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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, July 3 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? While its UNMISS Mission steals a radio station and land by the Juba airport, its envoy has been missing from the country for four months while taxpayers' money is doled out for sexual favors, staff tell Inner City Press:

Dear Mr. Matthew Russell Lee:

 UNMISS is facing a leadership and operational crisis. SRSG Nicholas Haysom has reportedly been on extended sick leave for the past four months, leaving the mission without clear leadership during a critical time for peace and development in the region.  According to a senior official in New York, Mr. Haysom had expressed reluctance about being reassigned from Somalia to South Sudan. Following his deportation from the Somalia mission, he is said to have formally requested UN Secretary-General Guterres - who recently murkily promoted his cronies Miguel Graca and Aguinaldo Baptista to ever-higher posts - not to deploy him to another field mission, citing his advanced age—reportedly 75 at the time.

Despite this, Guterres reassigned him, apparently without due consideration for the long-term leadership needs of UNMISS.  No action has been taken to appoint an acting SRSG or provide interim leadership during Mr. Haysom’s absence, raising serious concerns about negligence and a lack of accountability at senior levels. Many fear that the Organization is failing to give South Sudan the strategic focus and oversight required to fulfill its peacekeeping mandate.  The leadership void has further intensified scrutiny over internal staffing practices. Military officers with little or no civilian management background have reportedly been appointed to senior civilian director-level (D-level) positions.

 These appointments are viewed by many staff members as “Christmas rewards” granted in exchange for loyalty to powerful figures, rather than based on merit... Equally troubling are claims of staff being promoted directly from P-3 to D-2 levels, bypassing essential career development and rotational field experience. Some secondees have reportedly been granted D-2 status while still holding P-5 contracts, despite the Organization’s ongoing financial crisis and budget tightening.  As morale among staff continues to erode, there is a growing demand for decisive action from UN Headquarters.

  Staff are calling for the urgent appointment of a competent and full-time SRSG, along with broader leadership reforms aimed at restoring professionalism, integrity, and accountability within the mission.  Many believe that only strong, ethical leadership can steer UNMISS back on course and enable it to fulfil its core mandate of supporting peace and stability in South Sudan.

 Guterres, they say, should resign or lose immunity - and end censorship. On June 19, 2025, Inner City Press reapplied to enter, here. Watch this site.

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, June 24 –  How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres?

Inner City Press on June 2 published a memo leaked to it, even while Guterres bans it from entering the UN, about 20% cuts but with exceptions, here.

On June 19, after no answers by UN, Inner City Press applied to re-enter to ask, here. Later that day, June 19,  Inner City Press exclusively reported:

Dear Matthew Russell Lee:

I'm contacting you concerning what's happening in the UN right now because I cannot stand it any longer.   As you know, the Secretary General Guterres is imposing 20% abolishment of the posts without a clear guidance, and all staff members from the system are suffering from anxiety and worries from this.   However, the Secretary General is promoting and forcefully giving the posts to his entourages on the 38th floor without reason nor publication.  You can find numerous cases if you simply talk to many inside, and here are a few cases.

 Recently, he promoted Mr. Miguel Graca, his personal assistant from Portugal from D1 to D2 and now he is promoted "without proper process or announcement" to the ASG. His work or position was not changed at all, and he is still using his title as "Director of the office of the Secretary General" even though he is ASG. All of his predecessors who worked way much more effectively and harder stayed as D1 forever. He also promoted his special assistant Mr. Aguinaldo Baptista from P3 to P4 and to P5 and now to D1.

  The SG also appointed his long-time entourage from his transition team, Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough as the Executive Director of the UNITAR, the ASG level with no clear process.  And he also appointed Ms. Michele Griffin to the Director of the Electoral Assistance Division in DPPA, bypassing all the proper procedures.

  [For now, Inner City Press cannot enter and ask about this]

Please investigate this and let everybody know of the injustice and wrongful act. [Will do]

   Inner City Press asked UN Spokespeople including Stephane Dujarric about this, no answer at all. The story was tweeted out before 8 am on June 20.

  Five days later inside the UN the loyal opposition Pass Blue - silent on Guterres' roughing up of and continues ban of Inner City Press, which Inner City Press linked to Graca as far back as August 2, 2018 - suddenly and belatedly has the Graca story, with no credit, and no mention of Inner City Press' June 19 report on the other three.

Those with access could have asked this at the UN noon briefing, not only on June 20 after Inner City Press published it but also on June 23 (when Inner City Press, even while live tweeting the US v. Sean Combs trial, covered the UN briefing from outside, here).

Now before the June 24 briefing, banned Inner City Press has asked UN Spox and Graca, "now that Graca has said comments are forthcoming, we have previously asked this: What are SG Guterres' responses to this, to Inner City Press from whistleblowers, on deadline: "Guterres promoted Mr. Miguel Graca, his personal assistant from Portugal from D1 to D2 and now he is promoted "without proper process or announcement" to ASG.  He also promoted his special assistant Mr. Aguinaldo Baptista from P3 to P4 and to P5 and now to D1 and Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough as the Executive Director of the UNITAR, the ASG level with no clear process.  And he also appointed Ms. Michele Griffin to the Director of the Electoral Assistance Division in DPPA" - response? Now that Graca has said "I am in touch with the office of the spokesperson, who will send you comments" - send the comments or say why not, on deadline." Watch this site. Baptista next.

