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MILMUN 14th CONFERENCE

The Crisis of Democracyand the Ideological Shiftin International Politics

1st – 5th April 2019Bocconi University, Milan

United NationsSecurity Council

STUDY GUIDE

Aleksander FotygaSebastian Pape

MILMUN 14th CONFERENCEThe Crisis of Democracy and the Ideological Shift in International Politics

Summary

Welcome Letter 2

History of the committee 4

Modus operandi 6

The ongoing conflict in Yemen: possible solutions and initiatives of the international community 9Introduction to the topic 9History of the topic 10Past United Nations actions in Yemen 15Foreign countries policy on Yemen 18Humanitarian catastrophe and United Nations response 24Questions a Resolution Must Answer 25

The problem of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and Boko Haram 26Introduction to the topic 27Key definitions 29History of the topic 29Current situation 33Previous actions on these matters 36Questions a Resolution Must Answer 38Additional readings 39

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Welcome Letter

Dear Delegates,

We would like to welcome all of you to the United Nations Security Council of Milan

International Model United Nations 2019. Both of us are honoured to be chairing the Council

this year. We believe that the chosen topics will spark your interest and lead to fruitful debates,

and that all of the delegates in the committee will work towards a fair resolution. We also hope

that all the delegates will understand the significance of the topics in question.

This MUN provides the delegates with an opportunity to engage in a substantial, sophisticated

debate, allowing them to develop their skill set, may it be rhetorical or other. Furthermore, it will

help delegates to understand the possibilities of tackling and solving conflicts in a diplomatic

way. Hence we, the chairs, hope that all delegates will contribute with the best of their efforts.

Whether this is your first Model United Nations, or an addition to many others that you have

been to, we encourage every single delegate to represent their assigned countries and

governments, which they are ambassadors of, by engaging with courage and passion. The

Security Council is considered to be one of the most powerful committees within the United

Nations. As its decisions may have far-reaching impact, we urge all delegates to read this guide

carefully.

Moreover, the perusal of this guide shall encourage you to take it as a kick-off for your own

research. A well-founded research is not only a decisive advantage in the debates. It is also an

essential for any delegate that aims for a successful performance.

Should you have any questions on that matter, do not hesitate to contact us. We will gladly assist

you with your inquiries.

We wish you all good luck. We hope the experience in this council will make long-lasting

memories for all of you!

Sincerely,

Aleksander Fotyga and Sebastian Pape

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History of the committee

The Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations (hereinafter referred to

as the UN), as provided for under Article 7 of the United Nations Charter. Article 23 of the

Charter provides for the composition of the Council which has a total of 15 members, 5 of which

are permanent with veto power, and the other 10 that are elected from the General Assembly on a

two-year basis. The Security Council is charged with the responsibility of maintaining

international peace and security and restoring the peace when conflicts arise. In order to achieve

this important primary aim, Article 25 provides that the Security Council shall have enforcement

powers, so that in certain instances it can introduce binding resolutions that are to be

implemented by the Member States. The proceedings are led by the President of the Security

Council, whose role involves setting the agenda and addressing any arising crises.

The Security Council held its first session on 17th January, 1946 at Church House, London.

Since its first meeting, the Council has frequently held its meetings in different cities, such as

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1972, and Panama City, Panama in 1973. After many years, it finally

settled in the current permanent location at the UN Headquarters in New York City.

According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:

1. To maintain international peace and security;

2. To develop friendly relations among nations;

3. To cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;

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4. To be the centre for harmonizing actions of nations. When a complaint concerning a threat

to peace is brought before it, the Council’s first action is usually to recommend that the

parties try to reach agreement by peaceful means.

The Council may:

❖ set forth principles for such an agreement;

❖ undertake investigation and mediation, in some cases;

❖ dispatch a mission;

❖ appoint special envoys; or

❖ request the Secretary-General to use his good o ces to achieve a pacific settlement offfi

the dispute.

When a dispute leads to hostilities, the Council’s primary concern is to bring them to an end as

soon as possible. In that case, the Council may:

❖ issue ceasefire directives that can help prevent an escalation of the conflict;

❖ dispatch military observers or a peacekeeping force to help reduce tensions, separate

opposing forces, and establish a calm in which peaceful settlements may be sought.

