In
Mali Three UN Troops From
Guinea Killed Near Siby But
Guterres and Germany No
Answers
By
Matthew
Russell Lee, UN,
CJR PFTracker
UNITED NATIONS
GATE, February 23 – In Mali
there was an attack near Siby
on UN peacekeepers from
Guinea, killing three, and now
UNSG Antonio Guterres, from
location undisclosed,
expressed concern while
refusing all questions.
Likeness his spokesman
Stephane Dujarric refused any
answer on the reported
shooting of Malian soldier(s)
by German UN peacekeepings,
which Inner City Press asked
about in writing on February
18 (and asked the German PR at
the UN Gate on February 21,
Periscope video here).
Here's from UNSC statement:
"The members of the Security
Council condemned in the
strongest terms the attack
perpetrated on 22 February
2019 against a vehicle
carrying peacekeepers from
MINUSMA near Siby (region of
Bamako), which resulted in 3
peacekeepers from Guinea
killed and another
injured.
The members of the Security
Council expressed their
deepest condolences and
sympathy to the families of
the victims, as well as to
Guinea and to MINUSMA. They
wished a speedy and full
recovery to the peacekeeper
who was injured. They paid
tribute to the peacekeepers
who risk their
lives.
The members of the Security
Council called on the
Government of Mali to swiftly
investigate this attack and
bring the perpetrators to
justice. They underlined that
attacks targeting peacekeepers
may constitute war crimes
under international law. They
stressed that involvement in
planning, directing,
sponsoring or conducting
attacks against MINUSMA
peacekeepers constitutes a
basis for sanctions
designations pursuant to
United Nations Security
Council resolutions."
What about the Malian
soldier(s) shot by
peacekeepers from UNSC member
Germany? Answers are needed
from Germany. And
still no
answers on UN
Peacekeeping
despite lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric's on
camera
promise. This
is fraud. At
Guterres'
Press-less
press
conference on
January 18 no
one allowed in
even asking
about Mali,
much less
Idriss Deby
who was handed
$2 million in
a gift
box by
CEFC China
Energy which
tried to buy
Partex Oil
from Guterres'
Gulbenkian
Foundation. While
local media puts the number
killed at 10 or higher, the
last statement by the UN
Mission MINUSMA, in French
only, puts it at eight. So
Inner City Press wrote to the
UN Office of the Spokesperson,
ostensibly staffed, with a
simple "Press request for the
UN's current estimate of
casualties in the attack in
Mali." An hour later, nothing
- despite lead spokesman
Stephane Dujarric's promise on
camera that questions
would be answered. Later there
was a canned statement from
Guterres' spokesperson's
office, then one from the
Security Council, beginning
"The members of the Security
Council condemned in the
strongest terms the attack
perpetrated on 20 January 2019
against the camp of MINUSMA in
Aguelhok, which resulted in 10
peacekeepers from Chad killed
and several others injured, in
spite of the robust response
from
MINUSMA.
The members of the Security
Council expressed their
deepest condolences and
sympathy to the families of
the victims, as well as to
Chad and to MINUSMA. They
wished a speedy and full
recovery to those who were
injured. They paid tribute to
the peacekeepers who risk
their
lives.
The members of the Security
Council called on the
Government of Mali to swiftly
investigate this attack and
bring the perpetrators to
justice. They underlined that
attacks targeting peacekeepers
may constitute war crimes
under international law. They
stressed that involvement in
planning, directing,
sponsoring or conducting
attacks against MINUSMA
peacekeepers constitutes a
basis for sanctions
designations pursuant to
United Nations Security
Council resolutions.." Here
was Guterres'
spokesperson: "The
Secretary-General strongly
condemns the complex attack
against the camp of the United
Nations Multidimensional
Integrated Stabilization
Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) this
morning in Aguelhok, Kidal
region. Ten peacekeepers from
Chad were killed and at least
25 injured. MINUSMA
forces responded robustly and
a number of assailants were
killed.
The Secretary-General conveys
his heartfelt condolences to
the Government of Chad, and
the families and loved ones of
the deceased. He wishes a
swift recovery to the injured
and pays tribute to the
dedication and courage of the
men and women serving in
MINUSMA at great personal risk
and
sacrifice.
The Secretary-General calls on
the Malian authorities, as
well as the signatory armed
groups to the peace agreement,
to spare no effort in
identifying the perpetrators
of this attack so that they
can be brought to justice as
swiftly as possible. He
recalls that attacks targeting
United Nations peacekeepers
may constitute war crimes
under international law. The
Secretary-General reaffirms
that such acts will not
diminish the resolve of the
United Nations to continue
supporting the people and
Government of Mali in their
efforts to build peace and
stability in the country." We
will have more on this. How
badly is today's UN and
international system run? As
to Mali, a once and again
French colony, when the UN
Security Council met on
January 16, French Ambassador
to the UN Francois Delattre
took the lead and said he
would propose a Council press
statement after the meeting.
