirky: Well, it’s not for us to confirm JEM’s concerns, of course. On the second part, UNAMID [African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur] has also received an unconfirmed report, but the mission has not received any reports that confirm signs of an imminent attack by the Government, or indeed the presence of the JEM in east and North Darfur. So, that’s the first bit, that we’ve heard these unconfirmed reports. We cannot, we have not received any reports that would confirm signs of an imminent attack.

And as for the violence in South Darfur that you are referring to, according to UNAMID, and you may wish to ask them for more details, but from what I understand, this was an incident on 20 April, and it involved inter-tribal violence, the details of which are a little sketchy, I would say. But its result, from what we know, according to UNAMID [is] 15 people killed, 24 injured. This also included Sudan border guard police, who were, according to UNAMID, ambushed in the course of this inter-tribal violence that I referred to. That’s pretty much what I have for you there. As I said, it may well be that UNAMID could provide you with more details.

UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari was meeting one on one with al Bashir, who telling promised to get the kidnapped UN peacekeepers from South Africa released. Reporting by Inner City Press indicates that the kidnappers are affiliated or aligned with Bashir's government. The UN has said nothing.

Insiders tell Inner City Press that Gambari would like Bassole to step down, so he could take over the Doha portfolio as well. Gambari was pushed out of his role in Iraq by UNAMI chief Ad Melkert. On Sudan he wants to consolidate his position. In New York he had told Ban, I can help with with GA President Ali Treki. He told Treki the same. Thus are careers made and preserved in the UN. But what about Darfur? What to make of the UN's and Council's silence?

Footnote: In front of the empty Security Council Monday morning were ambassadors of several developing countries, waiting for a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement next door. The NAM recently told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon he has no jurisdiction over war crimes, should not follow through on his promise to name a panel on Sri Lanka. And Ban has not moved forward, reverting to meeting with the Sri Lankan attorney general and hoping, like Sudan's scam elections, that the issue fades away.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/sudan3progov042610.html

UN Slammed for Bias by Darfur Rebels, Deferred Answer About Rebel UN Selected

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/sudan4vote041410.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 14 -- Questions about the UN in Sudan focus not only on the dubious quality of electoral technical assistance, but also impartiality. Most recently the Justice and Equality Movement has criticized the UN's handpicking of representatives of internally displaced people, arguing that the selections are intended to make Omar Al Bashir look good.

The UN feigns surprise, and then offers vague denials. From the April 14 noon briefing transcript:

Inner City Press: on Sudan, the Justice and Equality Movement [JEM] has raised concerns about the way in which UNAMID [African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur] and the Joint Mediator [for Darfur], Mr. [Djibril] Bassolé, are selecting IDP representatives for the Doha process. They are saying, I guess according to them, that the selection is untransparent and is being done in a way that is pro-Government and slated to make things look better than they are in Darfur. I wanted to know… and you can read it; it is by Ahmed Hussein, the spokesman of JEM. What I am wondering is what is the UN, UNAMID, and Mr. Bassolé’s criteria for selecting IDP representatives? And I also wanted to just follow up of yesterday’s -- how do we get questions answered by Mr. Bassolé, including his recruitment of a seeming UN staff member to be a representative in the Doha process?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, Mr. Bassolé’s office has informed us of the following: Dr. Al-Tijani Al-Sissi [Ateem] is a former employee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). He has never been employed by any UN entity headed by the Joint Chief Mediator. He is taking part in the negotiations now in his personal capacity and no longer has any institutional links to the United Nations. The Mediator is aware that Dr. Tijani was a UN staff member and that he has resigned. That is what I have for you from Mr. Bassolé’s office.

[The Spokesperson later added that UNAMID has taken note of the criticism from JEM and believes that its approach to civil society selection is methodical and well thought out.]

Inner City Press: The reason it would be good to be in touch with that office is that ECA has said that in February of this year, that when he travelled to Doha, he was still an ECA staff member. He was invited by the Joint Mediator. So the question really is, in what capacity was he invited? Was he already invited as a participant in the talks reportedly representing the Fur people, or was he invited as a UN staff member? And if he was invited as a participant, how does it square with the UN staff rules, because he did not stop getting paid until March? Who paid for his travel?

Spokesperson: Matthew, you asked me that question after the briefing yesterday, and you also asked Nick Birnback the same question, and both of us have said we will find out and give you the information. If I had had it to give to you now, I would have given it to you. What I have given is what I have.

