UN
Nepotism
in Central African Republic Continues, CAR Alarm Still
Ringing
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 20 -- As the UN prepares for a “high level”
meeting about its work in the Central African Republic, its problems
with
nepotism and even the hiring of mercenaries appear not to have
been solved.
In
late 2009,
Inner City Press asked Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, Special Representative
of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Head of the United Nations
Peacebuilding
Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA) about a
series of BONUCA
hires of relatives of the head of the UN Department
of Political Affairs Africa II Division, Sammy Buo. She said she
would look into it, take action and report back.
Nine
months later,
having heard nothing from her or about any changes, Inner City Press
asked her for an update. “I don't want to speak about the past,”
she said.
Inner
City Press
asked, “But are the individuals, including the former employee of
the Executive Outcomes private military firm, still employed by the
UN in the CAR?” She would not answer.
How
can the UN
credibly preach transparency and anti-corruption if these are its
practices?
Inner
City Press
asked the World Bank's representative for the region about the Bank's
and IMF's freezing of work with the Bank of Central African States.
She acknowledged the freeze, but said that the CAR hadn't been hurt.
If true, what does this way about the Bank of Central African
States' work?
Finally,
Inner City
Press asked Jan Grauls, Permanent Representative of Belgium,about the
World Food Program's recent call for $15 million to feed 600,000
people in CAR. Ambassador Grauls distinguish humanitarian aid from
the peacebuilding funds he has been raising, but said that
agriculture is among the best way to disarm former rebels. We have
another question in and with Ambassador Grauls; watch this site.
UN's Ban and Ms. Zewde, action on nepotism in CAR not shown
Inner City Press
formally asked the director of DPA's Africa II Division Sammy Kum Buo
the following questions:
Mr.
Buo
-- I am writing a story about this morning's Security Council
session on BONUCA / Central African Republic. I am also covering
management issues in BONUCA and DPA and am writing for you to confirm
or deny on deadline each of the following [about BONUCA staffers]
Is
Gabriel Buh Kang a
relative
of yours? A cousin?
Is
BONUCA
staffer Ekei a relative of yours? Your niece?
What
is
the status of Brindou Germain Kabran ?
When
in
CAR, have you stayed with Brindou Germain Kabran?
Did
you
still collect DSA? Please provide records.
What
can
you say about the case of Gozo
Tshamala?
On
deadline, Matthew
Mr.
Buo is also
accused of hiring a former mercenary from Executive Outcomes, in
violation of UN rules. While Mr. Buo has refused to respond, Inner
City Press has discussed the matter with other Mission officials and
finally, on December 21, with Mr. Buo's boss in DPA, Haile Menkerios.
Mr. Menkerios confirmed he is aware of the issue. Inner City Press
asked Mr. Menkerios what DPA's response would be. It is a management
issue, Mr. Menkerios replied, that will be responded to in a
management way.
But has it
been?
Summary:
Subject:
BINUCA
From:
Name
withheld due to retaliation concerns
To:
matthew.Lee
[at] innercitypress.com
Dear
Matthew Please innercity should absolutely look into this matter which
is
serious WHAT IS GOING ON IN BONUCA/BINUCA?
DPA
has
created a new mission called BINUCA to replace BONUCA starting
January 2010 in Central Africa Republic. For more than 9 years,
BONUCA a DPA led mission was plagued with nepotism and favoritism...
Of particular importance is the role played by Mr Sammy Kum Buo, the
Director of Africa II, very famous with his absence of political
judgment (remember Rwanda where he was advising the SRSG Booh Booh) who
had succeeded in appointing a niece called Ekei as Administrative
Assistant, a cousin called Gabriel Buh Kang in the finance section...
the recruitment of the security Officer, Antonio de Jesus a former
memeber of Executive Outcome was done in violation of all the
recruitment rule procedures. Buo is trying to maintain in the mission
his friend Brindou Germain Kabran where he lives when he is mission
in CAR despite he, receiving the DSA.. His fellow Cameroonian...
Marie Claire Bikia, recruited as administrative Assistant, is trying
to be promoted Gender assistant. She went several times in Turin for
gender training.
In
order
to cover this integrity issues, Sammy Kum Buo with the support
of or not of Lynn Pascoe is currently deciding on the future of the
staffs by trying to impress upon the new SRSG, the Ethiopian
diplomat, Ms Zewde who is in her first experience in the UN and
doesn't know the administrative procedure. Sammy Kum Buo would like
to keep his cousin, niece and friends and sacrifying the other
staffs. This is UNACCEPTABLE Inner city press should try to raised
this issue
Consider
it
done,
or started. Watch this site.
* * *
, 
