Chairs: Cormac Thorpe and Iva Knežević
Crisis Director: Alex Keswani
1 Table of Contents
Letter From the Chairs……………………………………………3
Committee Description……………………………………………5
Origins of the Crisis….…………………………………………....6
Current Situation….……………………………………………....8
Questions to Consider….………………………………………….12
Delegate Views……………………………………………………..13
Portfolio Powers*………………………………………………….16
Bibliography……………………………………………………….18
*The powers specific delegates will possess during the committee. Keep in mind that although your country/group is powerful, you do not have extremely powerful weapons such as nuclear weapons in this committee.
2 Letter From the Chairs
Dear Delegates,
We are delighted to welcome you to EthicalMUN and are excited to spend this time with you. We are really looking forward to seeing your unique solutions to the Somali Civil War and its surrounding crises.
First, we would like to tell you a little bit about us. Iva is a Freshman and has been doing
Model UN since 7th grade. She has attended over six conferences and has won numerous awards. Outside of Model UN, Iva is interested in the sciences and hopes to one day become a doctor. She also plays travel volleyball and was on the swim team. Cormac is a Sophomore and has been doing Model UN since he started high school. He has also won many awards at his conferences, including at Stuy MUN and at Princeton. Outside of Model UN, Cormac is involved in student government and enjoys playing soccer, running, and playing piano.
Welcome to the Somali Civil War, a complicated crisis filled with many twists and opposing sides. This is a crisis committee, and it will be exhilarating and fast-paced. Alex, our crisis director, will constantly be throwing curveballs. It is also important to be aware that we are a historical committee. We are starting in February of 1992, right before UNOSOM I, so everything up to then is important to know, and everything after that date is what we will be deciding. However, you should also do some research into the events and missions that happened after, and try to learn from their failures.
In our committee, we will be using standard parliamentary procedure for a crisis committee, like you would use at any other Middle School conference. Since this is a crisis committee, we cannot plan how long we will stay on each topic, or what each topic will be.
3 However, the first committee session will begin with each delegate giving an opening statement
(which delegates are welcome to prepare) followed by our first crisis situation (which delegates will not be made aware of until the day of). The background guide below is a good place for you to start your research, but you definitely need to do more than this. In addition, EthicalMUN prohibits use of laptops during the conference, so please make sure to have all of your notes printed out. Especially with this crisis, it is essential to know the geography and politics of the region as well as the various conflicts your group may experience.
Feel free to email us if you have any questions,
See you on May 20th!
Iva ([email protected]) and Cormac ([email protected])
4 Committee Description
It is early February of 1992. Somalia, once a thriving nation on the eastern coast of
Africa, is undergoing one of the most violent and suppressive civil wars in documented history.
While often forgotten about, this civil war is resulting in extreme poverty, famine, and instability, consequently causing a huge influx of Somali refugees fleeing to countries all across the world such as Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, along with hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths. However, in this committee, not everyone is on the same side. So get what you want, how you want it, without making the other delegates too angry. Good Luck!
**Please note that we will not tolerate
any racial or ethnic slurs or speech that
may be considered offensive. Being in
character does not give you the right to
be use hate speech. With that in mind,
no one should take personal offense at
a fellow delegate’s portrayal of their
group/nation if it is historically
accurate. To clarify, please do not shy
away from being historically accurate,
but maintain respect for all those involved in the crisis (both the historical groups and the other students in the room). You can consult your chairs if you are unsure if an action of yours is considered inappropriate.
