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 SECURITY COUNCILThe Question of Disarming Somalia6th, 7th and 8th of March 2020Gymnasium Haganum, The HagueForum: Security CouncilIssue:The question of disarming SomaliaStudent Officer:Alexander TerwogtPosition:PresidentIntroductionThe Somali Civil War has been raging on for 30 years now, with no end in sight. It has seen the rise and fall of communism, and the insurgence of jihadist military groups fighting for control against the federal government of Somalia.Definition of Key TermsMilitary juntaA military junta is a committee of military leaders led by the government. The phrase is used today to refer to an authoritarian government, specifically an oligarch military dictatorship, meaning that the military leaders hold the power over the government. A junta is usually formed after a coup d’état, which is exactly what happened in Somalia.Coup d’étatA coup d’état is an overthrow of a country’s current or existing government through non-democratic means. A typical coup d’état is an unconstitutional and illegal seizure of the power by a group that is not the government. For a coup d’état to be considered successful, the belligerents must take and hold the country’s power for at least seven days.JihadJihad’s violent connotation is defined as war against unbelievers. The use of the word by terrorist organizations like Al-Shabaab, though the Quran mentions the word jihad with and without military connotations, have led to the negative connotation it has today. It means that the Islam terrorist groups are going to fight those who do not believe in their specific interpretation of Islam, leading to internal quarrels.Failed stateA political body that has disintegrated to a point where basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government no longer function properlyGeneral OverviewThe Somali Civil War started around 1990 and is still raging on today. Estimates of casualties range from 300,000 to more than 500,000 and over a million people have been displaced. The Somali Civil War can be categorized into 4 time periods: 1986-1991, 1992-1995, 2006-2009, and 2009-present.The fall of Siad Barre’s government, 1986 to 1991Mohamed Siad Barre, the dictator of the Somali Democratic Republic, became increasingly unwell, leading up to the rebellion that toppled his government. With his power slipping, he ordered the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC), the governing body of the SDR, to rule with increasingly totalitarian policies, causing opposition to grow. In an attempt to quell the rising resistance in favor of the communist Derg junta that ruled over Ethiopia in a similar way, Barre decided to target the heart of one of the rebel groups, the Somali National Movement. This led to the Isaaq genocide, the systematic eradication of between 50,000 and 200,000 Isaaq civilians. The Isaaq are one of the major Somali clans present in the Horn of Africa.In 1990, the United Somali Congress, the most powerful rebel group at the time, had begun to lay siege on Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. After four weeks of grueling warfare, the USC finally managed to drive the Somali Armed Forces (Barre’s army) out of the capital. This caused the cascade of collapsing government forces, and a nationwide power vacuum ensued.UN intervention, 1992 to 1995The United Nations had taken notice of the political chaos in Somalia and on January 23rd, 1992, the UNSC unanimously adopted S/RES/733, which called for a “general and complete” arms embargo on Somalia in order to establish peace and security. SC/RES/733, alongside S/RES/746, provided humanitarian work to Somalia in an effort to provide better aid to the people of Somalia. The UNSC hoped to achieve this through the establishment of the United Nations Operation in Somalia I, or UNOSOM I, “to provide humanitarian relief and help restore order in Somalia after the dissolution of its central government.” UN peacekeeping troops weren’t sent until the adoption of S/RES/794 near the end of 1992. In 1993, a task force of UN peacekeepers landed in Somalia, led by the USA. This started the UNOSOM II in the south of Somalia. The UN peacekeepers withdraw entirely in 1995, after having incurred significant casualties over the course of their presence.The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) vs. the Islamic Courts Union, 2006-2009The TFG was established in 2000, with the goal of providing an interim government until an actual, democratic Federal Government of Somalia would be established, which they managed to on August 20th, 2012, when the TFG’s tenure officially ended. This did not, however, happen easily or quickly. The TFG faced much resistance, mostly from the Islamic Courts Union, the ICU. The ICU was a group of Sharia courts that formed a rival administration to the TFG. They controlled much of South Somalia until the end of 2006. The TFG’s struggle against the rebel insurgents led to the amendment to the arms embargo, which allowed countries to start supplying weapons and aid to the security forces of the TFG. The