Has Canadian UN Envoy Been Killed or Kidnapped and by Whom?

We can only hope he is returned safely.

This story has a lot of angles. I will try to follow developments and try to find why this happened.

Thanks for keeping us update on this confusing matter, I hope Mr Fowler and the others are OK.

Thanks very much for your update on this important story. This is becoming a mysterious case as nobody has come forward with any convincing reason. Even Niger governments statement doesn't gve any indication about his whereabouts. His disappearance will clearly hamper UN interventions in restive Niger. We can only hope that he is safe and would return soon.

Good piece - thanks for this

Missing UN Envoy Visited UN-Founded Mine in Niger, Uranium Extraction by Canadians Questioned

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, December 17 -- While in the wake of the disappearance in Niger of Robert Fowlers, belatedly described as a UN envoy, questions mount about Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's undisclosed stealth envoys and their seeming conflicts of interest. Fowler was traveling with an employee of the Canadian government Louis Guay and what's described as a UN Development Program driver, but no security. Niger's Communications Minister Ben Omar has said "they had visited the Canadian-operated Samira Hill gold mine." This is owned by a Canadian firm named Etruscan Resources.

   How is this constitute UN business? The UN still has not answered. But it emerges that Fowler's mission, while never announced to the press, was tucked into a UN budget document last month for $390,700, as "Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to the Niger" (sic), click here to view, under Section 3, Political Affairs.

  This gold mine includes as partners, beyond the Canadian firm Etruscan, the UN Development Program, the Government of Niger and another Canadian company known as Semafo, which is also involved in uranium extraction in Tuareg rebel-contested areas.  See, "Nuclear Colonialism and the Seizure of Agricultural Lands and Tuareg Grazing Areas by foreign companies." Some think these connections might explain rebel distrust of Fowler.  Others question the UN sending a Canadian to Niger where he dealt with Canadian-owned mining concerns.

  But the UN system connections to mining in Niger are stranger still. UNDP even helped develop the gold mines in Samira Hill: "Etruscan got involved in the Samira Hill deposit after it was initiated by an United Nations development programme and Etruscan then acquired the Libiri deposit about three years ago from Ashanti Goldfields... Etruscan, through its 50% interest in AGMDC will participate in the development of this entire gold belt, which is encompassed by the Tiawa, Saoura and Datambi permits."

  UNDP's involvement in this mining in Niger has extended to financing "aerial geophysical survey on a large portion of the greenstone belts of Tera and Sirba." In fact, Etruscan's exploration team includes at least two former UNDP employees, Pascal Van Osta previously of UNDP, and Hughes Diarra, previously of UNDP and AngloGold/Ashanti.

    So what was Fowler doing in Niger, and why wasn't his appointment announced at the time it was made? Wednesday at the UN, Inner City Press asked the Africa specialist of a Security Council member if he had ever been informed of Fowler's appointment. No, he said.


UNDP's Kemal Dervis in Niger, mining and Fowler not shown

   Ban Ki-moon held an hour-long press conference on Wednesday, for which Inner City Press signed up to ask a question, and kept hand raised throughout. Nevertheless, Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas never allowed the question to be asked. The question, as prepared, was:

"Robert Fowler, your special envoy, is missing in Niger, along with two people described as a UNDP driver and an employee of the Canadian government. It turns out that this mandate is in a budget document from last month, at $400,000. But it's reported that they were visiting a Canadian-owned mine.

First, what was their mission? With what parties had it been discussed? Now, what is being done to find and free him?

Second, what safeguards have you put in place that your envoys, ranging from former Nigerian president Obasanjo through Tony Blair to Alexander Downer, are free from the appearance of conflict of interest?

Third, why was Mr. Fowler's appointment never announced or disclosed to the press when it was made in the summer? We're told that there is a list of all of your envoys, that it is not formally confidential or shouldn't be publicized. Can you explain how that is transparent?  To what other conflicts not on the Security Council's agenda to you have stealth envoys?

   Since the question was not allowed, it will have to be pursued in other ways. Ms. Montas' Office has begrudgingly told another journalist that the UN was also paying Louis Guay, along on what basis and at what rate in not yet known. UNDP's spokesman's response to other UNDP questions asked six days ago was that answers would have to be harvested, which has yet to happen. When they are, and when a statement on UNDP's involvement in mining in Niger and UNDP staff or consultant presence in connection with the recent disappearance, all will be reported on this site.

    Later on Wednesday, Inner City Press asked the head of Ban Ki-moon's Global Compact, Georg Kell, to comment on the involvement in uranium mining in Tuareg-contested northern Niger by Areva, whose CEO is on the board of the Global Compact. Kell responded that some companies have "conflict-sensitive business practices." Video here.

  When Inner City Press asked to be provided with information about Areva's (and Canadian firms') practices in this regard, Kell said to check the "OECD mechanism," which is a rarely used complaint process. We will continue on this issue, despite requests to "leave it alone." Watch this space.

  Some speculate that the Government of Niger used Fowler to lure out the rebels with whom he was supposed to meet. Others quote rebel leaders that Fowler was too pro-government, and that the government of Niger gets weapons from Canada. "There were conflicting reports as to the exact nature of his business in Niger, Vesperini said. One version suggested he was on official business for consultations with the Niger government, while another said he was in the country for a private visit." There is a need for far greater transparency by the UN, and we will seek it.

 Click here from Inner City Press' December 12 debate on UN double standards

 UN Office: S-453A, UN, NY 10017 USA Tel: 212-963-1439

Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540  

The Niger Government is playing a dangerous Game and proclaims now that Fowler was never suppose to be in Niger to meet with Government and Rebels alike.
"Niger government officials say Fowler, who is usually based in Canada, was on private business. But U.N. officials say he was in Niger to meet with government officials."
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-12-18-voa20.cfm
      

UPDATE.

""In Washington on Wednesday, deputy spokesman Robert Wood expressed the US State Department's "grave concern about the disappearance" of Fowler, Guay and their driver.

"The United States offers the Canadian and Niger governments and the United Nations Secretary General its full support towards finding Mr Fowler and his colleagues," Wood said.""

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h34yH5rPdqBOw1vEaESZaIpyIMjw

The Story does have a lot of angles in deed and many unknown and speculations that make it so volatile to some extend. 

Thank you for the read, Comment and R here, I do appreciate it.   

It is unfolding worrisome though and full of conflicting news being published, and it seems to change every four hours. I hope they will all be fund safe and sound yet it seems to get worth rather then better as time goes by in this "Kidnapping" Case. Tank you for the read and comment Pat as well as for the R, I do appreciate it.  

Thank for the updated story