5 Origins of the Crisis
The Somali Civil War can be traced back to 1960, when the former British and Italian
Somaliland merged to create the Somali Republic (soon to be the Somali Democratic Republic, also known as SDR). The nation was formed within days of the two territories’ independences, and by the next year, a constitution was ratified democratically. However, because the borders of the Republic weren’t clearly demarcated and many ethnic Somalis lived nomadically outside of
SDR, border disputes ensued with Kenya and Ethiopia. In 1967, Abdirashid Ali Shermarke became the second president, defeating the former president Aden Abdullah Osman Daar in a peaceful election. He was a cultured leader who focused on creating a neutral foreign policy, in hopes that SDR would not obtain any foreign enemies. However, in 1969, he was assassinated by one of his bodyguards, an act that was later declared personal, rather than political. In the days following Shermarke’s assassination, a coup d’etat allowed the military government of
Muhammad Siad Barre to rise to power.
General Siad Barre was an extremely harsh leader. His regime placed a large emphasis on military strength and on scientific socialism, improving many state-run institutions, enforcing obedience to national authority, and building up a military. During the Cold War, the Soviet
Union, due to its value on Marxism and militarization, supported Barre’s regime with military aid. However, Barre soon used Soviet assistance to invade Ethiopia’s eastern region of Ogaden in 1977, as it had many ethnic Somalis living as nomads. At the same time, though, Soviets supported Marxist Ethiopia, causing Somalia and the USSR to become enemies and Somalia to reach out for American aid. Somali National Army and Western Somali Liberation Front forces
6 were driven out of Ethiopia by 1978, and a truce was signed in 1988 between Ethiopia and
Somalia.
U.S. aid to Somalia seemed promising, but it supported Barre’s regime, which, although condemning clan politics, was governed almost exclusively by officials from the Darood clan group. Barre, while oppressing the civilians of Somalia, inflamed clan tensions, causing outrage and inter-clan as well as intra-clan violence. Along with influence from Ethiopia and Libya, uprisings sprung up across Somalia in 1988, and they would become the foundation of the
Somali Civil War.
7 Current Situation
In January of 1991, after 3 years of violent uprisings and protests, Siad Barre’s regime was overthrown. Somalia is currently in a state of mayhem, as it has not declared a leader and has no formal government. Thus, many groups are fighting to take the country for their own, and clans have begun to unite politically, drawing their tensions to the political as well as military arena.
Various groups have tried to grasp leadership over the country, but have been unsuccessful due to the uprisings of militant regimes and rebel forces. The Somali Salvation
Democratic Front (SSDF), from central-northeast Somalia, is fighting with the people of the
Somali National Movement (SNM) from the north, who have declared independence as the former British Somaliland. All the while, the United Somali Congress (USC), has a loose grip on Mogadishu and the government, partially due to the armed faction battle between General Mohamed
Farah Aidid, the chairman of USC, and
Ali Mahdi Muhammad, USC’s interim president. In the southwestern Jubaland,
Siad Barre and his supporters are planning to retake Somalia as the Somali National
Front (SNF). There is no clear leader, and the country has dissolved into chaos.
8 Thus, these militant regimes are fighting both Somali citizens and other rebel forces, resulting in clan wars that antithesize humanity.
Somalia is falling apart. Clan wars have reached the streets and tens of thousands of civilians in Mogadishu alone have died. In addition, over 3.5 million citizens have been displaced, with over 1.5 million of them being forced to leave the country. To make matters worse, there a severe drought during this period has lead to an extreme lack of resources, causing a famine that has already killed nearly 250,000 and threatens to kill more than a million more.
Hundreds of Somalis are dying every day because of the political instability and violence, and looting and banditry have become widespread while people search for food and supplies. The word that Somalis use to describe this period translates to “catastrophe.”
The United Nations Development Programme ranked Somalia as the 12th worst country in terms of quality of life. The major factors that play into this ranking are: “90% child malnutrition rate, 16.5% death rate among displaced Somalis.” These factors have led to the massive increase in citizens leaving the country and becoming refugees, and a massive fluctuation in displaced citizens within Somalia.
While there are few Somali refugees throughout Europe and the Americas, the most common places for Somali refugees are: Ethiopia (≈629,000), Djibouti (≈90,000), Kenya (≈280,000), and Yemen (≈30,000), which in turn is straining the economies of these countries.