A chief concern is to focus action on those responsible for the policies or practices condemned

by the international community, while minimizing the impact of the measures taken on other

parts of the population

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Modus operandi

The Security Council takes on a special role within the committees of the United Nations

regarding its composition, its voting regulation, as well as its power. Its legal basis is established

and regularized through Chapter V of the UN Charter.1

Composition

As the Council comprises of only 15 members, it is obvious that not all Member States of the UN

General Assembly may be represented in this body. The small number of members aims at

increasing the work efficiency and enabling swift decision making. The majority of the members

of the Security Council are elected by the UN General Assembly and receive their mandate for a

duration of two years. The composition of these 10 non-permanent members follows a

proportional representation according to regional groups. Every year, five of those members

change, which leads to a new composition of the body. The remaining five seats are reserved for

the permanent members, also called the “Permanent Five” (or short: “P5”): the People’s Republic

of China, the French Republic, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. Their mandate is indefinite and includes

another prerogative: the veto power.

Voting

Most UN bodies strive to make unanimous decisions, resolving to a simple majority vote when it

is impossible to reach a consensus. On the contrary, the Security Council aims to take quick,

1 http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-v/index.html

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well-thought-out and powerful decisions rather than cling to the idea of unanimity. This means,

that there are special requirements during the voting procedure that are not present in any other

UN body.

According to Article 27 of the UN Charter, the “affirmative vote of nine members” is necessary,

which is just between a simple (8) and a two-thirds majority (10). This applies to all procedural

decisions. Whenever a conflict between the general UN rules and committee-specific rules arises,

the latter shall persist. All other regulations regarding majorities on procedural votes are obsolete

for the Security Council.

On substantive matters, not only a majority of nine members is required, but also “the concurring

votes of the permanent members”. That is, if at least one permanent member votes against a

resolution, the draft resolution fails. This regulation is known as veto power of the permanent

members, as each of them can prevent a resolution from passing. Therefore, the permanent five

members are also called the Veto Powers.

Power of the Council

UN resolutions are in general documents which state and proclaim the will of the members, but

which are not legally binding. This means that no party can insist on the fulfilment of the content

agreed upon, neither towards the parties involved nor in front of any court. This also applies to

Security Council’s documents with the exception of resolutions referring to Chapter VII of the

UN Charter, i. e. “Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace and Acts of

Aggression”. A resolution acting under Chapter VII becomes international binding law, which

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means that states can push for its implementation even in front of international courts. This

makes the Security Council stand out from all the other UN committees. Hence, the Security

Council is known as one of the sources of the creation of international law.

Current Members of the United Nations Security Council2 [2]:

Permanent members: People’s Republic of China, French Republic, Russian Federation, United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and United States of America.

Non-permanent members (2nd cycle): Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of Equatorial Guinea,

State of Kuwait, Republic of Peru, Republic of Poland.

Non-permanent members (1st cycle): Kingdom of Belgium, Dominican Republic, Federal

Republic of Germany, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of South Africa.

2 https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/current-members

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The ongoing conflict in Yemen: possible

solutions and initiatives of the international

community

Introduction to the topic

The civil war in Yemen broke out in late 2014 when the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh

allied with a powerful Shia military group called the Houthis. The conflict, however, has its roots

in the failure of a political transition supposed to bring stability to Yemen following the Arab

Spring.

The war in Yemen is often described as the Forgotten War. Turmoil in Iraq and Syria caused by

the large territorial gains made by the Islamic State, an increase in terrorist attacks in Europe, and

a divisive U.S. election were some of the topics that stole the media spotlight away from Yemen.

The lack of media attention and the complete unawareness about the ongoing situation definitely

made the outlook worse. In a recent report, UNICEF listed Yemen as the world’s number one

humanitarian crisis, with 17 million people in need of food, seven of whom are in risk of famine.

3Moreover, Yemen has to deal with a cholera outbreak, which now affects nearly one million

people.

3 BBC News. (2019). Yemen's humanitarian catastrophe. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34011187 [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].

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History of the conflict

Information about Yemen

Yemen is located in the south-east part of the Arabian Peninsula. It is home to about 28 million

people, primarily Arabs, but there are several minority groups such as the Somalis, Afro-Arabs,

and Indo-Pakistani. The dominant religion is Islam with about 65% Sunni and 35% Shia. Yemen

is one of the poorest and underdeveloped countries in the region: its GDP has been in downfall

for the last 5 years and the Human Development Index is one of the lowest in the World.4

A divided Yemen

After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Northern Kingdom of Yemen was ruled by a Shia

imam while the south of Yemen remained divided, run by different local sultanates until the

British eventually established their own southern state, the Federation of South Arabia. Yemen

became a republic in 1962, but it was not until 1967 that the British colonial rule ended in the

south and The People’s Republic of South Yemen was formed. Independence, however, did not

stop the southern infighting.