And so we'll wait for more. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/sudan4vote041410.html

As Sudan Vote Marred by Technical Snafus, UN Assistance Questioned

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/sudan3vote041310.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 13 -- With even the Sudanese government admitting widespread "technical" problems with its elections, questioning turned Tuesday to the value and quality of the UN's "technical assistance" to Sudan for its polling.

When opposition parties said that the ballots were being misprinted by the government, the UN declined to take a position, saying that the UN's role was technical and logistical, not to be observers. When the European Union observers left Darfur as unsafe, the UN had little to say.

On April 12, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon if the UN thought polling should be extended in light of the snafus. Mr. Ban replied that "the United Nations has been providing technical assistance and logistical support."

Shouldn't the UN, then, have to respond to have logistically ballots weren't delivers, and technically, ballots were misprinted, with wrong names and wrong party symbols? What kind of technical assistance is this?

At the April 13 UN noon briefing, Inner City Press pursued the issue:

Inner City Press: now that the Sudanese Government has acknowledged some technical problems with the election and has extended the voting… I remember, I went to a background briefing here where it was said that the UN was providing technical assistance. I understand that the UN, because it is providing technical assistance, is not observing the election or commenting on its fairness. But what does it say about the UN’s technical assistance that there are these wide-spread technical problems with the election?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, it was not just at a background briefing that you heard that the UN is providing technical assistance. I think that it has been said many times from here. The UN welcomes the National Election Commission's decision to extend the voting period. This would allow the Commission to overcome the various technical difficulties encountered in the first two days of the voting. And the UN also hopes that, precisely because there is now this extension by two days, it will enable more Sudanese voters to cast their vote, especially in areas and constituencies where the technical errors caused delays to the voting process or where voters have been unable to determine which polling centre they are registered in.

As we have said, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) is providing technical assistance and logistical support to the National Election Commission, upon request from the Commission, and will continue to do so, within the Mission’s capability. And I think that is an important point -- within the capability of the Mission. This is in order to assist the Commission in coping with the remaining technical problems and the logistical challenges.

So this is, precisely, providing assistance. It is down to the Commission, if you like, the National Election Commission, to deliver. The UN Mission in Sudan has been providing technical and logistical support to allow the Commission to deliver. Clearly, there have been huge challenges, which we have talked about here and have been talked about a lot obviously in Sudan, too.

Inner City Press: One thing I want to understand is this usage of technical problems, technical assistance. It seems like one of the problems is like ballots that have the wrong names on them, ballots that have the wrong party symbol attached to names. I am just sort of wondering: what did the UN’s technical assistance consist of? Were they supposed to look at these ballots that were going to be mass distributed to make sure that they did not have the wrong party affiliations next to the names? What was the technical assistance? If these problems took place, I am struggling to understand what…

Spokesperson: There were all kinds of layers of assistance that was provided. But I think that the most important point here is that the assistance is provided to the Commission, and it is the Commission that then delivers. It is not for the UN to scrutinize every individual ballot slip in advance of them being distributed, for example. It is providing the technical know-how -- how do you conduct an election, how do you put in place the materials that are required.

The "materials that are required" were not, in fact, in place. Some see the UN, at least its peacekeeping missions run by the Secretariat, as too close to the government. This sense is multiplied by the UN having paid a salary to pro government rebel leader Al-Tijani Al-Sissi Ateem, and then refusing to answer basic questions. On this, Inner City Press asked Spokesman Nesirky:

Inner City Press: does the Joint Mediator [for Darfur], Djibril Bassolé… is he paid by the UN and who speaks for him? Does he have a separate spokesperson or are you, in a sense, his spokesperson? Or is DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] his spokesperson? To whom would I direct questions to Mr. Bassolé in his UN capacity?

Spokesperson: Let me find out.

The question has also been put to the spokesman for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/sudan3vote041310.html

Amid Sudan Voting and UN Staff as Rebel Scandal, Ban Says No Problem, Still Hasn't Heard of Case

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/eca3rebel041210.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 12 -- With complaints mounting of irregularities in the elections in Sudan, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday morning said the voting was proceeding "without serious problems," and that it is up to the Sudanese, and not UN staff, to conduct the elections.

This hands-off approach, however, does not seem to extend to the UN staff member who was presented as a Darfur rebel leader willing to negotiate with Omar Al Bashir, while being paid by the UN. Inner City Press asked Mr. Ban about this scandal. At first Mr. Ban said he did not understand the reference to the credibility of the UN.