9 International help, however, is on its way. The UN has worked with the Red Cross and other NGOs in attempts to aid those affected and has contacted the Organization of African
Unity (OAU), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC), to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis. In January of 1992, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs in the UN led a team of officials to talk to Somali authorities and aim to end hostilities and secure relief access. All faction leaders except for General Aidid (of the USC) supported a ceasefire in Mogadishu, and all leaders supported the United Nations’ intervention.
On January 23rd, the Security Council, as a result of this visit, passed a resolution that urged all parties to cease hostilities and called for an implementation of an international embargo on weapon and military equipment deliveries to Somalia. The Security Council also demanded increased humanitarian assistance and the contact of all parties involved in the conflict to ensure their commitment to a ceasefire and political reconciliation. On January 31st, OAU, LAS, OIC, and both Ali Mahdi and General Aidid were invited to consult at the UN Headquarters on the maintenance of a ceasefire and the humanitarian assistance that would soon follow. The talks are taking place right now. However, while this is happening, the nation continues to fall apart.
Intervention is necessary before Somalia completely deteriorates, but the fight is difficult and the situation is complex. UN members may join the joint forces or get involved on their own, but the crisis must be dealt with now.
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Questions to Consider
1. What is your one true motive and how can you achieve it?
2. What is the fastest way to get what your delegation wants?
3. Do you want to make an alliance?
4. Who can help you get where you want to be?
5. How much is your delegation willing to risk?
6. What can you do with the resources you have?
7. How will you take into account the health issues, violence, and political fragmentation
while considering your own interests when devising a plan?
8. How could the action you take be affected by arising crises? How could your plan fall
apart with new developments?
12 Delegate Views
Al-Shabaab As the prominent terrorist group in the region, your mission is to get more land to expand your great nation of Islam! **Note: The delegate given Al-Shabaab will also be the delegate for Egypt, beginning as the delegation of Egypt in 1992 and become Al-Shabaab upon its emergence in 2006.
Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) Operating mainly in central and northeastern Somalia with Darood backing, you have a large amount of land, but it is becoming increasingly harder to get more. Do everything you can to take over and maintain control of the government. *Note: this group is also known as the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS).
Somali National Movement (SNM) Working in northern Somalia, you are one of the prominent militia groups (in a loose alliance with the USC) trying to take over the Somali government. Already having declared statehood as Somaliland in the northwest region, your Isaaq-backed group must do everything it can to gain more land and control of the Somali government. You have been neglected as a region of the country, but not for long!
United Somali Congress (USC) Founded in 1987, operating in southern Somalia, backed mainly by the Haawiye clan, and playing a key role in the ousting of Siad Barre, you are one of the main militia groups (in a loose alliance with the SNM) trying to take over the Somali government. You want power, and you will stop at nothing to get it. **Note: You may choose to side with President Ali Mahdi or General Aidid ahead of the split within USC.
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Somali National Front (SNF) Made up of loyalists to Siad Barre’s regime, remnants of the Somali National Army, and members of the Marehan Darood clan, some want to reinstate the Siad Barre’s government in Mogadishu while others want to capture Kismayo and set up a state in the southwestern Jubaland. Reconcile these positions.
United States of America As the most powerful country in the world, your mission is peace. Keep in mind that your failed UNOSOM missions have not happened yet, so research them and learn from those mistakes and try to create a lasting and successful peace.
Kenya As one of the wealthier countries receiving refugees, your mission is to help assist other countries with the refugees they have received and make it so that less people have to leave Somalia. Al-Shabaab will pose a terrorism threat to Kenya when it arises in 2006.
Djibouti You are an extremely poor country, but have received almost 100,000 refugees in the past few months. Your economy is struggling and more people just keep coming. Do what you can to stop the influx of refugees coming into your country.
