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Canadian U N Envoy Has Been Kidnapped in Niger! Updated 4.

by Uwe Paschen | December 15, 2008 at 08:19 pm

1146 views | 62 Recommendations | 12 comments

By, Uwe Paschen.

Latest update on the Kidnapping of Canadian UN Envoy to Niger are to be fund on by going to this story with the link below. http://my.nowpublic.com/world/has-canadian-u-n-envoy-been-killed-or-kidnapped-and-whom

Confirmation is in now by Niger 1 News, Robert Fowler, Special Envoy of the General Secreter of the U N, to Niger, and Louis Guay, a Canadian Diplomat working under the United Nation as well as their Driver, have been kidnapped by the FFR and is being held at an unknown Location.

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-37904482@7-60,0.html

The FFR rebel group says in a statement on its Web site that it seized Canadian Robert Fowler and three others in an operation Monday.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ixUbtbcS6FchKaPdAOLCqyqLdD9QD953PNV80

Canadian Envoy for the UN to Niger, Robert Fowler and another Canadian are now reported Missing as reported by Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Monette.

The UN and other Canadian officials as well as Niger authorities are working together.Mr Fowler, 64, was Canada's longest serving ambassador to the United Nations (1995-2000), before his appointment as ambassador to Italy (2000-2006).

He was previously deputy minister of Canada's National Defence department and advised three Canadian prime ministers on foreign policy, including Pierre Trudeau.
Kidnapping is suspected at this time.

New reports from the Government in Niamey confirm that the vehicle of the Ambassador has been fund, yet no trace of him, his associate or the driver.

Source yet to be confirmed say that he has been Kidnapped by the FFR not to be confused with the MJN.

UN envoy to Niger missing; vehicle found abandoned By JOHN HEILPRIN, The Associated Press 2:13 p.m. December 15, 2008 UNITED NATIONS — A Canadian diplomat who has been serving as the U.N.'s special envoy to Niger has been missing since Sunday night in the West African state, U.N. officials said.

http://niger1.com/

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24807161-12377,00.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g7xfxv9r-gw5soLM-WNjOi4ko6hw

Further news will follow.

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Sanjay Jha

at 20:41 on December 15th, 2008

This is very unfortunate development. i hope they are safe and return soon, Best

Uwe Paschen

at 20:48 on December 15th, 2008

Thank you Sanjay Jha, I think it may have some Political implication should the FJN be behind it, since Canada is involved with the Uranium mining in Niger as well as China, India and France. And the ongoing Civil war between the FJN and FAN may be sparked up anew with this.

Miriam Mannak

at 00:11 on December 16th, 2008

Geez - it never stops does it? I was so happy when I heard that scottish expat was freed, and now this ....

Uwe Paschen

at 00:16 on December 16th, 2008

Well, now they kidnapped a very big fish. that will steer up a lot of Political dust.

Amitjha

at 00:24 on December 16th, 2008

Thats the real tragedy in working in those areas where the lessons of philanthropy and Harmony haveny been taught.What could be the socio political reason behind this episode, i hope it is not economics.

Albert Milliron

at 01:01 on December 16th, 2008

from Ruters Africa at 0700 GMT (UTC)

In a statement broadcast on state television, the ministry said it had been established that Fowler had visited Samira, a gold-mining locality in the area, before he went missing.
"The ministry has absolutely no idea as to the motive for the special representative's disappearance," the statement said, adding that the country's security forces had been mobilised.

Armed banditry is common in Africa's Sahel region south of the Sahara, an area which is awash with illegal guns after years of sporadic conflicts and is used as a transit point for trans-Saharan smuggling of drugs, arms and migrants.

Uwe Paschen

at 06:13 on December 16th, 2008

I just received Confirmation that The Canadian Diplomat Fowler has been Kidnapped by the FFR in Niger!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ixUbtbcS6FchKaPdAOLCqyqLdD9QD953PNV80

Rhonda J Mangus

at 06:26 on December 16th, 2008

Thank you for the updates, Paschen!

Uwe Paschen

at 07:04 on December 16th, 2008

The news does change depending on the source and as this progresses in time. Now the FFR is said to have Kidnapped the Canadians Envoys and not the MJN any longer.