***

by Matthew Russell Lee

UN GATE, June 19 –  On World Press Freedom Day, the United Nations of Antonio Guterres claimed to be in support of journalists being able to do their work without hinderance.

  But UN Global Communications chief Melissa Fleming put out a video of Guterres equating what he (and she) characterize as disinformation as the threat to press freedom, Guterres has banned Inner City Press from entering the UN since 2018, when it exposed the omission of links to bribery firm CEFC China Energy from his financial disclosure. 

On June 19, 2025, Inner City Press submitted an application to cover the UN General Assembly, letter here.

 Law firm Quinn Emanuel, on a pro bono basis, wrote to Fleming and the UN Correspondents Association (with state media of China on its board of directors) seeking a dialogue to reinstate Inner City Press. Later, so did the pro bono law firm of Duane Morris.

There has been no answer to an appeal to Guterres head of security Gilles Michaud.   

But now, with Inner City Press' UN and SDNY covering, including the Sean Combs trial, being picked up all over the world, the application. Watch this site.

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jun 13 - For the UN's role in Hamas' October 7 attacks, non-US citizen plaintiffs and estates on June 24 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, Pierre Krahenbuhl, Filippo Grandi, Leni Stenseth, Sandra Mitchel, Margot Ellis and Greta Gunnarsdottir. 

  The individual plaintiffs are sued for, inter alia, their "constant travel to New York" to raise and get money and "their material support of Hamas' terror infrastructure." Also cited, for jurisdiction and venue, is "over one billion dollars from UNRWA's New York bank account in Manhattan that Defendants then caused to be delivered to Gaza in cash U.S. dollars to benefit Hamas." 

 Inner City Press, which daily cover the SDNY court in-person and the UN from outside the gate, banned from entry by SG Antonio Guterres, asked Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about the lawsuit, without any response per usual.

Nor have they responded to Inner City Press' June 19 application to enter the UN to ask these questions.

On February 18, the (new) SDNY wrote in, "The Government is currently reviewing the views." Letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here

On April 17 DOJ wrote in asking for one more week to finalize. Inner City Press, still banned from the UN by Antonio Guterres, tweeted it.

On April 24 the Administration wrote in that it "has since reevaluated that position, and now concludes UNRWA is not immune from this litigation. Nor are the bulk of other defendants" - 10 page filing on DocumentCloud here.

On May 1 the UN's law firm wrote in to "to request leave to respond to the U.S. Government’s letter dated April 24, 2025."

On May 2 the UN was given until May 22 to reply.

Late on May 22 the UN's publicly-funded law firm argued that the UN Administration's position is "not entitled to any deference" and should be disregarded.

When the plaintiff's asked for permission to respond, the UN's law firm - no answer from the UN on how they were chosen or how much in taxpayers' fund they are being paid - said they weren't asked and if granted, give them a surreply.

On June 13 the plaintiffs argued that There is no basis for the argument that absolutely any entity the GA creates is entitled to absolute immunity, and Lazzarini and Grandi are not immune. And Guterres?

The UNRWA case is ESTATE OF TAMAR KEDEM SIMAN TOV, BY HEIR-AT-LAW GAD KEDEM v. UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY (UNRWA) et al., 24-cv-04765 (Torres)

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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, June 5 –  How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres? Today's example is again from the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, to which Guterres appointed his unqualified crony Volker Turk more than two years ago.

 Potential Conflicts of Interest at OHCHR

1. Early Connections and Career Foundations - Maarit Kohonen Sherif (Finland) served as Chef de Cabinet under High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. - Mohamed Alnsour was brought into Zeid’s front office and later became P5 Chief of the MENA Section. - Maarit’s husband, Mohammed Sherif began his career as GS staff in the MENA Section, where Alnsour was his superior. He was promoted to P2, then transferred to the OHCHR East Africa Office in Addis Ababa, where he was rapidly promoted from P3 to P4. 

But wait there's more: Matthias Behnke served as Junior professional officer to Volker Turk when the latter was UNHCR representative in Sarajevo in the 1990s.

2. Matthias Behnke’s Career Path - Matthias Behnke (Denmark) served as P5 Head of the OPT Office. - He later transferred to Geneva, becoming P5 Chief of Section in the Africa Branch, where Maarit was also a P5 Chief of Section. - Maarit was promoted to D1 Africa Branch Director, and eventually to D2 Director of Global Operations. - Matthias was recently appointed as D1 Chief, Americas, Europe and Central Asia Branch, reporting to Maarit.

NOTE: UN Spokespeople and Officials have been asked in writing about all of this, with a request for confirmation of receipt and response. So far, nothing. Names to follow.

Yet more! Azra Behnke was Volker Turk’s assistant in UNHCR in Bosnia in the late ‘90s., where Matthias was a Danish sponsored UNV. Turk brought Azra to UNHCR in Geneva from where she moved to OHCHR

3. Personal Ties and Workplace Overlap - Maarit is married to Mohammed Sherif. - Matthias Behnke is married to Azra Behnke, who now serves as Maarit’s assistant, creating a triangle of influence between Maarit, Matthias, and Azra. - This close-knit group could be described as a clique, with Maarit as the informal leader. 

4. Yasmine Abou Mansour’s Rapid Rise - Yasmine, who previously worked with Matthias in the OPT Office, was brought to Geneva by him. - She started as a temporary P3, was regularized, and then promoted to P4 by Alnsour—all within the MENA Section. - Later, Alnsour facilitated her promotion to P5 Special Assistant to the Deputy High Commissioner, who, like Alnsour, is Jordanian. 

