As Kenya Navy Shells Somalia, UN Last Whispered Concern 3 Weeks Ago, Mahiga Winks?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 7 -- On Somalia, does the UN whisper one thing but means another? Three times Inner City Press has asked the UN if its envoy Augustine Mahiga has anything to say about the shelling of Kismayo by the Kenyan Navy, which in mid August killed at least three civilians but has continued since.

UN spokesman Martin Nesirky, the second time Inner City Press asked, said that the AMISOM mission has no naval component. But Kenya's military has confirmed it is their ship. Inner City Press on September 6 asked if the UN is just looking the other way:

Inner City Press: the Kenyan army has said 'that is our ship.' So basically you have shelling by one country of another in support of a UN-supported peacekeeping mission, but with everyone winking, like this is not ours, it’s not related to us. If it is not authorized by AMISOM, is it in contrary to law? Is there some, since civilians have been reportedly killed by some of the shelling, is there any UN response to it at all?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, as I said, Matthew, we have been checking, and as soon as I have something, I will let you know, okay? But I assure you that we have been checking and asking.

The next day, Nesirky read out a three week old statement not by Mahiga but by the humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden. It seems clear that Kenya has not listened to Bowden; perhaps it was never meant to.

Meanwhile the UN's lead envoy Augustine Mahiga did speak out on September 6 -- but only in an open letter trying to tell Somali parliamentarians how to vote.

Mahiga, for the perceived success of his mission, would like Al Shabab driven out of Kismayo, apparently be any means necessary. So his underling whispers the UN's concern, with the Kenyan Navy ignores and keeps on shelling. And Mahiga speaks only on other topics. 

 Does the UN whisper one thing but means another? It sure seems like it. Watch this site.

Amid Somalia Famine, UN Says R2P Not Needed, US to 7th from 1st in Aid

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 20, updated -- As the UN declared a state of famine in two states of Somalia, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia told the Press that in the past two years the United States fell from being the number one donor to Somalia to seventh or eighth place.

There have been calls for the “Responsibility to Protect” concept to be invoked, for the UN Security Council to direct countries to override “political” and even anti-terrorism concerns in order to provide aid to areas controlled by Al-Shabab.

Inner City Press asked Bowden what he and the UN think of invoking R2P, and what they are doing to minimize the degree to which their aid might provide “material benefit” to Al Shabab, the key threshold under US law.

Bowden said that action under R2P is not necessary. While vague on interaction with Al Shabab, he said that there has been no change in policy, that the UN works with “local drought committee” and that the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu supports this. We'll see.

Update: Inner City Press asked US Ambassador Susan Rice about Bowden's aid rankings later Wednesday morning, as transcribed by the US Mission to the UN:

Inner City Press: Mark Bowden, the humanitarian coordinator of the UN, just gave a press conference and he said that the U.S., two years ago, was the number one donor to Somalia and has now fallen to seventh or eighth-pretty much tied to anti-terrorism restrictions on where the funds can go. I know you gave the Horn of Africa number but is he correct about this?

Ambassador Rice: I can't tell you if he's correct. I can tell you that the United States remains the largest bilateral donor to the crisis in the Horn and the epicenter of the crisis in the Horn is, of course, Somalia. We have provided support and will continue to provide support to the refugees that have reached Ethiopia and Kenya among others, but our support has gone to Somalia as well and will continue to do so. The challenge has been access for the humanitarian agencies, particularly in the south and the central region, and it's been blocked deliberately as a matter of policy by al-Shabaab. And al-Shabaab is principally responsible for exacerbating the consequences of the drought situation by preventing its own people from being able to access critically needed assistance.

On Somalia, UN Looks Away from Mercenaries & Funder, Withholds MOU

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 13 -- As not only Puntland but the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu move to use mercenaries, the UN is in denial even as its Security Council's sanctions regime is being violated.

On December 6 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Martin Nesirky:

Inner City Press: there is a former US official, Pierre Prosper, who has said that Puntland, the portion of Somalia, has hired a private military contractor, Saracen, to do anti-piracy work — that it’s being all funded by a Muslim nation that he wouldn’t name. So what I wonder is whether, given Mr. [Augustine] Mahiga or anyone in the UN, given both the prohibitions against mercenaries and also the 1992 sanctions on Somalia, what does the UN say to Puntland pretty openly, or at least as acknowledged by a former US official, hiring a mercenary firm to patrol the coast of Somalia, and what’s the UN going to do in light of this report?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, thanks for the question, Matthew, and let’s see what we can find out. I don’t have anything at the moment.

A full week later, the UN Spokesperson's Office has not provided any information. But on December 10, Inner City Press asked the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden about mercenaries. Despite reports that the TFG is moving forward, Bowden said that there's been a step back. Video here, from Minute 13:55.