Then Mr. Ban said, "I will have to talk with our senior advisers on this matter. But as a matter of principle, United Nations staff should discharge their work in accordance with all the rules and regulations. We are not there to engage in any domestic politics and these kinds of things."

One of Mr. Ban's senior Darfur interlocutors, Djibrill Bassole, is well aware of Al-Tijani Al-Sissi Ateem's double service: he has been asked about it. But the problem at the UN is a total lack of accountability.

The UN's top envoy to the Congo Alan Doss was shown, by his own e-mails, to be engaged in nepotism, urging the UN Development Program to show him "leeway" and give his daughter a job. While Mr. Ban announced an investigation, that was nine months ago. The goal seems to be to delay any conclusion until Doss retires at the end of June, and then to declare the matter moot.

How much more so in the case of Al-Tijani Al-Sissi Ateem, who belated left the UN payroll in March 2010.
The problem is, his role in the Darfur "peace" process is compromised, as he took UN money while purporting to represent the Fur people. Watch this site.

From the UN transcript:

Q: I want to ask on Sudan. There are reports of widespread irregularities in the voting, and the SPLM has asked, even in south Sudan, for a delay, for an extension of the voting for three to seven days, so that ballots can be delivered, stuff like that. I wanted to know what the UN’s assessment is, and also, it has emerged that this pro-Government Darfur rebel leader, Al-Tijani Al-Sissi Ateem, was in fact a paid UN staff member through March 8th of this year, while doing political work openly in Doha, Addis and elsewhere. I am wondering what will you do if you find UN staff rules were broken and the UN’s credibility called into question in this case?

SG: First of all, the elections had begun and will continue until the 13th. I am told by our mission in the region that the election has taken place and is continuing without much serious problems in terms of security. People are standing in queues to exercise their right to vote. That is encouraging. As for the detailed way of how this election is being conducted, whether there is fraudulence or irregularities, we’ll have to see and particularly discuss with the National Election Commission and the Sudanese Government. The United Nations has been providing technical assistance and logistical support. It is the Sudanese Government and people who conduct these elections. We will be there to support this. I do not understand what you meant about the credibility of the United Nations staff?

Q: There is a Darfur rebel leader that signed an agreement with the National Congress Party of Omar Al-Bashir, that now it has come out was in fact a paid UN staff member of ECA [Economic Commission for Africa] in Addis Ababa, while he was negotiating with the Government, and purporting to represent people in Darfur. So what I wonder is, is it your understanding that UN staff rules say that you can’t be a political participant in a country’s affairs while you are a UN staff member?

SG: I am not aware of this specific case. I will have to talk with our senior advisers on this matter. But as a matter of principle, United Nations staff should discharge their work in accordance with all the rules and regulations. We are not there to engage in any domestic politics and these kinds of things.

Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/eca3rebel041210.html

As UN Paid Darfur Rebel Leader Ateem, UN Claims It Didn't Know What Bassole Did: Scandal Grows

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/eca2rebel040910.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 9 -- In September 2009, a conference about Darfur was convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by the joint United Nations - African Union mediator, Djibrill Bassole.

The goals included uniting various Darfur rebel groups under one umbrella to negotiate with Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party, and replacing the leader of the Fur ethnic group and Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, Abdul Wahid Mohamed al Nur who refused to negotiate until his Fur people were not threatened with violence.

Conveniently, an alternative Fur leader emerged, offering to stand in for Wahid al Nur and to lead the umbrella group and make peace with al-Bashir: El-Tigani El-Sissi Ateem (sometimes written "Al-Tijani Al-Sissi").

The UN-AU's Bassole embraced Al-Tijani Al-Sissi Ateem. But Al-Tijani Al-Sissi Ateem was at that time, and had been since 2005, a paid UN staff member, of the UN Economic Commission for Africa also based in Addis Ababa.

In the run up to Sudan elections, sources told Inner City Press that compliant Darfur rebel leader Eltijani Elsissi Ateem was paid by the UN from 2005 through March 8, 2010. Inner City Press asked and wrote an exclusive story on March 28; UN staff say that Bassole was asked.

On April 8, Sudan's Ambassador to the UN told Inner City Press that Eltijani is a "long time Darfur leader" who, as a convenient replacement for Fur leader Abdul Wahid Nur signed a deal with Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party. Video here.

Eltijani did this work while being paid by the UN, in violation of UN staff rules. Some now question the UN's role in replacing one Fur leader with another, paid by the UN.

The UN in New York has so far sought to dodge all of these questions. Twice Inner City Press has asked in UN noon briefings in New York, then in writing, but was referred to the UN Economic Council for Africa in Addis Ababa, the UN unit which employed Eltijani.

