Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations

At UN, Nigeria's Reception Features Fela and Gambari, UNAMID Vote Friday

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 28 -- At Nigeria's end of Security Council Presidency reception Wednesday night, the de facto guest of honor was Ibrahim Gambari. Ambassador Joy Ogwu, who has followed him in each of his Nigerian jobs, took photos with him, as did Nigerian and other UN staff members in attendance.

The event was in the penthouse of Nigeria House, built under Gambari's tenure as his country's ambassador to the UN. So it was something of a home coming.

As regards his current job, the joint African Union - UN Mission in Darfur, the vote to extend its mandate will be Friday and not Thursday. Gambari chatted up the political coordinators of Council members such as Mexico, Austria and Turkey. He schmoozed Western Deputies Philip Parham and Rosemary DiCarlo.

Chief backer China did not appear in attendance. But that was not the point: Nigeria's representative on the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions was there, kindly telling Inner City Press about ACABQ's trip to El Fasher during one of Gambari's absences, to see the cost of living differences in different parts of Sudan.

Later, she helped procure a plate of food for Ghana Perm Rep Leslie K. Christian, then clear the tables It is a down home and full service mission, one refreshingly without pretensions.

The soundtrack was pure Fela, spun by a Ethiopian DJ who words for the Nigerian mission. More than one Nigerian remarked to Inner City Press that Gambari, like Fela, might not always be welcome in Nigeria: the latter because of protest, Gambari due to perceived defense of the military dictatorship of Sani Abacha.

But on Wednesday Sani Abacha was scarcely mentioned. Ambassador Ogwu, the host with the most, said she does not envision following Gambari to a peacekeeper mission, as she is 64, as in the Beatles' song.

Joy Ogwu and DPA, Ms. Gurlach not shown, outside candidate in wings?

Goodluck Jonathan's picture was up; the UN Department of Public Information's reticence to move from Lagos to Abuja was a bone of contention. A spicy dish came with fish bones included. The vibe was good: but where were China and Russia, August's president?

It was confirmed to Inner City Press that DPI is consenting to include the word “blogger” for the first time in their accreditation guideline. Still they are trying to confine it to a footnote. We'll see -- watch this site.

Our own footnote, then: the top Department of Political Affairs post with Security Council Affairs, from which Horst Heitmann was removed without ceremony, will not necessarily go to Ms. Gerlach. The talk now is of an outside candidate. But why leave this post unfilled for so long?

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On Darfur, UN's Gambari Discloses Gration in Alaska, Opposes UNICEF, Dodges Genocide

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 27 -- The mystery of why US envoy to Sudan Scott Gration did not attend the UN convened summit in Darfur on July 5 was finally resolved on July 27. Previously, Inner City Press asked the US Mission to the UN why Gration did not attend, which was viewed in Sudan as a snub of the process, such as it is, led by Ibrahim Gambari.

The US Mission said that only Gration's spokeswoman and office could answer. But Gration's spokesperson Marie Nelson declined to return a series of detailed phone messages. The US Mission reiterated that only she could answer.

Not so -- on July 27, Inner City Press asked Gambari himself, and Gambari proudly said that “General” Gration had served in Alaska, and wanted to attend a Fourth of July parade in the state. There -- was it so difficult? US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice indicated that even she didn't know the reason. What was that, about the Obama administration's Sudan policy being clear and united?

Gambari also criticized UNICEF for reaching a child soldiers deal with the Justice and Equality Movement rebels in Darfur, saying that since they say they have no child soldiers, why reach a deal with them? The focus, Gambari said, should be on pressuring JEM to return to the Doha process.

Later, the UN's senior anti child soldier official acknowledged to Inner City Press that more should have been done in advance of the deal's announcement to prepare the ground. With the government of Sudan? No -- with the UN's mission in Darfur, UNAMID. We'll have more on this, from UNICEF.

Gambari on July 27, response on Al Sissi and genocide indictment not shown

Inner City Press also asked Gambari about the propriety of using a paid UN staff member, Al Tijani Al Sissi Ateem, to lead a “rebel” ground, the Liberation and Justice movement. Gambari said we wouldn't comment on that, but that even a deal with LJM wouldn't bring peace to Darfur. Video of all here.

As he tried to walk away from the microphone, Inner City Press asked about “the genocide indictment” against Omar al Bashir. We can continue informally, Gambari said. And to his credit he remained by the stakeout, and told Inner City Press that the Security Council may go to Darfur in October. We hope to be there. Watch this site.

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On Darfur, As US Gration Says Genocide Charge Makes His Job Harder, Rice Insists Policy is Clear and United: Or Is It AWOL?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 27 -- Days after Sudan's Omar Al Bashir was indicted for genocide by the International Criminal Court, UN envoy to Sudan Scott Gration said that the indictment “makes my job harder.”

This not surprisingly gave rise to outrage among human rights advocates. Tuesday at the UN, Inner City Press asked US Ambassador Susan Rice if Gration's in the Obama administration's view. Video here, from Minute 2:49.

Ambassador Rice responded,“No, the United States is very clear and united behind President Obama's policy towards Sudan.” Activists, on the other hand, say that the Obama Administration's policy on Sudan is drifting, or AWOL (Absent Without Leave) as one campaign puts it.

From the U.S. Mission's transcript:

Inner City Press: Some say that the administration, sort of, that you have one message, and Scott Gration has another message. He was quoted recently as saying that the indictment for genocide of President Bashir makes his job more difficult. So I guess what I'm wondering is, is there something called Project AWOL that says the administration has sort of lost its way on Sudan policy? What do you make of that criticism and do you think that-is the administration moving with one voice to put pressure on President Bashir both on Darfur and on South Sudan having the referendum, or are there mixed messages, as some say?

Ambassador Rice: No, the United States is very clear and united behind President Obama's policy towards Sudan, which has multiple components as it was outlined by Secretary Clinton and I and others and General Gration in October. We are placing very strong emphasis on full and urgent implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement as the referendum approaches and we attach great urgency to resolving the many issues that remain unresolved. At the same time, we are gravely concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Darfur, the need for accountability for justice for ending the violence and ensuring full protection of civilians. And so, the situation in Sudan is complex, there are multiple imperatives, and we're united in our efforts to meet those imperatives.

Susan Rice on July 27, Gration, AWOL

Inner City Press: Does the genocide indictment make your job more difficult, just one follow up. Is that actually what he said?

Ambassador Rice: I'm not in a position to say precisely what others have said. Suffice it to say that the United States stands firmly behind justice and accountability for war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity in Darfur and elsewhere.

Questions were also raised about the U.S. position on accountability for war crimes when Ambassador Rice issued a statement largely lauding Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa government's own panel on “Lessons Learnt,” which was meant to forestall a advisory UN Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka.

UN envoy to Darfur Ibrahim Gambari, it was said, would speak to the Press after the Council's consultations. At the UN's noon briefing on Tuesday, Inner City Press asked a question about Darfur, to which spokesman Martin Nesirky said, you can ask Ibrahim Gambari. But Gambari left and did not do the stakeout. Later it was announced he would appear at 4:30. Questions about Scott "Alaska" Gration will be asked. Watch this site.

These reports are usually also available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis.

Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund. Video Analysis here

Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.

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