Security Council
Chairs: - Faraz Arastu (farazaras2@hotmail.com) - Shawn Verma (shawnverma77@gmail.com)
Topics: - Somali Instability - Congo Militia Groups
Download Chair Letter as: pdf doc
Welcome to Security Council. This committee is constantly in session, and started on the 17 of January, 1946 at Church House , London. It represents the perpetual responsibility of the most able nations to defend the equilibrium of peace in this world. As delegates, keep this in mind when deliberating the fate of nations. Keep in mind that, as delegates of the Security Council, you will be members of a rather small committee. This means that awards will not be given in the same quantity as other committees. If you are well researched, actively participating in intellectual debate, and respectful then you may be qualified for an award.
Delegates, welcome to the best portion of the chairletters page, Security Council. My name is Faraz Arastu and I am currently a sophomore at the New Hartford Senior High School. This is my second time chairing Security Council and my 3rd year in Model UN. Besides MUN, I enjoy a variety of music, running track, and occasionally working out. I am also a part of numerous other clubs like Mock Trial and Mathletics. I look forward to seeing you all in committee and hope you have a great experience. If you have any questions, you can reach me at farazaras2@hotmail.com.
Hello everyone. I am Shawn Verma, a senior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School and some would say ladies man extraordinaire. It feels like I have been doing MUN since my conception, so I know a little something about committee and, all jokes aside, I have high expectations for each and every delegate in the Security Council. This past January I was the co-Secretary General at the Central New York Model United Nations conference, and I am also serving as the President of my school's Model UN Club. Aside from MUN, I like to play and watch all types of sports, hang out with friends, and listen to music. I've also been diligently working on my cube-ing since last year's UNYMUN, and take note that Joe Lee isn't showing up this year, out of fear. I'm sure that you're all intently enthralled with the ins and outs of my life, but regretfully I will have to end there. See you at the conference!
This year we will continue our poster contest, which will be taking entries as your school registers the day of the conference. For more information on the event and rules, please see the Important Information page.
Somali Instability
In recent news the conflict concerning piracy off the coast of Somalia has garnered rare attention. This situation has been ongoing for more than a decade as of now, and must be dealt with quickly and efficiently. In 1991, Somalia lost their autocratic ruler, Mohamed Siad Barre, who had been an influential dictator during his reign. With the advent of his death, Somalia was thrown into a state of anarchy and chaos. The state itself slowly began to topple and the government, for all intents and purposes, ceased to impact the lives of its governed. UN reports claim that "civil strife, drought and rampant inflation have turned Somalia into the world's worst humanitarian crisis." Due to this crisis, once respectable fishermen who were practical family men, have resorted to piracy and have, in the years since 1991, looted over 90 million Euro worth of merchandise. The situation, though docile in the early stages - 1991 to 1995 - quickly escalated into the rampant disorder and terrorism it is causing today. In those years, the UN endorsed multiple peacekeeping missions which were completely unsuccessful in mitigating the situation. By dumping toxic waste in Somali waters and taking fishing grounds that by rights should be used to feed Somalis, neighboring countries have exacerbated the problem. In turn, Somalis are trying to survive by regaining their lost lands and territories and feeding their people. In particular, reports have been filed attesting to the attacks on shipments from the UNWFP. Other reports by the UN state that more than a third of Somalia's total population, encompassing the lives of more than 3.4 million, needs relief shipments and is reliant on humanitarian aid. Humanitarian emergencies permeate the region, resulting in mass exodus from war-torn cities and the establishment of refugee camps.
This being taken into consideration, the acts of terrorism and piracy prevalent around Somalia and the horn of Africa are inexcusable. Pirates have seized more than 200 ships off the Horn of Africa in 2008 alone, and are currently believed to be holding 17 vessels and some 200 crew hostage. In 2008, there were more than 100 acts of piracy in the region and more are expected in the upcoming year. In order to take the most immediate course of action, the UN has, only a few months ago, approved Resolution 1851. Despite the passing of this document, acts of piracy since December 2008 have continued to escalate. Additionally, the UN has partnered with the UK, France, Greece, and several others in the anti-piracy campaign launched in early December. In other news, the Security Council itself has launched their Atlanta Mission for quelling the piracy dominant near the horn of Africa. However, these documents, missions, and plans are insufficient. In order to truly stop the acts of piracy by Somalis, the government itself should first be stabilized. As delegates of the Security Council, you have the power under the auspices of the UN to alleviate the tension building up in the Somali region. For a complete solution, all countries should participate and share an opinion in order for there to be a diplomatic solution.
Questions to Consider
- What problems exist with Resolution 1851?
- What actions can be taken to stabilize the current government?
- How can the piracy dominating the area be ameliorated while a proper government is established?
- How can the demand of millions of the starving population be satisfied?
- Should the UN bring the pirates to justice under the ICC, and how?
Further Research
-- http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/13/america/US-Pirates.php -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/26/ethiopia-ends-somalia-occupation -- http://ec.europa.eu/transport/maritime/index_en.htmCongo Militia Groups
In the past decade Congo has been an issue of international concern because of the rising violence caused by militant groups. The conflict's roots trace back to the colonial era, when tensions first started to arise due to the somewhat arbitrary dividing of the African continent, without regard to ethnic boundaries and tribal territories.
More recently however, the conflict between ethnic groups has escalated. In 1997, an opposition group known as Alliance of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), formed in the eastern region of the Congo and (backed by neighboring Rwanda and Uganda), declared war on then-President Mobutu Sesse Seko. On May 17, 1997, Mobutu was displaced and the AFDL assumed control over the country. The leader of the AFDL, Laurent-Desire Kabila, then renamed the country the Democratic Republic of Congo and worked to lessen the influences of Uganda and Rwanda.
Within months of assuming power, Kabila was indicted of tribalism by the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), a militia composed of Tutsi-Rwandan refugees and demobilized Congolese soldiers. Shortly after, the armed rebel group, with the support of Rwanda and Uganda, seized control of over half the country. Parallel to the RCD, other rebel groups were forming, out of a necessity for political influence and security. The Liberation Movement of Congo (MLC) rose to prominence, led by Jean-Pierre Bemba and backed by Uganda.
Finally, in 1999, the rebel groups signed a ceasefire under the condition that five countries withdraw their troops from the DRC. The United Nations has also responded, with the Security Council chartering the creating of the MONUC (UN Mission in DR Congo) in November 1999.
Despite the apparent resolution of the conflict, problems still remain today. Rwanda and Uganda lay claims to certain regions of the DRC, and the land disputes has continued to be a source of tension between the nations and within the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition, violence continues to plague the nation; as recently as 2004, foreign armies invaded DRC and fought with armed militia groups. The issue of reintegration into society presents a problem for many ex-rebels and militants. And finally, the suffering of innocent Congolese has been attributed to the resulting humanitarian crisis (i.e. death from hunger and preventable diseases).
Questions to Consider
- What action should the United Nations, backed by the Security Council, take to contain and resolve the violence in the DRC?
- Should international organizations intervene in the peacemaking and peacekeeping process? If so, to what extent?
- What role should the UN play in ensuring democracy and fair elections in the post-conflict DRC?
- In what ways should the Security Council and other international bodies prevent further humanitarian atrocities from occurring in the region?
Further Research
-- http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/2/5/1/7/0/p251704_index.html -- http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30233&Cr=monuc&Cr1= -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4370843.stm -- http://allafrica.com/stories/200903060831.html