Tb both the UNECA and the UN in New York, Inner City Press posed these questions:

What were El-Sissi’s official job responsibilities for the UN system?

Was the UN aware that El-Sissi was a member of the Umma Party?

Was his travel to Doha, Qatar in February funded by the UN? Was he on official business, or annual leave at this time?

Were the activities of the “Addis Ababa Roadmap group” supported, facilitated, or participated in by the UN?

Did any meetings of the “Addis Ababa Roadmap group” take place on UN premises?

ECA questions: To what extent did or does UNECA have responsibilities relating to the unification of the Darfur armed groups and development of a common position and a common negotiating team or the contribution in the development of a road map for the resolution of the Darfur conflict?

Was the Head of UNECA aware of Mr. El-Sissi’s activities in the Darfur process while he was employed by the UN? How long was El-Tijani El-Sissi employed by the UN?

After first proferring only a single sentence, that ""ECA is not aware of its staff members activities outside of work, including Mr. Ateem's," this was received

Subject: Re: Questions on deadline
From: Mdessables [at] uneca.org
Date: Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 7:44 AM
To: Inner City Press, Matthew Russell Lee
Cc: S-G's Spokesperson, Deputy and Associate Spokespeople

Dear Matthew,

Mr. Eltigani Ateem started working for ECA on 10 February 2005 as Regional Advisor. Regional Advisory Services are made available upon request to Members states, sub-regional and continental organizations on socio-economic and political challenges.

In his capacity as Regional Advisor, Mr. Ateem, upon request of the Head of State of Libya, then Chair of the African Union (AU), to ECA's Executive Secretary, was asked to serve as resource person and help support the joint AU-UN efforts in addressing the Darfur conflict. As part of this process, Mr. Ateem traveled to Doha, Qatar in February 2010. This travel was not funded by ECA.

This initiative followed earlier involvement of Mr. Ateem who, at the request of the World Bank, served as a member of the Advisory Panel on Darfur Joint Assessment Mission in 2006.

ECA did not support, facilitate or participate in the activities of the “Addis Roadmap Group” and no meeting of the “Addis Roadmap Group” took place on ECA premises.

ECA is not aware of Mr. Ateem’s political affiliations.

ECA has no responsibility related to the Darfur Negotiations.

Myriam Dessables
Chief Information and Communication Service
UN Economic Commission for Africa

A UN source, when told of the response that Mr. Al-Sissi's political affiliations were unknown, burst out laughing. At the April 9 UN noon briefing in New York, Inner City Press asked Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq which UN units were involved in work to unify the Darfur rebels: the Department of Peackeeping Operations under Alain Leroy, the Department of Political Affairs under Lynn Pascoe, or other UN units, like Bassole's?

Haq acknowledged that to do political work while paid by the UN violates staff rules. But he said he would have to check which UN units were involved. There is no question that Bassole's UN-funded unit was involved. That Bassole was asked about Al-Sissi's status only confirms it.

That Bassole's office is funded by the UN is demonstrated in para 6 of A/63/717 (dated 17 Feb 2009; "Budget for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur for the period from 1 July 2009to 30 June 2010").

6. The Joint Mediation Support Team is supported by UNAMID. The Joint Chief Mediator, who is the head of the Team, reports to the Secretary-General through the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission through the Commissioner for Peace and Security. The Joint Chief Mediator liaises closely with the Joint Special Representative for UNAMID, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) and other relevant stakeholders. The Joint Chief Mediator is entrusted with leading the mediation efforts between the parties to the Darfur conflict with a view to bringing them to peace negotiations.

The Chart on page 82 of this document (A/63/717) shows that under Bassole, he has 39 positions located in Addis, including 1 D-2, and 1 D-1. One wonders how Mr Ateem fits into this.

Also, S/2010/151 (Letter dated 23 March 2010 from the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council), dated 24 March 2010. It includes a photocopy of the signed Doha agreement, which includes Eltigrani Ateem's signature. Interestingly, he uses yet a different version and spelling of his name: "Dr. Tejani Sisei Mohammed Ateem"

Para 30 of the SG's Report on the United Nations Mission in Sudan (S/2009/357; 14 July 2009) said

The African Union-United Nations Joint Chief Mediator, Djibrill Bassolé, met with the Tripoli Group (comprised of five rebel movements) in Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, from 28 to 30 June to discuss the possible participation of the Group in the Doha negotiations. The mediation also held broad consultations in Darfur, Khartoum and Tripoli with representatives from Sudanese civil society, non-governmental organizations and tribal leadership to underline the intention to broaden participation in the Darfur peace process.