defeat of the ICU in 2006 led to the creation of different sub-factions, some more placid than the ICU, and some, like Al-Shabaab, more radical.The coalition government, 2009 to today2008 saw the participation in peace talks by the TFG and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), a more moderate successor of the ICU. Together, they established a coalition government and appointed leaders and expanded parliament for the ARS. The coalition government, with the help of the African Union peacekeeping mission, led a counteroffensive to retake South Somalia from the ICU splinter-cells who didn’t wish to cooperate with the TFG, with united forces from the TFG and the ICU.The most important and most dangerous ICU splinter-cell is Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab pledges allegiance to Al-Qaeda in 2012, the year that the TFG dissolved to form the current Somali government, the Federal Republic of Somalia. Al-Shabaab is that set on waging jihad against those who oppose them, aiming to reinstate sharia law in Somalia through any means necessary. Al-Shabaab briefly held control of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, but lost it to the TFG and AMISOM. Al-Shabaab has been responsible for many terrorist attacks in the past years, the most recent one being December 2019, when 85 people perished in a suicide bomber driving a truck into a police checkpoint in Mogadishu. Over 700 people have died in various terrorist attacks undertaken by Al-Shabaab, though their overall death toll is much higher.Major Countries and Organizations InvolvedSomaliaSomalia is a nation-state situated in the Horn of Africa. Bordered by the Gulf of Aden on the north, the Somali Sea and the Guardafui Channel to the east, Kenya to the southwest, and Ethiopia to the west, Somalia has the longest coastline of all mainland African countries. Cultural heterogeneity is a problem in most of Africa due to the border disputes created by European colonists, but this is not the case in Somalia. Somalia has one of the highest percentages of ethnic citizens; 85% of its 15 million inhabitants are ethnic Somalis. Somalia’s official languages include Somali and Arabic, the first is the mother tongue of ethnic Somalis, the latter can be attributed to Sunni Islam being the predominant religion in Somalia. The Somali people, however, we're no strangers to colonization in the 19th century. They have been colonized by Germany and later by Britain and Italy. Somalia finally gained independence as the Somali Republic in 1960, when British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland united under the same banner.Somali Democratic Republic (SDR)The SDR, which lasted from 1969 to 1991, was the military government formed under President Major General Mohamed Siad Barre, who seized power in Somalia after a coup d’état on October 21st, 1969. The junta followed the Marxist-Leninist philosophy of establishing a socialist state and developing it into communism over time. The dictatorship lasted 21 years until Somalia fell into anarchy in 1991.Al-ShabaabAl-Shabaab is a terrorist, jihadist fundamentalist group in Somalia. That means that they aim to fight all those who do not follow their religion and idea of Islamic fundamentalism. Pledging allegiance to Al-Qaeda in 2012, Al-Shabaab has officially been designated as a terrorist organization by 8 separate countries.Timeline of EventsDateDescription of event1960Creation of the Somali Republic out of Italian and British Somaliland1961A popular referendum led to the ratification of the new Somali Republic’s constitutionOctober 15th, 1969The President of Somalia is assassinated by one of his bodyguardsOctober 21st, 1969The SRC, under Siad Barre, seized the power from the Somali Republic in a bloodless coup d’état and formed the new Somali Democratic Republic1970The SRC repealed the Somali constitution1976The SRC disbanded itself to form the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP)July 1977The Ogaden War was started by the SRSP with the Somali invasion of Ethiopia, which caused the SRSP to lose their Soviet supportMarch 1978The combined forces of Ethiopia and Cuba managed to drive the Somali National Army out of Ogaden, which left Somalia in ruins, inadvertently causing a revolt that spiraled into the Somali Civil War1978A failed coup d’état by military leaders against Barre saw the execution of most of the officials involved1979New constitution was put into effect, allowing for elections, however, the SRSP still ruled with an iron fistOctober 1980SRSP disbands, reforming the SRC1987-88The Isaaq genocide sparked resistance movements throughout the countryJanuary 26th, 1991Barre is removed from power in the Somali Rebellion, and Somalia collapses into anarchy, becoming a failed state1992S/RES/733 and S/RES/746 lead to UNOSOM I and the arms embargoDecember 1992S/RES/794 created the United Nations Task Force (UNITAF), consisting of UN Peacekeepers, led by the USA1993The UNITAF lands and starts UNOSOM IIMarch 3rd, 1995UNITAF retreats from Somalia2000The Transitional National Government (TNG) is