5. Alnsour’s Controversial Career - Alnsour has been the subject of several investigations. - Despite this, he was promoted to D1 in the OHCHR Iraq Office, but returned to his previous role as Chief of MENA Section after the Iraq office closed.  Summary of Potential Conflicts of Interest - Interpersonal relationships (marriages, friendships, national ties) appear to have played a significant role in career advancements. - Maarit, Matthias, and Alnsour have all been in positions to influence each other’s careers or those of their close associates. - The promotion of spouses and former colleagues into key roles under direct or indirect supervision raises ethical concerns about nepotism and favoritism. - The investigations into Alnsour further complicate the integrity of these career progressions

 This is the UN of Guterres.

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, May 30 –  How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres? Today's example is again from the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, to which Guterres appointed his unqualified Austrian crony Volker Turk more than two years ago.

Now in Vienna, the head of UNODC is out - staff sent Inner City Press this: "  Dear Colleagues,   It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to you today to inform you of my decision to step down as your Director-General/Executive Director. I wanted all colleagues to hear this news from me personally before the announcement is made public.   Some of you know that I lost my mother a few weeks ago after a long illness, and it remains my great regret that I was not able to spend adequate time with her in her last months.    I am dedicated to this Office, to the mission of UNODC and the United Nations, and it is a difficult decision. But I take it with immense conviction that this is the time to reset priorities and personal goals. At this stage in my life, it is crucial for me to spend quality time with my loved ones, focus on taking care of my father and on creating lasting memories with my grandchildren. I have thus submitted my resignation to the Secretary-General who has graciously accepted it. [Fired]  I will remain in my position during the transition period and will update you about the timing and arrangements for our Office."

Really? UNODC is expected to be dissolved in December. OHCHR (Austrian - Volker Turk) and personnel are tipped to move into the empty office in the D and E towers of the Vienna International Centre. But UNODC has 100 offices worldwide.

Turk dreams of an elected position in Austria. But:

 From OHCHR staff: Dear Mr Lee, The staff in OHCHR is demanding the resignation of High Commissioner Volker Turk, Guterres crony, deputy high commissioner Nada Al Nashif, corrupt chief of administration Kim Taylor and all the senior management.  Yesterday Volker Turk called for a townhall to explain the disastrous financial situation blaming the US and Donald Trump when the reality is that OHCHR already had a 60 million USD deficit in January 2025 due to ample mismanagement by HC, DHC and senior management the previous 2 years. Volker Turk gave no answers and Taylor and the new chief of operations, Maarit Kohonen, aggressively attacked staff who dared to ask what the plans are.

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, May 22 - For the UN's role in Hamas' October 7 attacks, non-US citizen plaintiffs and estates on June 24 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, Pierre Krahenbuhl, Filippo Grandi, Leni Stenseth, Sandra Mitchel, Margot Ellis and Greta Gunnarsdottir. 

  The individual plaintiffs are sued for, inter alia, their "constant travel to New York" to raise and get money and "their material support of Hamas' terror infrastructure." Also cited, for jurisdiction and venue, is "over one billion dollars from UNRWA's New York bank account in Manhattan that Defendants then caused to be delivered to Gaza in cash U.S. dollars to benefit Hamas." 

 Inner City Press, which daily cover the SDNY court in-person and the UN from outside the gate, banned from entry by SG Antonio Guterres, asked Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about the lawsuit, without any response per usual.

Nor have they responded to Inner City Press' June 19 application to enter the UN to ask these questions.

On February 18, the (new) SDNY wrote in, "The Government is currently reviewing the views." Letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here

On April 17 DOJ wrote in asking for one more week to finalize. Inner City Press, still banned from the UN by Antonio Guterres, tweeted it.

On April 24 the Administration wrote in that it "has since reevaluated that position, and now concludes UNRWA is not immune from this litigation. Nor are the bulk of other defendants" - 10 page filing on DocumentCloud here.

On May 1 the UN's law firm wrote in to "to request leave to respond to the U.S. Government’s letter dated April 24, 2025."

On May 2 the UN was given until May 22 to reply.

Late on May 22 the UN's publicly-funded law firm argued that the UN Administration's position is "not entitled to any deference" and should be disregarded.

The UNRWA case is ESTATE OF TAMAR KEDEM SIMAN TOV, BY HEIR-AT-LAW GAD KEDEM v. UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY (UNRWA) et al., 24-cv-04765 (Torres)

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, May 13 –  How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres?

Now on May 13, 2025 he sent sent a letter to staff, leaked to Inner City Press, in which Guterres bemoans leaks: "I realize that “leaks” and rumours may create unnecessary anxiety. We are currently in the proposals development phase...  It is important to emphasize that these internal consultations and functional reviews are preliminary steps aimed at generating ideas and exploring options. They do not represent the final position of management." We'll see.

Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned from "his" UN, has been sent a copy of this staff letter to the "SG Calling On Him To Resign" -

Dear Secretary-General,  We are a large group of UN staff members from different duty stations, and we ask you to take the bold decision to step down from your position and save the organization. 

We consider this financial crisis to be the result of your continued and repeated failures in leading the UN.

 Then on March 12, this Q&A: Q: Secretary-General, good morning. Is this UN80 initiative a UN version of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency we are seeing in Washington?  Do you anticipate significant UN staff cuts?     SG: First of all, nothing to do with that kind of initiative. We are talking about completely different processes, methodologies and objectives. Yeah.