Subsequently, the National Liberation Front took power in 1969 and formed a Marxist republic

relying heavily on the support of the Soviet Union. The North and South were in constant

conflict up until 1972, when the two parties signed an armistice. However, 1986 was a turning

point. The two factions of the ruling communist party in South Yemen began to fight for power.

It was at the same time that the main supporter of South Yemen - the Soviet Union began to

4 En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Yemeni Civil War (2015–present). [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemeni_Civil_War_(2015%E2%80%93present) [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].

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disintegrate. This had a strong effect of pushing the North and the South towards a unification, as

the South lost its biggest ally.

A unified Yemen

In 1990 Yemen was finally united, with the city of Sanaa established as the new capital and Ali

Abdullah Saleh as the president. In the following years the government of Yemen had a serious

problem with establishing a policy that would bind the different tribes and factions together. It

was soon clear that Saleh did not have a strong enough authority or idea to reform the country in

a way that would serve both the North and the South. The 1993 Presidential elections were

supposed to be a second chance to build a newly unified state. However, in practice the results

exposed the old divisions and led to a coalition of the ruling parties of the old north and south.

Six months later a civil war broke out, leading to massive chaos.

The first civil war

During the first civil war of modern Yemen the Vice-President Ali Salim El-Beidh (socialist)

withdrew to Aden and established a new state, the Democratic Republic of Yemen. The partition

of Yemen did not last long. In May 1994, Ali Abdullah Saleh declared a state of emergency and

crushed the southern rebellion within three months. After the first civil war, president Saleh was

able to cling to power up until 2011, when the Arab Spring began.

The Arab Spring and its aftermath (2011)

In 2011 the world witnessed the ‘Arab Spring’, an unprecedented wave of violent and non-

violent protests in Arab countries, which resulted in the abolishment of several long-lasting

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dictatorships and governments. Starting in Tunisia, it spread and impacted several countries and

was a clear sign that citizens of the Middle-East and Northern Africa had the power and the will

to change the political system they were living in. In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, several

Middle Eastern countries were left on the verge of civil war with their infrastructure destroyed

and economies shattered - one of them was Yemen. It is worth noting that Saleh had no intention

of resigning. Only after the intervention of the United Nations did he hand over power to his

Vice-President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who was supposed to be President for the period

necessary to carry out country-wide reforms. However, in early 2014 Hadi’s tasks remained far

from complete, and the UN extended his term until an unspecified future date when elections

might take place, an action which has raised legal issues about the legitimacy of Hadi’s regime

ever since.

The Yemeni Civil War (2014 – present)

After taking control of the government, president Hadi faced instabilities on several fronts. Al-

Qaeda posed a serious threat by attacking government positions on the Arabian Peninsula. The

former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who still had support of several military commanders,

forged an alliance with his former enemies, the Shia Houthis (backed by Iran) in the north of the

country, and together began a military campaign against Hadi. The alliance was called the

“Supreme Political Council”. In September of 2014 the Houthis took control of the capital of

Sana’a and later made large territorial gains towards the city of Aden, the center of the Hadi

government operations. This forced the internationally recognized president of Yemen to flee to

Saudi Arabia and beg for their support. Saudis are one of the strongest supporters of the Hadi

Regime and at the beginning of 2015 under the pretext of border safety intervened in the northern

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parts of Yemen along with a coalition made up of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain,

Kuwait, Qatar (until 2017), Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Senegal, and Sudan. The Saudi Coalition

receives financial and military backup from the United States of America and the United

Kingdom. However, even with the support of strong allies, Hadi was not able to eliminate the

Houthis. It is worth pointing out that since the beginning of the Yemeni Civil War, the Hadi

government lost more land than it has taken back from the rebels, which puts the current

president of Yemen in a rather bad light.

On the 5th of May 2015 a 5-day ceasefire proposed by Saudi Arabia was accepted by both of the

sides of the conflict. The purpose of the ceasefire was to deliver humanitarian aid to the country.

The temporary truce began on the night of 12 May to allow the delivery of food, water, medical,

and fuel aid throughout the country. On the fourth day of the truce, the fragile peace was

disturbed as fighting broke out in multiple governorates.