established2004The Transition Federal Government (TFG) is formed in Nairobi, KenyaOctober 2004Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is elected President of SomaliaDecember 2006Ethiopian troops enter Somalia in an effort to assist the TFG in their fight against the ICUMarch 2007The African Union deploys the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM)2007The ICU is defeated and splinters into several factions, including the ARS and Al-ShabaabDecember 29th, 2008Somalia’s president, Ahmed, resignsJune 9th, 2008In Djibouti, Somalia’s federal government and the ARS sign an agreement to withdraw Ethiopian troops in exchange for a cease fire. The former ARS chairman is elected president of the coalition governmentFebruary 2009Al-Shabaab declares jihad on the coalition governmentMarch 2009In an effort to make a truce, the coalition government announces the implementation of sharia law as the country’s official judicial systemMay 7th, 2008Battle for control over Mogadishu between Al-Shabaab and the TFGJune 22nd, 2008Somalia’s president declares a state of emergencyJuly 2009Al-Shabaab has control over half of the territory claimed by the TFGOctober 11th, 2011Al-Shabaab is defeated in the Battle of Mogadishu through a combined effort of the TFG and AMISOMFebruary 2012The leader of Al-Shabaab pledges alliances to Al-Qaeda in a video messageAugust 2012The Federal Government of Somalia is established, and the TFG is dissolvedSeptember 2013Al-Shabaab perpetrates a terrorist attack at a shopping mall in Nairobi, 71 were killedJanuary 15th, 2016Al-Shabaab returns, making their resurgence known by attacking an AMISOM base, leaving 60 soldiers deadOctober 2017December 2019Al-Shabaab kills over 587 people by truck bombing a hotel in MogadishuAl-Shabaab kills 85 people by suicide truck bombing at a police checkpoint in Mogadishu, there are still 12 people missingRelevant UN Treaties and EventsPlease do use either British or American spelling (and be consistent!) throughout your Research Report. When listing past UN Resolutions, it is suggested that you make use of bullet points and the specified format below:S/RES/733 – 23/01/92 – This resolution imposed an arms embargoS/RES/746 – 17/03/92 – This resolution supported the Secretary-General’s proposal to send a technical team to SomaliaS/RES/794 – 03/12/92 – This resolution authorized the use of force in Somalia (UNITAF)S/RES/1356 – 19/06/01 – This resolution provided humanitarian and other exemptions to the arms embargoS/RES/1744 – 20/02/07 – This resolution authorized African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM)S/RES/1831 – 19/08/08 – This resolution renewed authorization of AMISOM for six monthsS/RES/1844 – 20/11/08 – This resolution imposed targeted sanctionsS/RES/1862 – 14/01/09 – This resolution demanded that Eritrea withdraw its forces to the positions of the status quo anteS/RES/2498 – 15/11/19 – This extended various elements of the Somalia sanctions regime until 15 November 2020Possible SolutionsEnding a war that has been raging on for 30 years is no easy task. Such a delicate situation also means that there is no single, easy, or apparent resolution for the war that can be implemented to create stability in Somalia. However, there are a few possibilities that can lift up the region and improve the situation for the better.Improving the infrastructure could lead to an enormous growth of wealth and stability in the country. Much of the infrastructure was destroyed over the course of the endless conflict, and with the constant military presence in many rural areas of Somalia, the chance of rebuilding infrastructure if done by the natives is a near impossible task. A possibility is for the Security Council to mandate a UN Peacekeeping mission, not for war, but to rebuild the infrastructure. The United States Army Corps of Engineers could be a big help in this endeavor. Providing technical support to the federal government of Somalia and the Central Bank of Somalia could help the currency become stable and reliable. Having a stable currency is one of the hallmarks of a successful state, which is what we aim to create in Somalia.BibliographyAbdullahi, Mohamed Diriye. Culture and Customs of Somalia: Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi. Greenwood Press, 2001.Clark, John D. and Fage, John D. The Cambridge History of Africa. Cambridge Univ. Press, 1995.Jamal, Ahmad Rashid. Identifying Causes of State failure: The Case of Somalia. Universit?t Konstanz Politik- und Verwaltungswissenschaften, , Jonathan M. and Thyne, Clayton L. Global instances of coups from 1950 to 2010: A new dataset. Journal of Peace Research, 2009, of the Secretary-General on Somalia. United Nations, 28 March 1995, , Scott. Making and Unmaking Nations: The Origins and Dynamics of Genocide in Contemporary Africa. Cornell University Press, 24 March 2015. ISBN 978-0-8014-5567-4.“The World Factbook: Somalia.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018, library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html. ................
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