NEW UNIOSIL ACTING ERSG OUTLINES PRIORITIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000267

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2018
TAGS: PREL UNAMSIL UNSC SL
SUBJECT: NEW UNIOSIL ACTING ERSG OUTLINES PRIORITIES

Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The new Acting Executive Representative of
the Secretary-General (A/ERSG),Michael v. der Schulenberg,
met with Ambassador Perry on June 2 to outline his priorities
for his assignment in Sierra Leone. Given that his tenure is
expected to last three months at most, the A/ERSG plans to
keep his focus limited to three critical areas: (A) the July
5 local elections; (B) the June 2-6 visit of the
Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and; (C) determining the kind
of follow-on UN mission Sierra Leone needs to replace UNIOSIL
after September. The latter area is one of key concern, and
will be part of longer-term strategic thinking that he hopes
to engage in prior to his departure. His no-nonsense
approach, coupled with the short-term nature of his
assignment, indicates that he will bring a new perspective
and vision to develop the most reasonable and effective
follow-on mission to UNIOSIL. END SUMMARY.

--------------
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
--------------


2. (C) During the meeting, A/ERSG reviewed his activities
since his May 27 arrival in Freetown, noting immediate
priorities as follows:

(A) Local Elections - The A/ERSG met with National Electoral
Commission (NEC) officials and the UNDP Electoral Assistance
Team. He plans to conduct an election risk-analysis, which
was to begin June 3. Issues to be covered by the
risk-analysis include funding, procurement, security,
monitoring and observation, and NEC performance.
(B) Peacebuilding Commission - The PBC is currently in
Freetown from June 2-6 to review the situation on the ground
and engage directly with the national government and
stakeholders regarding the implementation of the
Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework. The A/ERSG felt the
visit was not well timed, since it occurs only within days of
his arrival.
(C) Post-Election Period - As UNIOSIL continues to drawdown,
the need to identify what the follow-on UN mission will look
like is critical. The UN country team proposal, according to
the A/ERSG, disquieted some at UN HQ, primarily because the
plan includes too many objectives for the anticipated limited
staffing.

--------------
THE "FIXER" A/ERSG PERCEIVES HIS ROLE
--------------


2. (C) The A/ERSG perceives himself to be a one-man "repair
shop," with the unspoken subtext behind this phrase that the
process of deciding how to proceed with the transformation of
the UN presence in Sierra Leone must be infused with strong
leadership and a pragmatic mindset. He stated that he will
focus on ascertaining how the new, smaller mission can have
meaning. He also stated his concerns that there are too many
documents and strategies developed for Sierra Leone which
have little appearance of harmonization. Even within the UN
family, he stated, everyone views the country and its
development in a different way. In his view, greater
communication and universal focus is required. The Ambassador
wholeheartedly agreed with this statement, informing him of
the lack of routine donor coordination and the need for
greater collaboration at the sectoral, as well as macro,
levels.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


3. (C) The A/ERSG is a seasoned UN official and a
self-proclaimed "bureaucrat" with more than 30 years of UN
experience. Though he will be in Sierra Leone for only a few
months, his assessment that there needs to be greater donor
coordination, as well as targeted focus for the UN family, is
accurate. His statements indicated that he will look for
cooperation and collaboration with donors as he reviews the
vision for the next iteration of the UN presence. Post
anticipates regular, productive interaction with him for this
purpose throughout his tenure. Since the departure of former
ERSG Angelo in December 2007, UNIOSIL has lacked leadership
with sufficient authority, with the Chief of Peace and
Governance section serving in the Acting Head of Mission
role. The clout of the A/ERSG, combined with his outsider's
perspective, will hopefully help determine the most realistic
and efficient follow-on mission structure for Sierra Leone.
END COMMENT.

--------------

FREETOWN 00000267 002 OF 002


BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
--------------


4. (U) A/ERSG Michael v. der Schulenberg has worked for the
UN for over 30 years. His most recent long-term assignment,
from 2005 to 2008, was Principal Deputy Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for the United
Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq. His principal
responsibility there was political affairs. Other posts held
include Head of Mission in Afghanistan, UNDP Resident
Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in Iran, as well
as assignments in Somalia, Syria, and Haiti. This is his
first posting in West Africa.
PERRY