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, May 6 –  How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres? Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned from "his" UN, was sent a copy of this staff letter to the "SG Calling On Him To Resign" -

Now this: "Mr. Secretary-General,  We are a group of staff members, many of whom at risk of contract termination. We read your recent message to the staff on the launch of the UN80 initiative and wish to respond to your call for staff to provide ideas for your new reform endeavor. In an earlier open letter, we asked you to simply resign, for the good of the UN.

It is high time for your to step down. This is the best reform you could undertake. In your message to staff you recklessly put the blame for the current financial crisis of the UN on everything and everybody, but yourself. It is therefore clear to us that your new reform is simply aimed at further strengthening your grip on the UN, so that you can further promote your ideologies and views as well as further purge staff who are not aligned with these policies and further promote your loyal supporters in the UN. In view of your clear unwillingness to relinquish your position, we wish to propose some measures that could contribute to a sound reform process in the framework of your UN80 initiative.

Here are your proposals:  1) Dismiss the Deputy Secretary-General, who, despite the ongoing financial crisis, continues to spend  hundreds of thousands of dollars on initiatives like the recent UN Women Leaders’ retreat

2) Dismiss the Under-Secretary-General (USG) heading the Department of Management, whom you have tasked with leading the UN80 initiative. This is the same person who has promoted active discriminatory policies in the selection of UN staff

3) Dismiss the USG of the Department of Global Communication, who has been publicly disseminating propaganda.

4) Dismiss the High Commissioner for Human Rights

5) Dismiss the USG in charge of UN Women

6) Disclose and resume the investigations conducted on various senior UN officials allegedly engaged in corruption and harassement cases, including prominent USGs in Geneva, Vienna and other duty stations.  We hope you will appreciate our contributions to your reform efforts. Implementing our proposals will generate new resources and credibility, so that the organisation will again deserve the support of all Member States and its staff can finally work in a non-ideological and financially stable environment

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE / SDNY  May 1 - The UN has been putting off a reckoning for 102 days, with nominations forwarded then retracted. On May 1, Mike Walz. Will this be it?

 For the UN's role in Hamas' October 7 attacks, non-US citizen plaintiffs and estates on June 24 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, Pierre Krahenbuhl, Filippo Grandi, Leni Stenseth, Sandra Mitchel, Margot Ellis and Greta Gunnarsdottir. 

  The individual plaintiffs are sued for, inter alia, their "constant travel to New York" to raise and get money and "their material support of Hamas' terror infrastructure." Also cited, for jurisdiction and venue, is "over one billion dollars from UNRWA's New York bank account in Manhattan that Defendants then caused to be delivered to Gaza in cash U.S. dollars to benefit Hamas." 

 Inner City Press, which daily cover the SDNY court in-person and the UN from outside the gate, banned from entry by SG Antonio Guterres, asked Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about the lawsuit, without any response per usual.

Nor have they responded to Inner City Press' June 19 application to enter the UN to ask these questions.

 And now? Watch this site.

On February 18, the (new) SDNY wrote in, "The Government is currently reviewing the views." Letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here

On April 17 DOJ wrote in asking for one more week to finalize. Inner City Press, still banned from the UN by Antonio Guterres, tweeted it.

On April 24 the Administration wrote in that it "has since reevaluated that position, and now concludes UNRWA is not immune from this litigation. Nor are the bulk of other defendants" - 10 page filing on DocumentCloud here.

The UNRWA case is ESTATE OF TAMAR KEDEM SIMAN TOV, BY HEIR-AT-LAW GAD KEDEM v. UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY (UNRWA) et al., 24-cv-04765 (Torres)

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 24 - For the UN's role in Hamas' October 7 attacks, non-US citizen plaintiffs and estates on June 24 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, Pierre Krahenbuhl, Filippo Grandi, Leni Stenseth, Sandra Mitchel, Margot Ellis and Greta Gunnarsdottir. 

  The individual plaintiffs are sued for, inter alia, their "constant travel to New York" to raise and get money and "their material support of Hamas' terror infrastructure." Also cited, for jurisdiction and venue, is "over one billion dollars from UNRWA's New York bank account in Manhattan that Defendants then caused to be delivered to Gaza in cash U.S. dollars to benefit Hamas." 

 Inner City Press, which daily cover the SDNY court in-person and the UN from outside the gate, banned from entry by SG Antonio Guterres, asked Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about the lawsuit, without any response per usual.

Nor have they responded to Inner City Press' June 19 application to enter the UN to ask these questions.

On February 18, the (new) SDNY wrote in, "The Government is currently reviewing the views." Letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here

On April 17 DOJ wrote in asking for one more week to finalize. Inner City Press, still banned from the UN by Antonio Guterres, tweeted it.

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 17 - For the UN's role in Hamas' October 7 attacks, non-US citizen plaintiffs and estates on June 24 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, Pierre Krahenbuhl, Filippo Grandi, Leni Stenseth, Sandra Mitchel, Margot Ellis and Greta Gunnarsdottir. 

  The individual plaintiffs are sued for, inter alia, their "constant travel to New York" to raise and get money and "their material support of Hamas' terror infrastructure." Also cited, for jurisdiction and venue, is "over one billion dollars from UNRWA's New York bank account in Manhattan that Defendants then caused to be delivered to Gaza in cash U.S. dollars to benefit Hamas." 

