Disgraceful corruption at the HCHR office in Geneva

After the publication of the report of the UN Secretary General on Western Sahara in 2014, Morocco immediately conducted a change of its permanent representative to the UN Mohamed Loulikchi by the holder of the position of Ambassador, the permanent representative to the UN in Geneva since 2008, Omar Hilale.

The unpacked secret documents within the scope of Morocco WikiLeaks have clarified the causes behind the appointment of Omar Hilale in New York. Thanks to these documents, we know now that his methods of corruption are despicable.

In Geneva, he managed to recruit the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, in the interests of Morocco. 

In a note sent by Ambassador Hilale to his central bureau dated February 1st, he stresses that he was informed via the intermediary of his trustee and « friend, » Anders Kompass, Director of Field Operations of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, that Mss. Pillay had given instructions to his representative in New York to « keep confidential the contents of his meeting with the Ambassador of Morocco and not to speak with neither the UN nor the diplomats » and avoid to « discuss or make a recommendation on any extension of the mandate of MINURSO to human rights. »   

In another note dated May 14th, 2013, Hilale highlights the « recognition » of Mss. Pillay for the financial support and the political backing of Morocco, both in Geneva and New York in the implementation of her agenda”

Furthermore, the note adds, the unconditional friends of Morocco, namely Mr. Kompass and Mr. Ndaye have particularly recommended Mss. Pillay the financial benefit for two reasons:

– The drastic cuts in HCHR budget that reached almost 25%. This has seriously affected the work of her Office.

– The need of Mss. Pillay to get with flying colors her second term of two years at the head of HCHR (2013-2014) thanks to voluntary contributions.

Previously, in a letter sent to his administration dated January 22nd, 2012, he had stressed the need to send money to win the sympathy of Pillay. « I would like to remind the need to transfer the sum of $ 250,000, under Morocco’s contribution to the budget of the HCHR of 2011 and about which the High Commissioner expressed twice her desire to receive (my faxes). This transfer will help make Pillay more attentive to our concerns about the content of the contribution of her office to the next report of the UN Secretary General on the Sahara, « he stressed. 

Thus, through corruption, Omar Hilale was able to twist the work of Pillay and ensure the years-long favors of Mr. Anders Kompass, who had become a true trustworthy of the Moroccan ambassador and a means of manipulation to the UN official. 

It is thanks to him that Hilale has had access to sensitive information on the activities of Pillay, advising and acting on behalf of Morocco to discredit the Polisario and thwart all measures for the extension of the mandate MINURSO human rights, or the creation of an independent mechanism in Western Sahara. 

Under his instructions from the Ambassador of Morocco, M: Kompass has contributed in the Pillay’s decision making by convincing her to:

-Abolish her visit to Western Sahara.

– Ensure that the contribution of HCHR to the report of the UN Secretary General on Western Sahara to be in favor of Morocco.

– Neutralize the Tunisian Frej Fennich, head of MENA department, considered by the Moroccan diplomat too hostile to the interests of Morocco

– Avoid making concessions to the President of the SADR during his meeting in Geneva May 23rd, 2013

-Pay a visit to Morocco, exclusively to Rabat in May 2014.

– Implement a technical mission to Western Sahara in May 2014, under his supervision. 

– He interfered in the discussions between Pillay and Mr. Christopher Ross to avoid any commitment of Pillay on broadening the mandate of MINURSO to human rights or the establishment of an independent mechanism in Western Sahara. 

With his lethal weapon of corruption, Omar Hilale also managed to recruit Athar Khan, Director of the cabinet of Mr. Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

In a letter sent in August 31st, 2014 by the ambassador to his central in Rabat, Hilale made a detailed account of confidences done by the UN official on a conversation he had with Mr. Mhammed Khaddad, the Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO and head of the Commission for Identification and Census of the Polisario Front. 

According Athar Khan, Khaddad « seemed discouraged, pessimistic and worried about the future of “the cause” and he “confided him that the situation of the political crisis and war in North Africa and the Sahel-Saharan region, coupled with political uncertainties in Algeria, deeply concern the Polisario officials, adding that the stagnation of the political negotiation process feeds the despair among young people in the camps »

« He, too, told him that the status quo is to the advantage of Morocco and Ross leads an impossible mission. Even worse, he has become a problem to the process. Polisario has doubts about his chances of advancing the negotiations, « adds the note of Omar Hilale, stressing that » Khan noted that Khaddad addressed him for the first time, with a more realistic language than before and that the once-was-militant seems to have been transformed into a pragmatic negotiator able to see the situation with lucidity and courage”.

Hilal adds that “Khan believes deducing from their discussion that Khaddad would be more mature to accept the Baker plan II, without neither its transitional period nor the option of independence”