Omani Initiative

Around the same time as the “5 day peace”, media reports surfaced suggesting that Oman (the

only Middle Eastern country not active in the coalition) has presented a 7-point plan to both

Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis accepted the peace talks and the 7-point plan, while the

Hadi government refused to negotiate with the Houdis.

The 7-point plan

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1. The withdrawal of the Houthis and forces loyal to deposed president Ali Abdullah Saleh

from all Yemeni cities and the return of military hardware and munitions seized from the

Yemeni Army.

2. The restoration of the president Abd Rabbo Manour Hadi and the government of Khalid

Bahah.

3. Early parliamentary and presidential elections.

4. And agreement signed by all Yemeni parties.

5. The conversion of Ansarullah (Houthi movement) into a political party

6. An international aid conference attended by donor states

7. Yemen entering the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

The years 2016 and 2017 consisted primarily of the Saudi coalitions' airstrikes on important

military positions of the Houthis. A breakthrough moment for the civil war happened on the 2nd

of December 2017, when Saleh publicly broke off ties with the Houthis amid intense street

battles between the rival factions that led to the killing of dozens of people. In a televised

statement, the former president expressed his openness to talks with a Saudi-led coalition

fighting the Houthi rebels, in what the fighters called "a coup" against their fragile alliance. Saleh

was killed on the 4th of December 2017 by Houthi rebels near the capital, Sana’a. Houthi sources

said Saleh was killed by the rebels in a rocket-propelled grenade and shooting attack on his car at

a checkpoint outside Sanaa. In the first weeks of January tensions erupted between the southern

separatists represented by the Southern Transitional Council and the Hadi Government. The two

factions once fought together against the Houthis, however, after the STC accused the Hadi

government of corruption and discrimination, it began clear that the two sides were unable to

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cooperate. Fighting began in Aden on the 28th of January 2018 after the deadline set by the

separatists for Hadi to dismiss his cabinet elapsed. By the end of January, the STC controlled a

majority of the capital of Hadi’s government operations. For the last year the territorial situation

has not experienced large changes.

Past UN actions in Yemen

Roots of involvement

In Yemen, unlike in other countries of what was optimistically called the Arab Spring, the UN’s

political institutions have been actively involved since 2011. The social movement opposing the

ruling Saleh government had its own specificities. For example the situation in Tunisia where the

army was weak and in Egypt where it supported ending Mubarak’s rule, in Yemen the military

was equally divided between the Saleh government and the rebels. With fairly even matched

forces on either side, clashes in 2011 left the country on the verge of a civil war.

Early 2010

In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the main western States created the Friends of

Yemen group aimed at monitoring the situation in the country. This coincided with mass

protests, which were often brutally contained by the army. It was in 2011 when the international

community concluded that the Salah regime was no longer viable and needed to be represented

by a regime which would both implement the neo-liberal economic agenda and focus on counter

terrorism.

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Resolution 2014

Despite, the situation in Yemen getting worse, Saleh refused to quit, which forced the UN to

adopt resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling for ‘an inclusive, orderly, and Yemeni-led process

of political transition’5. In spite of mentioning Yemeni-led processes as a priority, the United

Nations Security Council Resolution 2014 gave little attention to the social and economic aspects

of the crisis, which proved to be a mistake.

In the end the various pressures proved to be effective, because on the 23rd of November 2011 in

Riyadh Saleh signed the so-called Gulf Cooperation Council Agreement. Its ‘Implementation

Mechanism’, signed by all parties on the same date includes the provision that ‘the Secretary

General of the United Nations is called upon to provide continuous assistance, in cooperation

with other agencies, for the implementation of this Agreement’.6 This justified the UN’s direct

involvement in internal Yemeni politics. The political transition stated in the GCC Agreement

was supposed to last two years, starting with the election of Vice President Abdo Rabbo Mansour

Hadi to the post of President on the 21st of February 2012. A Special Envoy of the Secretary-

General (SESG) was appointed to monitor the implementation of the clauses of the agreement.

The transition and the war

Hadi was elected only for the period of the transition, which was supposed to last two years.