 Inner City Press, which daily cover the SDNY court in-person and the UN from outside the gate, banned from entry by SG Antonio Guterres, asked Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about the lawsuit, without any response per usual.

Nor have they responded to Inner City Press' June 19 application to enter the UN to ask these questions.

On November 14, after the election, UNRWA used public money to hire Curtis, Mallet-Provest. On December 16 they filed a 38 page memo now on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here

On January 21, 2025, hours after UNRWA's actions on October 7, 2023 were repeatedly raised to Elise Stefanik in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, UNRWA's and Guterres' lawyers, with taxpayer funds, filed a reply that "the U.S. has taken the position that Defendants qualify for immunity. Dkt. No. 17. Nothing more is needed." Reply memo on DocumentCloud here.  Will that remain the US' position?

No. On February 18, the (new) SDNY wrote in, "The Government is currently reviewing the views expressed in the July 30 and October 18, 2024 letters. For that reason, the Government respectfully requests that the Court defer taking any action concerning the immunities of the defendants until the Government has had time to complete this review. The Government respectfully requests  the Court’s leave to provide an update in sixty days, by April 21, 2025, regarding its review process." Letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here

On April 17 DOJ wrote in asking for one more week to finalize. Inner City Press, still banned from the UN by Antonio Guterres, tweeted it.

The UNRWA case is ESTATE OF TAMAR KEDEM SIMAN TOV, BY HEIR-AT-LAW GAD KEDEM v. UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY (UNRWA) et al., 24-cv-04765 (Torres)

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, April 10, Scoop – While the UN under Antonio Guterres bans the Press which asks about its, and his, finances, now they are offering buy-outs in UN Security, the unit Guterres used to rough up the Press and keep it out. This has been leaked to Inner City Press:

"All UNDSS Personnel    Dear Colleagues,  In light of the critical financial situation that the UN community is facing—which is impacting UNDSS across all funding sources—the Department is taking steps to help manage this challenge in a fair and responsible manner.

As part of these efforts, UNDSS is inviting expressions of interest for Agreed Termination packages from UNDSS staff members holding permanent, continuing or fixed-term appointments, with the exception of uniformed personnel in DHSSS. The terms of the Agreed Termination will follow the standard provisions under: Staff Regulation 9.3 (a) (vi) Staff Rule 9.8 Annex III to the Staff Regulations https://www.undocs.org/en/ST/SGB/2023/1/Rev.1 Please note that no enhanced packages will be offered. Staff members interested in being considered for Agreed Termination are invited to submit expressions of interest by email to hatlehol by 30 April 2025. To support decision-making, please contact the following colleagues for informal consultation as soon as possible and well ahead of the deadline: •  

 HQ-based staff may contact Ms. Amelia Lowe Field-based P and above staff may contact Ms. Tine Hatlehol  All field-based General Service & National Officer staff may contact Aurelia Taylor All expressions of interest will be reviewed in May. Please note that affordability will be a key consideration, and the Department may not be in a position to accept all requests. The implementation of accepted cases is planned for end-June 2025.

We understand the concern that such message may cause and thank you for your continued professionalism and commitment during this challenging time.  Best regards, UNDSS Global Security Information Center Division of Field Operations Department of Safety and Security United Nations  New York, USA | Secretariat Building/S-0880 www.un.orgton Mail secure email.

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, April 1 – France took over the UN Security Council presidency on April 1, 2025 - while Inner City Press is still banned from the UN, despite its June 19 application.

Back on March - Inner City Press wrote to France's Mission to the UN, nycmis@um.dk and andnyg@um.dk: "This is a timely request that you allow Inner City Press to enter the UN and cover, and/or provide the WebEx  pass code(s) to access France's UNSC Presidency press briefing by French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont on April 1, 2025 at 3 pm. I have questions to ask on what you will do this month about Gaza, UNRWA and Cameroon, DRC, Sudan, Ukraine, DRC and Rwanda, about the SDNY indictment involving Turkey's Mission to the UN as well as the coups in Gabon and Niger and the conflicts in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Yemen and Libya -  and on ongoing cases of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers, and Missions' abuses in NYC, on many of which Inner City Press first reported - including its current scoops on Colombia, DRC, Libya and Somalia. And most recently South Sudan and UNECA.

Please note that Inner City Press and I participate in the WebEx briefings of, for example, the IMF: March 31, 2022 and since with new IMF spokesperson Sept 28, 2023:

The French Mission to the UN by April 1 at 10 am had not answered Inner City Press' request for WebEx codes - but updated online that Bonnafont's briefing will be "in person" only - that is, Press banned. Inner City Press previously reported that the U Peacekeeping job was supposed to go to Bonafont before Herve Ladsous backed into it - and banned the Press - we will stay on this.

 Watch this site.

 Inner City Press on June 19, 2024 again applied to the UN for access, as it gives 100s, to cover the UNGA week. Inner City Press has a NYC Press Pass and writes about the UN. From France and its UN Mission, nothing.

Watch this site. 

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, March 28 –  How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres? Today's example is from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) from which this and more has been leaked to Inner City Press:

"We are a group of staff currently employed at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), reaching out to you to raise serious concerns regarding financial transparency, governance failures, and alarming reports about workplace conditions that threaten the integrity of the organization... it remains unclear whether the total expenditure on layoffs has ultimately exceeded what would have been required to allow staff to complete their contracts or receive standard non-renewal notices.  At the same time, there are troubling indications that IOM resources have been used for purposes unrelated to the organization’s mandate. For instance, consultants closely linked to the Director General were flown to Geneva ahead of a private celebration, with their travel and high daily subsistence allowances covered by the organization. Such expenditures further raise questions about financial oversight and the responsible management of Member State contributions.