Ethiopia Your country is receiving more than twice as many refugees as any other country, and it is starting to have a real effect on daily life in Ethiopia. In addition, many militia groups have expanded into your country, and the violence is starting to affect civilians. You must quell the militarism and protect all those within your borders.
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Uganda Your mission, like that of the USA, is to stop the fighting in Somalia. Help negotiate with the rebel clans and other surrounding nations.
Yemen You are a small, poor country whose economy has been strained by the refugees coming into your country. Your mission is to stop these refugees in the fastest way possible.
Saudi Arabia Rumored to have been backing Al-Shabaab, and one of the wealthiest and most religious countries in the world, your mission is to enlarge your economy and to protect your reputation as a good Muslim nation. However, you may also choose to become a covert sponsor of terrorism.
Sudan A country that is struggling with its own chaos, your main goal is peace in the region.
Egypt Another powerful country in the region, your main goal is to stabilize the region, so that you and the rest of northeast Muslim Africa can gain power in the world. **Note: The delegate playing Egypt will switch to Al-Shabaab when the crisis reaches 2006, causing Egypt to no longer be a part of the committee.
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Russia In early history, the Soviets were powerful backers of Somalia. However, they abandoned Somalia when they realized that they were wasting their resources towards peace. Will you become involved in Somalia’s affairs once again?
16 Portfolio Powers
Al-Shabaab ● $45 million ● Army of 50,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Somali National Movement (SNM) ● $25 million ● Army of 30,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) ● $25 million ● An army of 30,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts United Somali Congress (USC) ● $25 million ● An army of 40,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Somali National Front (SNF) ● $30 million ● An army of 45,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts USA ● $400 million ● An army of 60,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Kenya ● $20 million ● Army of 30,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Djibouti ● $10 million ● Army of 20,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Ethiopia ● $5 million ● Army of 20,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Uganda ● $4 million ● Army of 20,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Yemen ● $3 million ● Army of 5,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Saudi Arabia ● $100 million ● Army of 25,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts
17 Sudan ● $20 million ● Army of 10,00 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Egypt ● $10 million ● Army of 7,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts Russia ● $3 million ● Army of 3,000 men, including navigators, soldiers, doctors, and analysts
18 Bibliography 1. "Brief History Bref Historique Taariikh Kooban." AMISOM. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.
2. Brunberg, Joe. "Ethiopia vs Somalia (The Ogaden War) | the Polynational War Memorial." Ethiopia vs Somalia (The Ogaden War) | the Polynational War Memorial. N.p., 2013. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.
3. Department, Guardian Research. "Somalia: A History of Events from 1950 to the Present - in Pictures." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 23 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.
4. Healy, Sally, and Mark Bradbury. "Endless war: a brief history of the Somali conflict." Conciliation Resources. N.p., 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
5. Hogg, Annabel Lee. "Timeline: Somalia, 1991-2008." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 22 Dec. 2008. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
6. Lewis, Ioan M., and Jörg H.A. Janzen. "Somalia." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 06 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
7. Mazzetti, Mark, Jeffrey Gettleman, and Eric Schmitt. "In Somalia, U.S. Escalates a Shadow War." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Oct. 2016. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
8. "Muhammad Farah Aydid." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 06 Mar. 2009. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
19 9. Norris, John, and Bronwyn Bruton. "The Price of Failure." Foreign Policy. N.p., 05 Oct. 2011. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
10. Pike, John. "Military." Somalia Civil War. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
11. "Roots of the Crisis." Enough. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
12. "Somali Civil War." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
13. "Somalia country profile." BBC News. BBC, 10 Feb. 2017. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
14. "UNITED NATIONS OPERATION IN SOMALIA I (UNOSOM I) - Background (Full Text)." UNITED NATIONS OPERATION IN SOMALIA I (UNOSOM I) - Background (Full Text). N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.
15. "United Somali Congress (USC)." Terrorist Groups | TRAC. Tracking Terrorism, n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.
16. "UNOSOM." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 14 Aug. 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
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