And before day's end, in the
process by which the UN and
Security Council allow former
colonial powers to continue
their rule from the sword to
the pen, a statement was
issued, below. France will
lead a trip there in March,
accompanied by its media to be
sure, and probably another
Council member co-sponsoring
as a fig leaf of
decolonization. This is the
UN, under Antonio Guterres. On
December 20 a UN press release
said that "The members of the
Security Council Committee
established pursuant to
resolution 2374 (2017)
concerning Mali... decided
that 3 individuals be placed
on the 2374 sanctions list and
be subject to a travel ban
measure, as imposed by
paragraph 1 to 3 of resolution
2374 (2017) and renewed by
paragraph 1 of resolution 2432
(2018)." But a visit to the
Committee's website at 7:25 pm
found the statement, "As of
today, no individuals or
entities have been designated
by the Committee." Earlier,
Inner City Press exclusively
exposed the handing of the UN
Security Council webpages to
the photographer husband of
the chief of staff of DPA
chief Rosemary DiCarlo. OIOS
never responded to Inner City
Press, which was then roughed
up by Antonio Guterres'
Security on 3 July 2018 and
has been banned 196 days
since. And here's from the
UNSC's - or France's - January
16 statement: "The members of
the Security Council were
briefed on 16 January 2019 by
the Assistant
Secretary-General for Africa,
Bintou Keita, on the situation
in
Mali.
The members of the Security
Council welcomed the recent
positive steps achieved in the
implementation of the
Agreement for Peace and
Reconciliation in Mali (“the
Agreement”), including
through: the establishment of
10 district-level interim
administrations in the Kidal,
Ménaka and Timbuktu regions;
the launch of an accelerated
disarmament, demobilization,
reintegration and integration
process for 1,423 combatants;
the holding of a second
high-level meeting on the
implementation of the defense
and security pillar of the
Agreement, which allowed
further progress towards the
definition of a common vision
on the reconstituted Malian
defense and security forces,
the establishment of a
regional territorial police
force and of anti-terror
special units, and the
modalities of conduct of the
disarmament, demobilization,
reintegration and integration
and of the security sector
reform processes; as well as
the establishment of a working
group on the participation of
women in the peace process,
under the leadership of
MINUSMA.
The members of the Security
Council commended the Malian
parties for the establishment
of a weekly coordination
framework between
representatives of the
Government of Mali, the
Plateforme coalition of armed
groups and the Coordination
des Mouvements de l’Azawad
coalition of armed groups
(“the Plateforme and
Coordination armed groups”),
under the authority of the
Minister for Social Cohesion,
Peace and National
Reconciliation. They welcomed
the mobilization of the Prime
Minister in support to the
implementation of the
Agreement. They called upon
all Malian stakeholders to
unite their efforts following
President Keita’s reelection
and work together to promote
sustainable peace, human
rights, and tackle the
security and development
challenges facing
Mali.
The members of the Security
Council expressed a
significant sense of
impatience with parties over
the persistent delays in the
full implementation of key
provisions of the Agreement.
They urged the Government of
Mali and the Plateforme and
Coordination armed groups to
take immediate and concrete
action to effectively
implement the remaining key
provisions of the Agreement
referenced in paragraph 4 of
resolution 2423 (2018) which
have not yet been
implemented.
The members of the Security
Council recalled the
provisions of resolution 2423
(2018) requesting the
Secretary-General to report 6
months after the presidential
inauguration on progress in
the implementation of the
Agreement and expressing the
intent of the Security
Council, in the absence of
significant progress, to
request the Secretary-General
to provide options for
potential significant
adaptation of MINUSMA after
the expiration of its current
mandate. They further recalled
the provisions of resolution
2423 (2018) expressing the
intention of the Security
Council to follow closely the
timely implementation of the
Roadmap adopted on 22 March
2018 and to respond with
measures pursuant to
resolution 2374 (2017) should
the parties not implement the
agreed-upon commitments within
the announced timeframe. They
recalled, in this context, the
listing decision of 20
December 2018 of the 2374
sanctions Committee. They
stressed that all parties to
the Agreement share the
primary responsibility to make
steadfast progress in its
implementation.
The members of the Security
Council expressed growing
concerns about the continued
deterioration of the security
situation in Central Mali.
