On Somalia, ICP Asks UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft of Abuses in Marka, He Says UN Security Council Resolution Will Help

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 28 -- When the UN Security Council adopted a Somalia resolution days after allegations of reprisal killings by AMISOM in Marka, Inner City Press on July 28 asked UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft:

Inner City Press: On Somalia, there are a lot of Al Shabaab attacks, there have also been some recent allegations of a reprisal attack by AMISOM. And the UN said they asked the African Union. But given the increasing support in relation with the UN, what should be done to help the African Union forces don’t commit abuses while fighting Al Shabaab?

Amb Rycroft: "So the very clear message from this resolution is first of all that AMISOM does need to get stronger in its robust response to some attacks. But it does need to do so in a way that has absolute clarity about command and control. And we’re looking to see that improve through the mission statement in this resolution.

"And in terms of allegation of any inappropriate behaviour by any members of AMISOM, or the other UN peacekeeping operations, all of those allegations need to be followed up rapidly and robustly, and we are putting in place through this resolution and through the work that the African Union has done, measures that will allow the African Union to get a tighter grip on these sorts of allegations."

  The resolution itself, while "welcoming the AU's investigation of allegations of sexual violence allegedly perpetrated by some AMISOM troops," expresses "its disappointment that the AU did not receive full cooperation from all AMISOM troop contributing countries in carrying out its investigation, and calling on the AU and troop contributing countries to ensure that allegations are properly investigated and appropriate follow-up action is taken."

 We'll see.

Back on May 8 when the UN's outgoing humanitarian coordinator for Somalia Philippe Lazzarini held a press conference, Inner City Press asked him about the impact of money transfer and remittance being cut off, about the future of the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya -- and about Puntland and Somaliland, where people fleeing Yemen are landing.Video here.

  Lazzarini said that remittances have been cut from the UK, US, Australia and more recently Kenya; the latter country might reinstate some of the money transfer companies, he said. Returns to Somalia from Dadaab should be voluntary.  

  In response to Inner City Press' question about the involvement of some parts of the UN, and of the International Organization for Migration in screening refugees including for “counter-terrorism,” Lazzarini said that the government of Somalia is concerned about returnees who might have joined certain groups while in Yemen. Can you say, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula? There is more transparency needed, however, particularly from IOM.

  Lazzarini has previously answered Inner City Press about Somaliland's airspace. On May 8 when Inner City Press asked about the UN's dealings with Somaliland and Puntland, he said it is a big topic, but concretely the deadly attack on UNICEF in Puntland means one can no longer say Puntland more safe than, say, Mogadishu. But what about Somaliland? We will have more on this.

  Lazzarini is headed next to Lebanon; we'll continue to cover his and the UN's work there, and wish him luck.

   

Amid Somalia Gang Rape Charges, UN Silent on Its Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, Post-MSF Plan B?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 16 -- With the UN-supported African Union force in Somalia accused, along with the national army, of gang rape, does the UN's stated Human Rights Due Diligence Policy apply to the support it gives through UNSOA?

  Inner City Press asked this policy question at the August 15 UN noon briefing -- but 23 hours later, there is no answer from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, led by Herve Ladsous. Under his watch, the Policy has been made a mockery of in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

  After the Congolese Army's 391st Battalion was implicated in mass rape, Ladsous tried to cover it up (video compilation here) then decided to continue support. Now that the same 391st Battalion is implicated in the desecration of corpses, support continues, and Ladsous is nowhere to be found. And there are no answers on policy. 

  From the UN's August 16 transcript:

Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you about Somalia. There are these allegations that the AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somalia] peacekeeping force there, as well as the national forces, perpetuated a gang rape, and it’s something that the AMISOM itself has said that it would investigate. But, what I wanted to know is that, since the UN provides support to AMISOM though UNSOA [United Nations Support Office for AMISOM] and provides money and otherwise, does this human rights due diligence policy apply? And what are the next steps if, in fact, either AMISOM or units of the national forces of Somalia, which they, in turn, support, are guilty of the gang rape as alleged?

Deputy Spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey: Well, we’re going to have to see what the AMISOM investigation comes up with. Obviously, it’s up to them to investigate and it’s very encouraging that they are going to investigate.

Inner City Press: No, but I guess what I want to know is, even before they reach their finding, it seems like the UN should be able to say does this human rights due diligence policy, which Patricia O’Brien spoke about, which is a Ban Ki-moon policy, does it apply to the support the UN gives to AMISOM in Somalia?

Deputy Spokesperson Del Buey: Well, we’ll have to find out about that, Matthew. I don’t have that information with me.

Twenty three hours later, nothing. Inner City Press asked another question about Somalia:

Inner City Press: with the MSF [Médecins Sans Frontières] statement that you had yesterday, since then it said that Al-Shabaab either looted or took over, it’s a little unclear, one of the hospitals that MSF is leaving in a place called Marare, and I wanted to know, does the UN team there have any information on that? What’s going to happen? It turns out that MSF was running hospitals in eight cities with doctors and nurses that were Somali nationals. Is there any plan to try to get another NGO [non-governmental organization] to run the hospitals?

Deputy Spokesperson: Well, as I said yesterday, Mr. [Philippe] Lazzarini, the Humanitarian Coordinator, is looking to see how the humanitarian agencies can, in fact, replace what Médecins Sans Frontières was doing.

And what's the update from Philippe Lazzarini, or from the UN's top envoy in Somalia, Nicholas Kay? Watch this site.