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United Nations

UN Oil-for-Food Program Probe Questions Secretary-General Kofi Annan

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

United Nations investigators are probing allegations of corruption in the oil-for-food program, which allowed Saddam Hussein's regime to sell oil and generate revenue outside UN control. The investigation has questioned Secretary-General Kofi Annan about his involvement, citing his meetings with former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker and his team. The program, launched in December 1996, was intended to provide food, medicine, and humanitarian aid to Iraqis, but was allegedly subverted by Saddam Hussein, who generated an estimated $1.7 billion in revenue outside UN control from 1997 to 2003.

Key Takeaways:

  • Investigators are probing allegations of bribery and impropriety in the UN oil-for-food program, which allowed Saddam Hussein to skim money from the program.
  • Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been questioned about his involvement in the program, citing his meetings with former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker and his team.
  • The program, launched in December 1996, allowed Saddam Hussein's regime to sell unlimited quantities of oil provided the money went primarily to buy food, medicine, and humanitarian goods for Iraqis and pay reparations to victims of the 1991 Gulf War.
  • Saddam Hussein allegedly generated an estimated $1.7 billion in revenue outside UN control from 1997 to 2003, in addition to more than $8 billion from illicit oil deals with Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Egypt.
  • Saddam Hussein issued secret vouchers for the purchase of Iraqi oil to UN officials and various officials and political figures from countries such as France, Russia, and China.
  • The investigation has also raised questions about the involvement of key Security Council members in the program.

Statistics:

  • The oil-for-food program generated an estimated $60 billion in revenue from 1997 to 2003.
  • Saddam Hussein allegedly generated an estimated $1.7 billion in revenue outside UN control from 1997 to 2003.
  • Saddam Hussein raked in more than $8 billion from illicit oil deals with Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Egypt.
  • The program was intended to provide food, medicine, and humanitarian aid to Iraqis, but was allegedly subverted by Saddam Hussein.

Sources:

  • "Launched in December 1996, the program allowed Saddam Hussein's regime to sell unlimited quantities of oil provided the money went primarily to buy food, medicine, and humanitarian goods for Iraqis and pay reparations to victims of the 1991 Gulf War." (Associated Press, United Nations, 2004)
  • "A report in October by top U.S. arms inspector Charles Duelfer said Saddam was able to 'subvert' the $60 billion program to generate an estimated $1.7 billion in revenue outside U.N. control from 1997 to 2003." (Associated Press, United Nations, 2004)
  • "Saddam also raked in more than $8 billion from illicit oil deals with Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Egypt, according to U.S. congressional investigators." (Associated Press, United Nations, 2004)

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