Paras 69, 71 of the SG's Report on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (S/2010/50; 29 January 2010) stated

69. As the political process gains momentum, and in order to build on the significant work of the Joint Chief Mediator, Djibrill Bassolé, to increase engagement among the parties to the conflict, I urge all parties to cease armed confrontation and engage in a meaningful way in substantive, inclusive discussions.

71. In the context of the political process, it is critical that the national elections scheduled for April 2010 provide an opportunity for all Darfurians, particularly internally displaced persons, to participate fully and completely unhindered.

Bassole has already said he wants to leave his UN post. But that will not resolve the matter. Who knew what, when? Beyond the questions pending with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Spokesperson's Office, Inner City Press has asked UNECA:

1. You say that Mr Ateem's travel to Doha in February 2010 was not funded by the UN. Who funded it? Were Mr Ateem's salary and benefits during his tenure as a UN employee from February 2005 to March 2010 funded by the UN, and if not, by whom?

2. Who was Mr. Ateem's reporting officer, viz to whom within ECA was he responsible?

3. Is ECA responsible for or does it take any credit for unification of the Darfur armed groups and development of a common position and a common negotiating team, or contributing to the development of a road map for the resolution of the Darfur conflict, or are these tasks which UNECA has nothing to do with?

While awaiting answers, and accountability, note that the UN is now doing all it can to dodge from the fact that for five years its Addis office employed as a staff member a former governor of Darfur who is also a significant figure in Sudan's Umma party. This individual, Mr. Eltigani Ateem, who while serving as a UN staff member in the "NEPAD and Regional Integration Division" of the Addis-based UN Economic Commission of Africa, was assigned official responsibility for promoting the unification of Darfur armed groups and for developing a Darfur Road Map.

This raises significant questions about the staff selection and assignment practices of the UN, which we've seen before. Is it appropriate for a former [and current] national political figure to be assigned work directly related to his own country? Ibrahim Gambari, the UN's new envoy to Darfur who confirmed to Inner City Press that Al-Sissi worked for ECA, fell under fire for taking a leave to attempt to mediate disputes in the Niger Delta of his native Nigeria. But Al-Sissi was getting paid by the UN while moonlighting as a rebel leader in his native Sudan.

For their part, the UN is employing normal avoidance tactics in response to Inner City Press' questions. First, the SG's assistant spokespersons refused to even accept numerous questions, deferring to UNECA's media shop. After a time, UNECA finally responded, denying not only knowledge of Mr Ateem's political baggage, but also that UNECA had any role in supporting the "unification of armed groups" or the "road map."

Unfortunately for the UN, this evasion does not square with the facts. "Subprogram 4" of UNECA's own "results" framework reflects the following claims:

http://www.uneca.org/rtpc/results/Subprogramme4ECRI.html

Result 2: Development of a set of policy recommendations for post conflict reconstruction and development in areas and countries emerging from conflict, with particular emphasis on Darfur; Unification of the Darfur armed groups and development of a common position and a common negotiating team; Contribution in the development of a road map for the resolution of the Darfur conflict.

Interestingly, in 2007 Mr. Ateem, in his UNECA capacity, presented a paper at a conference in the UK titled "The Root Causes of Conflicts in Sudan and the Making of the Darfur Tragedy." This paper clearly identifies Ateem as working for the NEPAD & Regional Integration Division. One telling excerpt from the paper states that

After the DPA was partially signed by one faction of the SLM in May 2005, some neighbouring countries introduced further polarisation within the rebel movements, something that has seriously jeopardized the AU/UN-led efforts to resuscitate the peace talks with the non-signatories.

However, just two years later, at in late 2009 talks in Doha, Mr. Ateem expressed his qualified interest in becoming the leader of a unified Darfur rebel organization, reportedly stating "I'm ready to lead the new movement if all of you commit yourself to a real and strong unity." The UN's Mr. Ateem finally got his wish in February 2010, UN/AU Mediator Djibril Bassole proudly (and rather strangely) announced Mr. Ateem's leadership of a unified Darfur rebel structure, and that this should "pave the way for holding constructive dialogue and setting frameworks for detailed negotiations that would lead to reaching a peace accord."

Bassole has already said he wants to leave his UN post. But that will not resolve the matter. Who knew what, when? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/eca2rebel040910.html