Inner City Press asked if the UN knows the identify of the country funding the mercenaries. Bowden did not answer, but said that the funder should contact the UN Somalia Monitoring Group, or they might be in violation of the sanctions. But the country has indicated it will not identify itself, ostensibly to not suffer attacks. Is there a loophole in the sanctions regime for this?

On the UN World Food Program's confidential Memorandum of Understanding with the OIC, Inner City Press asked what it says about paying to deliver service.

Ms. Kiki Gbeho, Head of the Somalia Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs replied that she “hopes” it has prohibitions, adding that the UN “in principle does not pay to deliver... perhaps it has happened, but it is the policy not to pay.”

But neither she nor Bowden have seen the WFP agreement. What does it mean, then, to be a UN Humanitarian “Coordinator” or OCHA Head of Country office? What is WFP doing? Watch this site.

Susan Rice of US Insists UN "Misconstrues" Somalia Aid Restrictions

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/usun1som021910.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 19 -- Susan Rice, the US Ambassador to the UN, accused the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden of "misconstruing" US restrictions on aid. Ambassador Rice asserted a "diversion of resources" to the Islamist group Al Shabab. Since it is on US terrorism lists, US law requires the restrictions the US is demanding.

But what are these U.S. restrictions? Bowden, while publicly complaining about them, would not provide any description. Rather, he said that when he went to Washington to discussed them with US aid officials, they told him the issue was "above [their] pay grade."

Inner City Press asked Ambassador Rice about precisely this quote. She insisted that it is Al Shabab which is responsible for the lack of aid. Video here, transcript below.

But what of Bowden's quoting of US aid officials? A US State Department official in Washington, described as "irritated," has said of Bowden, "We're going to talk to him." The quote reminded on UN observer of "something from the Sopranos," or the Mafia film "Good Fellas."

When Bowden's boss, top UN humanitarian John Holmes, stood before a UN microphone on Thursday evening, Inner City Press asked him to explain what Bowden had said, and to describe the US restrictions to which the UN is publicly taking exception.

But Holmes responded that the message was only that the UN needs more funds. Even pressed, he declined to follow or back up Bowden. Video here, last question.

Was this "good cop, bad cop," an observer mused afterwards. Or was Holmes showing his political stripes, declining to criticize the U.S. as, for example, his predecessor Jan Egeland did after the tsunami?

Following Ambassador Rice's two responses to the Press about Somalia, she went in to a Security Council meeting about Haiti. Speaking first, from a prepared text, was the UN's John Holmes. So goes diplomacy at the UN.

Footnotes: While Ambassador Rice also took two questions about Iran's nuclear program, the Press was not able to ask for her views on developments in Sudan and Darfur, or on anti-democratic moves in Niger and Cote d'Ivoire, nor the incorporation of a presumptive war criminal into Guinea's interim government. But the answers on Somalia, although of a piece with Washington's script, were appreciated.

Thursday a UN official told Inner City Press that "Susan Rice, as an expected future Secretary of State, is playing it safe. She will not, for example, criticize [former South African president Thabo] Mbeki about Sudan." Until questions are asked, and answered, we'll stick to an open mind.

From the US Mission to the UN's transcript:

Inner City Press: On Somalia, the U.N. has said that the U.S. is politicizing aid, and has made restrictions that make it impossible to feed people in southern Somalia. Could you say what the restrictions are and what the reasons for them are?

Ambassador Rice: Well, first of all we utterly reject that claim; we think it's false and unfounded. The reason why aid is not now proceeding to the people of southern Somalia is one reason alone and it's quite clear: it's Al Shabaab's attacks on WFP and other U.N. agencies, its kidnapping of innocent relief workers, its extortion of funds which prompted WFP on January 5th to take the decision that it could not and would not continue to deliver life saving assistance in southern Somalia. That's an unfortunate development but it is a direct consequence of Al Shabaab's attacks and efforts. The U.S. is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, we have been consistently over many years, and in 2009 we contributed $150 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia. So, as I said we reject that claim as false and unfounded.

Inner City Press: One follow up, Mark Bowden of the UN had said when he traveled to Washington and met with USAID officials they said to him that the decision was above their pay-grade and was being made by the State Department on a political basis.