 Direct appointments of U.S. nationals under the previous U.S. administration, bypassing all standard procedures, raising serious concerns about systematic political interference in recruitment. This includes loyalty-based appointments linked to the Director General’s campaign, such as Michele Sison [who did nothing when Inner City Press was roughed up and banned by SG Guterres and Melissa Fleming] and the Deputy Chief of Staff in Geneva. One senior official allegedly stated that the only way for citizens from some small nations to be hired at IOM would be through “marriage with the HR Director” ... on October 2, 2023, the Director General referred to French and Spanish as “colonial languages.” This statement, captured on video.

There is more.

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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, March 21 – With the United Nations facing budget cuts and its Secretary General on a junket to Bangladesh, the following from inside the UN was leaked to Inner City Press: 

Dear Council Members,  The message below, which was circulated to you, reflects the outcome of our meeting between the Staff Federation and the USG-UNDSS, Mr. Gilles Michoud. In addition to the details provided in the message, I would like to take this opportunity to summarize the implications of the $30 million budget cut for UNDSS: 

Due to the recent USAID funding cut to the UN, approximately $30 million has been removed from the extra-budgetary (XB) resources, resulting in a significant reduction in staffing. 

As a consequence, UNDSS will no longer have a presence in approximately 35 to 45 countries, severely impacting field operations.  In the remaining 120 countries where UNDSS will maintain a presence, regional hubs will be established.  UN agencies will need to reconsider their operational footprint in countries where UNDSS will no longer be present.  In the short term, approximately 100 UNDSS staff members will be affected, with more at risk if the situation does not improve.  The USG emphasized that UNDSS is not a protection agency but a risk management and analysis entity.

This distinction should be clearly communicated to staff.  I advocated for our security colleagues in the field, particularly those in UNAMI who are facing downsizing in the coming months. However, I was informed that there will be no available positions to absorb affected personnel. The USG candidly stated that he cannot justify bringing someone from the field when he is already forced to send his own staff home.  The UN is currently experiencing its worst liquidity crisis since its establishment. The situation is expected to deteriorate further before any improvement occurs.

 I will continue to follow up with DPO and DOS regarding our position papers and other matters related to the future of peacekeeping operations. 

Please stay tuned for further updates.    Best regards,  Milan Victor Dawoh President-United Nations Field Staff Union

   Message sent on behalf of Mr. Bill Blanchard, DFO   Dear colleagues in DFO,  I would like to update you with the latest developments on the financial situation for DFO.  We have received some bad news from USAID, whose extra-budgetary (XB) funding provides for a very large proportion of DSS's crisis response work in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, as well as a relatively smaller proportion in Nigeria and Ethiopia. 

Most of this has now stopped and I am not optimistic that we will have any remaining after about May, let alone into 2026.  This means that our XB funding will fall from above $20m a year to around $1m if we can't find other donors.  We will need to use the Jointly Financed Activities account (JFA) to absorb some positions, particularly in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan.  Meanwhile, the Controller has announced a recruitment freeze, initially for six months. 

We will not be able to run normal recruitment processes on positions funded by regular budget or JFA or the peace-keeping budget.   It is vital that we continue to retain the agility to be able to respond to the crises of the world, so we need to be able to move people where they are needed.  We are exploring how we do this.

 As he mentioned in his talk to staff, the USG went to the Finance and Budget Network (FBN) meeting on 10 March, where he presented two budgets for 2026, one with a flat maintenance budget and one with a 20% decrease.  He explained what this decrease would mean for DSS (JFA is used by DPSS and EO as well as DFO).  Even if we start by maximizing savings on non-post costs, and if we use vacant positions and forthcoming retirements fully, under a 20% cut we would have to significantly reduce our filled positions in both HQ and the field.

 We would have to prioritize rigorously and change our model in large parts of the world, for example by extending regional coverage and nationalizing positions.  The FBN asked the USG a range of questions and we are now preparing a more detailed briefing for the FBN to consider at their meeting on 21 March.  The FBN was clear that the brutality of the financial crisis that the UN and its agencies are facing means that security will also need to absorb cuts.  We can therefore expect that DFO budgets will be cut.  We don’t yet know by how much.

 As you know, the reduction in AFP funding is affecting discussions about Locally Cost-Shared Security Budgets (LCSSB) around the world.  We have asked all our P/C/SAs to model 25% cuts for 2026 as a preliminary precaution.  Some of you are already facing pressure to reduce recently agreed 2025 budgets.  We are also funded by the Regular Budget and Peacekeeping Budget for some posts in DFO. 

As well as being subject to the freeze, I expect that they too will come under pressure.  There is a risk of liquidity issues towards the end of the year which is why we have a hiring freeze.  We have been able to withdraw from the Global Mobility scheme in order to be able to concentrate on managing the financial situation.  My apologies to those of you who applied for this in good faith, but the truth is that we can't guarantee that all the jobs would continue to exist which means the circular sequences of moves would get stuck.

  As some of you know we had just completed a Strategic Resource Allocation process which would have repositioned us for the security risks we face today.  We will not be able to proceed with this as planned, but it gives us a data-based methodology for considering where any required reductions will be made in new, tougher circumstances.  I expect that no geographical area of the world will be immune.

