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By Matthew Russell Lee, UN, CJR PFTracker

UNITED NATIONS GATE, January 20 – In Mali there has been an attack on the UN based and Chadian soldiers in Aguelhok with 10 reportedly killed and 19 wounded, one missing - one UN vehicle seized. At UNSG Antonio 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. Then this:  "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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