Ambassador Rice: He's conflating and misconstruing two different things. The reason why the people of Somalia in the South are not able to receive the assistance that we and others have traditionally provided at present is because WFP took a decision, a decision they felt compelled to take and we understand why they had to take it, that they could no longer continue to provide assistance safely, given Al Shabaab's harassment, attacks, and terrorist activities. The question of how the U.S. government has responded, and we have been in discussions with humanitarian delivery agencies about the fact that we have grave concerns about the diversion of resources to Al Shabaab and other terrorist organizations in contravention of U.S. law. And we have had those discussions, they have been ongoing but nonetheless, the U.S. provided $150 million of humanitarian assistance to Somalia last year. We remain, as we have been for many years, the largest donor, and what is precluding the delivery of assistance to people in southern Somalia is Al Shabaab.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/usun1som021910.html

In Somali Chaos, Japan and Germany Offer Separate Training, U.S. Cuts Aid

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unon1somalia120809.html

UNITED NATIONS, December 8 -- Mirroring the chaos of the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia, donors and vultures and purported helpers are all working at cross purposes. Among the vultures we place a company called "Phoenix," which brags of having contracts with the TFG to train security forces in Jordan for deployment in Somalia. We will have more on this.

Meanwhile while the UN claims that it alone is authorized to train Somali forces, a senior UN official on Tuesday complained to Inner City Press that Japan and Germany are moving toward doing their own trainings, outside of Somalia.

This has reportedly angered the UN's envoy to Somalia Ahmedou Ould Abdullah enough that he has traveled to Tokyo. His spokesperson has repeatedly declined to answer questions from Inner City Press in the past.

Three top UN humanitarian managers for Somalia briefed the Press on Tuesday, about shortfalls in fundraising. Inner City Press asked if they have solved their dispute with the United States, which slowed aid because transfers to Al Shabaab would violate U.S. anti terrorism laws. Mark Bowden, the UN's Nairobi based humanitarian coordinator, confirmed his talks with "donors," stressing that time is of the essence.

Inner City Press asked Bowden about the UN urging the TFG president not to fire the police chief of Mogadishu, which nevertheless took place. Bowden confirmed the UN has concerned, but said they "come from the political side." Then what is Ould Abdullah doing in Japan?

In belated disclosure of how the TFG's parliamentarians were paid, Inner City Press was told that when the parliament contained 250 members, countries including the U.S., UK and Norway paid their salaries. When the parliament swelled to 500, the UN Development Program started paying, Inner City Press was told. UNDP itself has repeatedly refused to answer questions about its funding in Somalia.

Al Shabaab has ordered the UN World Food Program to stop importing food, to buy locally or not bring food in. The Food and Agriculture Organization's Graham Farmer conceded that bringing in food aid during the harvest season depresses the prices farmers get.

Does WFP buy locally in Somalia? Farmer said WFP tries to buy locally elsewhere, but does not do so in Somalia. Why not? Watch this site.

Footnote: Bowden's press conference was delayed, a spokesperson said, because he was blocked at the UN's visitors' entrance. Afterwards, Bowden told Inner City Press he showed his pass from the UN Office in Nairobi, but that this wasn't accepted at the UN in New York. Ironically, Kentucky Fried Chicken's Colonel Sanders impersonator got into the building with no problem, but the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Somalia was stopped...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unon1somalia120809.html

In Somalia, WFP Charged With Diversion to Kenya, Says DSS Protects It, But DSS Can't

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/wfp4somalia092809.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 -- The World Food Program's Josette Sheeran on Monday said that in Somalia WFP relies on the UN's Department of Safety and Security, while it investigates "charges of diversion of food into Kenya." Video here, from Minute 34:50.

When Inner City Press asked the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden the same questions on September 23, he said he was sure there was no diversion of aid, but admitted that there are areas of Somalia where DSS can't go, where the UN relies on the "security of the agencies concerned." Video here, from Minute 15:50

So if WFP says it relies on DSS and not mercenaries, but DSS says it cannot protect WFP in some areas and relies on WFP, logically one of the two statements is false.

Inner City Press asked UN Spokesperson Michele Montas about this Monday at noon. Video here, from Minute 10:43. She said "Ask WFP."

Inner City Press pointed about the inconsistency been what Ms. Sheeran and Mr. Bowden said, and asked for an answer from UN DSS. When one is received it will be published on this site. For now we note again that Somali sources tell Inner City Press that food is being used as a political weapon.

Footnote: Inner City Press asked Ms. Sheeran and Jeff Sachs next to her about WFP's $400,000 "food distribution simulation" for the spouses of G-8 leaders in Rome earlier this year. While Inner City Press broke this story at the time of the G-8 meeting, it is understand for example that the Swedish press is following up. Ms. Sheeran as if reading from notes, said that the "Rome based agencies were invited to host" the G-8 spouses, and thought it important to hear from beneficiaries of aid.

But to flying kids from Ghana for a simulated "food distribution" for politicians' spouses? As one WFP staffer asked, would Ms. Sheeran think of doing this with Food Stamps recipients in the U.S.? Sachs never answered, after he spoke about partnering with Ericsson. We hope to have more on this.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/wfp4somalia092809.html