As UN Council Delays Eritrea Sanctions and Guinea, Buries W. Sahara, France in Mix

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 21 -- With Christmas four days away, the UN Security Council has scheduled a December 23 vote on sanctions on Eritrea, delayed at the request of France, while putting off consideration of the UN's report on war crimes in Guinea, because it is only in French. Meanwhile the promised briefing on Western Sahara, Moroccan sources gleefully tell Inner City Press, may not take place at all. Is this any way to run a Council and world?

Inner City Press asked this month's Council president Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso what has happened to the briefing on Western Sahara, which several Council members affirm was agreed to be consensus last week. "We are still in consultations," Kafando answered. Video here, from Minute 6:07.

  Asked when the Council will meet on the already leaked report on war crimes in Guinea, Kafando claimed that the Council does not yet have the report. Later at the stakeout it was clarified that until the report is translated from French into English, the Council will not meet on it. Whether the translation can be done and distributed by Wednesday is not clear.

  Murkiest of all is the resolution imposing sanctions on Eritrea. Last week it was said it would be put to a vote on Monday, with Libya abstaining or voting "no."

  But on Monday a Permanent Five member of the Council told Inner City Press that "France asked Uganda for a delay." Uganda, an IGAD member, is the ostensible sponsor of the resolution, and has confirmed France's request.

  Inner City Press has asked why France moved for the delay on the Horn of Africa sanctions resolution without receiving any on the record answer. Later, sources alluded to some unresolved French hostage issues.