 We can be sure, if we face cuts anywhere near 20%, that it will affect both national and international colleagues.  As the USG mentioned, we will consider whether part of our response should be agreed terminations.  We have not yet considered how we would run any downsizing process.  All that we can say at this stage is that there are some well-established UN rules to follow, and that we would want to be as humane and fair as possible.   I am aware that some of you will be feeling uncertain and may worry what it means for you personally as well as for the Department. 

As soon as we can give you substantive news we will do so.  In the meantime, I have no doubt that there will be lots of unfounded rumours, so please keep your disinformation antennae up.  Please look after yourselves and those around you, in and beyond DSS.  Those of you who are line managers please check in on your teams.  Please remember that our counselors are available to support you through stressful times.  

My own self-management of stress, which I don't always get right, involves stopping doom-scrolling through the news, talking with my family and playing the piano - you will have your own methods.  The most important thing we can do is to keep on doing a good professional job in support of the UN, especially important when it is under attack and underfunded.  A smaller UN will need an excellent security team just as much as a bigger UN does.  The world is not getting safer, and the UN will still want to reach the most dangerous places.  We will continue to be essential.  We will let you know when we get more clarity. 

Best wishes, Bill  Bill Blanchard Director Division of Field Operations United Nations Department of Safety and Security

 Inner City Press will have more on this.

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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, March 12 –  How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres? Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned from "his" UN, has been sent a copy of this staff letter to the "SG Calling On Him To Resign" -

Dear Secretary-General,  We are a large group of UN staff members from different duty stations, and we ask you to take the bold decision to step down from your position and save the organization. 

We consider this financial crisis to be the result of your continued and repeated failures in leading the UN. Major setbacks include multiple fiascos in the area of peace-keeping operations, which have been or will be thrown out of several countries, from Mali to DRC and Somalia, the irrelevant role played in major current conflicts, from Ukraine to the Middle East, and the collapse of your policies related to climate change, just to name a few. 

Now it is time for you to take responsibility for your actions and simply resign, together with the Deputy Secretary-General, who has actively supported your ineffective policies.

 Then on March 12, this Q&A: Q: Secretary-General, good morning. Is this UN80 initiative a UN version of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency we are seeing in Washington?  Do you anticipate significant UN staff cuts?     SG: First of all, nothing to do with that kind of initiative. We are talking about completely different processes, methodologies and objectives. Yeah.

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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, March 2 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Today's follow up is yet again on his mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, about which his spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuse all Press questions. Inner City Press has asked them, and others, about the newest sex abuse case against the UN there. Now this, from a UN whistleblower sent to Inner City Press:

Dear Mr. Matthew Russell Lee:

 The recent statement by the Government of South Sudan calling for UNMISS to evacuate its compound near Juba Airport is deeply concerning - it is said the UN lied and kept Radio Mireya after independence, and now acts as a ugly guest.

  This incident highlights a significant oversight by the Chief of Staff, Leda Limann, in managing relations with the host government. Instead of prioritizing essential diplomatic efforts, Ms. Limann appears more focused on advancing her own career from D-2 to DSRSG, thereby jeopardizing the mission’s objectives and welfare of the staff. Furthermore, Ms. Limann has been known to undermine capable staff supporting the SRSG through intimidation and attacks, reflecting her lack of diplomatic background and necessary job experience. Her preference for spreading baseless rumors about Benjamin Bol Mei, who is married to the president's daughter, is particularly concerning. These rumors, which falsely accuse Mr. Mei of threatening to shut down UNMISS and confiscate its land, could seriously damage relations with South Sudan.

It is alleged that Ms. Limann has even suggested that donors impose sanctions against Mr. Mei, portraying him as a threat to the UN and various NGOs.  This behavior is risky, and the Government of South Sudan could declare persona non grata (PNG) status against her, similar to actions previously taken by the Somali government against the current SRSG in UNMISS. It seems possible UNMISS may close without achieving its mandate like Mali and Congo

 Guterres, they say, should resign or lose immunity - and end censorship. Watch this site.

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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Feb 27 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Today's follow up is again on his mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, about which his spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuse all Press questions. Inner City Press has asked them, and others, about the newest sex abuse case against the UN there. Now this, from a UN whistleblower sent to Inner City Press:

Dear Mr. Matthew Russell Lee:

 Senior officials within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have reportedly left their posts without notifying their teams, creating operational disruptions and raising concerns over accountability and leadership integrity.

Some officials have left the country without proper handovers, forcing junior staff to take on their responsibilities, while others remain at home, expecting their subordinates to not only perform official duties but also carry out personal errands, including cooking at their residences.  [Sounds like Big Tony Guterres - a fish rots from the head]

The situation is further exacerbated by the extreme heat wave affecting South Sudan, which has led to increased cases of heat-related illnesses among staff. The harsh weather conditions, combined with high workloads due to absent leadership, are putting additional strain on personnel, raising concerns over health risks and mission effectiveness

 Guterres, they say, should resign or lose immunity - and end censorship. Watch this site.

***

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 18 - For the UN's role in Hamas' October 7 attacks, non-US citizen plaintiffs and estates on June 24 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, Pierre Krahenbuhl, Filippo Grandi, Leni Stenseth, Sandra Mitchel, Margot Ellis and Greta Gunnarsdottir. 