However, in 2014 his tasks were far from complete, so his term was extended until an

unspecified future date when election might take place, an action which has raised serious legal

5 Dppa.un.org. (2019). Special Envoy Yemen | Department of Political Affairs. [online] Available at: https://dppa.un.org/en/mission/special-envoy-yemen [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].6 Peacemaker.un.org. (2019). Agreement on the Implementation Mechanism for the Transition Process in Yemen in Accordance with the Initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) | UN Peacemaker. [online] Available at: https://peacemaker.un.org/yemen-transition-mechanism2011 [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].

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issues about the ‘legitimacy’ of Hadi’s regime since that time.7 With the unraveling of the

transition in early 2015, Hadi and his government ended up in exile in Riyadh, after losing the

capital Sana’a to the Saleh-Houthi alliance. In this desperate time Hadi had to call for a military

intervention to reinstate him to power in Sana’a and on the 26 th of March 2015, the Saudi-led

coalition launched operation ‘Decisive Storm’.

Resolution 2216 and its constraints

On the 14th of April 2015, three weeks after the start of Decisive Storm, UNSC resolution 2216

was approved by 14 of its members (Russia abstained). Resolution 2216 determines UN actions

in Yemen to this day, and despite the fact that Yemen is more than 1300 days into the war, the

UN has been unable to achieve any progress.

Resolution 2216 recognizes the intervention of the Saudi-led coalition in support of the Hadi

regime and ‘reaffirming its support for the legitimacy of the President of Yemen, Abdo Rabbo

Mansour Hadi’8 it demands that the Houthis ‘withdraw their forces from all areas they have

seized, including the capital Sana’a’ and ‘relinquish all additional arms seized from military and

security institutions, including missile systems’.9 It calls for a return to the GCC Agreement and

requests further intervention from the UN Secretary General.

The UN three-year plan (2018-2020)

7 En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Yemeni Civil War (2015–present). [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemeni_Civil_War_(2015%E2%80%93present) [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].8 Un.org. (2019). Security Council Demands End to Yemen Violence, Adopting Resolution 2216 (2015), with Russian Federation Abstaining | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc11859.doc.htm [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].9 Un.org. (2019). Security Council Demands End to Yemen Violence, Adopting Resolution 2216 (2015), with Russian Federation Abstaining | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc11859.doc.htm [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].

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The three-year plan is primarily concentrated on the social and humanitarian aspects of the

conflict in contrast to Resolution 2014. ‘The overall goal of the three-year Plan of Action is to

make a significant contribution towards improving food security and nutrition and strengthening

the resilience of vulnerable rural and peri-urban households while restoring the agriculture sector

of the country. As a dynamic document, the Plan of Action will be implemented through a

flexible twin-track approach that can be tailored to its target areas for different types of

intervention based on the conflict dynamics and changing circumstances in the country over the

next three years. Strategic decisions on targeting will be informed by conflict analysis and

regular conflict monitoring that ensures conflict-sensitive interventions’.

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Foreign countries policy on Yemen’s Forgotten War

China

Since the Arab Spring in 2011 China’s policies have been strongly influenced by the desire to

maintain good relations with the oil superpower Saudi Arabia. Although not taking a prominent

leadership role, China has supported regional and international initiatives to mitigate the conflict,

including the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative, the National Dialogue Conference, and the

UN-led peace talks. The Chinese government, however, has shown no remorse to the hundreds of

civilian deaths caused by the Saudi-led coalition.

10 Ye.one.un.org. (2019). Yemen Plan of Action 2018-2020. [online] Available at: http://ye.one.un.org/content/unct/yemen/en/home/publications/from-the-agencies/fao-yemen-action-plan-2018-2020.html [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].

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As Yemen’s major trade partner, China has an outsized economic presence in the country and

can play a significant economic role in Yemen’s postwar reconstruction through its Belt and

Road Initiative.

Russian Federation

Russia’s policy on Yemen has not changed much since the start of the Arab Spring. While openly

backing one party in Syria, in Yemen Moscow prefers to take a lighter approach, by ensuring

good relations with whoever is in power at the time. When Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi became

president in 2012, there was no resistance from Moscow. In fact, he was recognised as someone

who was educated by the Soviet Union, where he received his military education, and as a

potential partner, which came to pass. In April 2013, Hadi visited Putin in Moscow where the

Russian president acknowledged that trade between the two countries grew by 43 per cent in

2012, his guest’s first year as president of Yemen.