They strongly condemned the
continued attacks, including
terrorist attacks, against
civilians, representatives
from local, regional and State
institutions, as well as
national, international and UN
security forces." There is
other corruption and
mismanagement: Canada made a
lot of noise about committing
to UN Peacekeeping, perhaps
because it is running for a UN
Security Council seat (against
Norway and Ireland), and/or to
show Justin Trudeau's
commitment to
multi-lateralism. But after a
belated deployment to Mali, it
seems to quickly be coming to
an end. And according to
Canada's defense minister Harjit
Sajjan,
the UN hasn't even asked
Canada to stay on contrary to
the UN's answer to Inner City
Press last week. Inner
City Press, banned 138 days
and counting from the UN by SG
Antonio Guterres (for it seems
what Trudeau called "bad
behavior," video here,
asking a question about
Canadian support to Saudi
Arabia's war on Yemen), on
November 16 asked Guterres'
spokesmen: "November 16- 2: On
Mali, please confirm or deny
that (1) Canada's deployment
on medevac and otherwise ends
in July; separately (2) that
Canada has indicated it will
leave in July; (3) that
Romania might replace, but not
until October, and (4) what
the UN intends to do for
wounded peacekeepers between
those dates." Past 5 pm
Guterres' deputy spokesman
Farhan Haq replied: "Regarding
question Nov. 16-2, we have
seen the press reports.
Canada’s contributions to
Mali, including helicopters
and attached military
personnel, are critical to the
Mission’s ability to conduct
medical evacuations and rescue
wounded peacekeepers as well
as for uninterrupted military
enabling capabilities. DPKO is
exploring various options,
including engaging with Canada
and other troop contributing
countries, to ensure there is
continuing 24/7 casualty
evacuation support when
Canada’s current mission is
expected to end in July next
year." Can the UN
be "exploring" with even asking
Canada to stay? Inner City
Press, still banned, on
November 19 asked in
writing: "November 19-6:
Given your Nov 16 answer
at 5 pm about Canada,
please immediatley
respond to this:
“Defence Minister Harjit
Sajjan said he has not
been asked by the United
Nations to extend
Canada’s peacekeeping
mission in Mali, which
is set to end in
July.Despite reports
that Canada is resisting
a behind-the-scenes UN
request to extend the
Mali deployment, Sajjan
told CTV Question Period
host Evan Solomon that
while he keeps in
regular contact with the
UN Secretary General, he
has yet to be asked to
extend the mission in
the war-torn West
African country. “I have
not been asked by the
United Nations,” Sajjan
said." From Guterres'
spokesman Stephane
Dujarric, at and
after the
briefing, no
answer. This is
today's
UN - and Canadian
government? When
Canada's Foreign Minister
Chrystia Freeland spoke on the
topic of Women, Peace and
Security at German House on
September 26, she joked that
the audience were the
wonkishly converted and urged
those present to more directly
engage with those who think
differently. She said the UN
General Assembly wee so far
had featured robust attacks on
multilateralism - the
reference, it seemed clear,
was to Donald Trump - but that
countries like Canada and
Germany must work together to
confront it. She cited the
#MeToo movement, but not the
UN's dismal response to sexual
harassment in its ranks, at
UNAIDS and UNFPA. Periscope
video here.
Also speaking were Heiko Maas,
Federal Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Germany; Netumbo
Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of
International Relations and
Cooperation, Namibia; Josep
Borrell, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, European Union and
Cooperation, Spain. A
moderator was Karin Landgren
whose served among other
places in Burundi and who's quoted
a colleague, "'Our dissent
channel is Inner City Press,'
joked a UN colleague,
referring to a journalist
known for asking difficult
questions." With that channel
under assault, literally,
what will Landgren and these
countries do? But that's
another story, like this one
from earlier on September 26:
When Swiss Foreign Minister
Ignazio Cassis help a press
availability early on
September 26, Inner City Press
went to ask him something it
first asked the UN, about
complaints that despite
invitations to Geneva by the
UN Working Group on Enforced
Disappearances victims from
Biafra and Ambazonia in
Cameroon were denied visas by
the Swiss embassy in Abuja,
Nigeria.
Cassis said he
was unaware of the issue but
to ask the consul general. He
was otherwise responsive,
about the political
consideration in Switzerland
about arms transfers -- the
country's former UN
Ambasssador Peter Maurer, now
heading the ICRC, this week
called for review as to Yemen
-- and the North Korea
process.
Is
Switzerland on the short list
to host the second round of
talks between Kim Jong Un and
Donald Trump? Cassis replied
he didn't know where on the
list the Swiss are but that
they play a unique role. He
repeated this as to Iran,
where Switzerland represents
the US' interests. Here were
his bilateral meetings:
1045 EU
High Representative Federica
Mogherini
1100
Foreign Minister Abdelkader
Messahel, Algeria
1230 Foreign Minister Osman
Mohammed Saleh, Eritrea
1300 Foreign
Minister Augusto Santos Silva,
Portugal
1330 EU
Commissioner Johannes Hahn
1430 Foreign
Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood
Hussain Qureshi, Pakistan
1530 Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov,
Russian Federation
1700 Foreign
Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, United Arab
Emirates
It's UNGA
madness, in four languages. We
hope to have more on this.
***
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