  The individual plaintiffs are sued for, inter alia, their "constant travel to New York" to raise and get money and "their material support of Hamas' terror infrastructure." Also cited, for jurisdiction and venue, is "over one billion dollars from UNRWA's New York bank account in Manhattan that Defendants then caused to be delivered to Gaza in cash U.S. dollars to benefit Hamas." 

 Inner City Press, which daily cover the SDNY court in-person and the UN from outside the gate, banned from entry by SG Antonio Guterres, asked Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about the lawsuit, without any response per usual.

Nor have they responded to Inner City Press' June 19 application to enter the UN to ask these questions.

On November 14, after the election, UNRWA used public money to hire Curtis, Mallet-Provest. On December 16 they filed a 38 page memo now on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here

On January 21, 2025, hours after UNRWA's actions on October 7, 2023 were repeatedly raised to Elise Stefanik in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, UNRWA's and Guterres' lawyers, with taxpayer funds, filed a reply that "the U.S. has taken the position that Defendants qualify for immunity. Dkt. No. 17. Nothing more is needed." Reply memo on DocumentCloud here.  Will that remain the US' position?

No. On February 18, the (new) SDNY wrote in, "The Government is currently reviewing the views expressed in the July 30 and October 18, 2024 letters. For that reason, the Government respectfully requests that the Court defer taking any action concerning the immunities of the defendants until the Government has had time to complete this review. The Government respectfully requests  the Court’s leave to provide an update in sixty days, by April 21, 2025, regarding its review process." Letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here

The UNRWA case is ESTATE OF TAMAR KEDEM SIMAN TOV, BY HEIR-AT-LAW GAD KEDEM v. UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY (UNRWA) et al., 24-cv-04765 (Torres)

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By Matthew Russell Lee, Audio, Patreon

UN GATE, Feb 17 – Three weeks after Inner City Press published leaked audio of UN investigator Ben Swanson recounting being ordered by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres  NOT to investigate sexual harassment committed by a UN Assistant SG, now more Swanson audio has emerged (see here for description and below), and now put online by Inner City Press on SoundCloud, here, with related letter here.

On January 31, 2025 Inner City Press reported that Swanson is out at the UN, as of February 6. Spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa have yet to respond to daily emailed questions from Inner City Press on Swanson and other topics including UNOPS.

On February 17, "Guterres announced today the appointment of Jens Wandel of Denmark as Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Reforms."

Wandel was part of the cover up at UNOPS; previously, as Inner City Press reported before being roughed up and banned from the UN, Wandel was the voice of cutbacks and layoffs at UNDP. Is Guterres, instead of any reform or relenting on censorship, getting ready to throw others overboard?

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Feb 13 –  The corruption of the United Nations under Antonio Guterres continues to spread. Inner City Press, banned from the UN by Guterres for its reporting, today publishes here a detailed confidential memo / complaint from the UNCLOS-created International Seabed Authority, no answers from Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming:

in November 2024, a confidential complaint was filed against two staff members alleging misconduct including harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation and abuse of authority. Acting within the established processes of the UN, including the standards applied by the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the UN Ethics Office, the former Secretary-General initiated an independent external investigation and issued measures to protect the complainant against further retaliation, in accordance with his duty as chief of the organization (head of entity).

 Secretary-General Lodge also provided a full and comprehensive handover brief on the matter to Secretary-General Carvalho.   

In total defiance of her ethical responsibilities and her duty as head of entity, Secretary- General Carvalho failed to act and indeed suppressed the internal investigation into misconduct. 

14. Furthermore, compounding her action, the Secretary-General immediately promoted the two subjects of the complaint into positions of authority, namely as officer-in-charge of the Office of Legal Affairs and officer-in-charge of the Office of Administrative Services, the latter having sent the letter of termination to the complainant."

    Inner City Press, still banned from the UN by Guterres, will have more on this.

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By Matthew Russell Lee, Audio, Patreon

UN GATE, Feb 6 – Three weeks after Inner City Press published leaked audio of UN investigator Ben Swanson recounting being ordered by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres  NOT to investigate sexual harassment committed by a UN Assistant SG, now more Swanson audio has emerged (see here for description and below), and now put online by Inner City Press on SoundCloud, here, with related letter here.

On January 31, 2025 Inner City Press reported that Swanson is out at the UN, as of February 6.

Beyond covering up the sexual harassment with with Antonio Guterres' UN and 38th floor are rife, Swanson's final role involved covering up the UN's role in the October 7 attack. Guterres set up a link for Swanson to be thanked for this then quickly imposed a password requirement that that only positive comments are submitted, much like Guterres' continuing ban on Inner City Press.

Now Inner City Press can report that Swanson's farewell e-message said he was "taking an early bath" and leaving. It recalls British rugby league commentator Eddie Waring's famous catchcry from the 1970's : ""He's goin' for an early bath" (when a player was sent off the field for a serious foul).

 So which was Swanson's serious foul? Not his covering up for UNRWA, but rather being caught on audio speaking of Guterres' cover ups? Inner City Press has repeatedly asked the UN Spokesperson (and Melissa Fleming et al) about Swanson and UNRWA - no answers. Totally unaccoutable.

   Inner City Press, which Guterres has banned from the UN as it asks about these and his abuses,  received from outraged UN whistleblowers video of sexual exploitation, they said, in a white UN-marked vehicle, here.  Now Instagram, Facebook.

 Inner City Press will continue to demand re-accreditation.

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