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'Leak' led to UN kidnap in Niger | 'Leak' led to UN kidnap in Niger |
(30 minutes later) | |
A former UN special envoy to Niger who was kidnapped by al-Qaeda and held for four months has said he believes a high-level leak led to his abduction. | A former UN special envoy to Niger who was kidnapped by al-Qaeda and held for four months has said he believes a high-level leak led to his abduction. |
Robert Fowler, now a retired Canadian diplomat, told Canada's CBC he felt someone in the Niger government or even the UN "shopped" him to the militants. | Robert Fowler, now a retired Canadian diplomat, told Canada's CBC he felt someone in the Niger government or even the UN "shopped" him to the militants. |
He said only the Niger government and the UN knew his itinerary. | He said only the Niger government and the UN knew his itinerary. |
Mr Fowler and his aide were seized last December north-west of the capital, Niamey. They were released in April. | Mr Fowler and his aide were seized last December north-west of the capital, Niamey. They were released in April. |
Niger and the UN have so far made no public comments on Mr Fowler's interview. | Niger and the UN have so far made no public comments on Mr Fowler's interview. |
It remains unclear what led the kidnappers from al-Qaeda's North African wing to free the UN envoy and his guide Louis Guay, also a Canadian national. | It remains unclear what led the kidnappers from al-Qaeda's North African wing to free the UN envoy and his guide Louis Guay, also a Canadian national. |
The Canadian government has denied paying a ransom. | The Canadian government has denied paying a ransom. |
President 'offended' | President 'offended' |
"I know somebody shopped me," Mr Fowler told CBC. | "I know somebody shopped me," Mr Fowler told CBC. |
It was clear from the first time I met him that he [Mr Tandja] was offended, annoyed and embarrassed by the fact that the secretary general of the UN had seen fit to appoint a special envoy for his country Robert Fowler | It was clear from the first time I met him that he [Mr Tandja] was offended, annoyed and embarrassed by the fact that the secretary general of the UN had seen fit to appoint a special envoy for his country Robert Fowler |
"Who could it be? It could be be the government of Niger. Could have been an al-Qaeda sympathiser in the UN office in Niger. In the UN office in West Africa. In the secretariat building in New York." | "Who could it be? It could be be the government of Niger. Could have been an al-Qaeda sympathiser in the UN office in Niger. In the UN office in West Africa. In the secretariat building in New York." |
Mr Fowler was appointed to his UN post in 2008 in an attempt to start a peace process in the conflict between the Niger government and Tuareg rebels. | Mr Fowler was appointed to his UN post in 2008 in an attempt to start a peace process in the conflict between the Niger government and Tuareg rebels. |
But he said the government of Niger and in particularly President Mamadou Tandja "hated my mission". | But he said the government of Niger and in particularly President Mamadou Tandja "hated my mission". |
"It was clear from the first time I met him in August that he [Mr Tandja] was offended, annoyed and embarrassed by the fact that the secretary general of the UN [Ban Ki-moon] had seen fit to appoint a special envoy for his country." | "It was clear from the first time I met him in August that he [Mr Tandja] was offended, annoyed and embarrassed by the fact that the secretary general of the UN [Ban Ki-moon] had seen fit to appoint a special envoy for his country." |
Analysts say Mr Tandja has had a fractious relationship with the UN during his 10 years in power. | |
During a food crisis in 2005 when 3.5 million people were left hungry, he accused UN agencies of exaggerating the country's problems in order to get donor funds. | |
Mr Fowler also defended his decision to travel without security officials, saying that the area was designated as safe in a UN security report. | Mr Fowler also defended his decision to travel without security officials, saying that the area was designated as safe in a UN security report. |
He was seized by gunmen on the N1 Highway near the Niger River along the border between Niger and Mali. | He was seized by gunmen on the N1 Highway near the Niger River along the border between Niger and Mali. |
Al-Qaeda's North African wing claimed responsibility for Mr Fowler's abduction. | Al-Qaeda's North African wing claimed responsibility for Mr Fowler's abduction. |
However, some reports suggested he was initially abducted by Tuareg rebels operating in the area. | However, some reports suggested he was initially abducted by Tuareg rebels operating in the area. |
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