When it came to the start of the Saudi-led coalition air strikes against Saleh’s forces and the

Houthis, Russia’s official stance was in line with its general anti-Saudi rhetoric. Speaking to

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Putin slammed the Saudi move and called for the “immediate

cessation of military activities in Yemen.”11 Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander

Lukashevich also referred to the coalition operation as “a very serious threat to regional security”

12at a media briefing in Moscow. Although the Russians have not expressed covert public support

for any warring Yemeni side, their language suggests that they are not as impartial as they like to

11 TASS. (2019). TASS Russia News Agency: Crisis in Yemen. [online] Available at: http://tass.com/military-operation-in-yemen [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].12 Presstv.com. (2019). [online] Available at: https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/03/26/403465/Russia-slams-Saudi-invasion-of-Yemen [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].

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portray themselves to be. The reason why the Russian Federation has not strongly backed any of

the sides in the Yemeni war is because of its large engagement in the Syrian Civil War, backing

Assad’s regime and intervening in another regional war would be too costly.

The Russian involvement in Yemen has been subtle and, at this point in time, there are no

indications that they plan to change this approach.

The European Union

The EU enjoys long standing relations with Yemen, which date back to July 1998, when the

relationship was formalised with the entry into force of a cooperation agreement focused on

commercial, development and economic issues, setting the basis for a long-term commitment

between the EU and Yemen.

The start of the crisis in 2015 had a strong impact on the previous cooperation. The EU

Delegation was evacuated and is operating from Amman, Jordan since 2017.

The EU is now focused on the UN-led efforts in support of the ongoing negotiations to end the

conflict and return to a peaceful transitional process. This would be the only way to bring peace

and stability and respond to the legitimate demands of the Yemenis to establish a democratic,

modern and civil state that respects and protects the rights of all its citizens.

The latest Security Council Conclusions on Yemen were adopted on 25 June 2018 and state:

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❖ The EU reiterated that there cannot be any military solution to the conflict and underlined

its strong support for the UNSE Martin Griffiths, and his efforts to bring about an

inclusive political solution.

❖ The Council underlines that sustainable peace can only be achieved through negotiations

with the meaningful participation of all relevant parties, including civil society, women

and the youth.

United States of America

The United States and Saudi Arabia as allies had similar policies on many political and military

issues in the past, and the Civil War in Yemen is no different. After the Saudi Government

launched its pro-Hadi military campaign, the U.S. was one of the first countries to demonstrate

its support. While no United States troops took part in any battles (except from special forces

missions), the country was involved in military activities ranging from air-to-air refueling, to

providing the Saudis with intelligence and logistical support.

A crucial date for the U.S. involvement in Yemen and the U.S. relationship with the Saudis was

the 2nd of October 2018, when Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

On the 10th of November 2018, the U.S. announced it would no longer refuel coalition aircraft

operating over Yemen. On the 13th of December, the U.S. Senate voted to end US military

assistance to Saudi Arabia. Following that vote, the Pentagon presented a bill of $331 million to

Saudis and Emiratis for the U.S. assistance in the coalition.

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Iran

Historically, Iran has not been a significant factor in Yemeni affairs. It has long maintained a

diplomatic presence in Sanaa, but its influence during the two decades before the war was

marginal.

In 2011 and 2012, Iran’s role began to change during the Arab Spring and the subsequent

political turmoil. Tehran’s support for the Houthis increased in that period, although Iran was not

a player in negotiations that led to Saleh’s resignation. Ironically, after he was overthrown, Saleh

turned to the Islamic Republic as he calculated prospects for returning to power. The Iranians

probably played a role in forging the Houthi-Saleh partnership that led to the current civil war.

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Evidence of Iranian intervention to support the Houthis, including with military assistance, began

to grow in 2012. In January 2013, the U.S. Navy, in cooperation with the Yemeni Navy, seized

an Iranian boat, carrying about forty tons of military supplies intended for the Houthis. The cargo

included Katyusha rockets, surface-to-air missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and

ammunition. The United States also tracked Iranian Revolutionary Guards providing training and

assistance to the Houthis.

Iran’s support of the Houthis became increasingly open and transparent after the successful

military drive by Houthis and Saleh loyalists in the summer of 2014. The Houthis seized control

of Sanaa, the capital, and Yemeni government operations. Houthi leaders traveled to Tehran and

13 Rasanah-iiis.org. (2019). [online] Available at: https://rasanah-iiis.org/english/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/12/The-Iranian-Role-in-Yemen-and-its-Implications-on-the-Regional-Security-.pdf [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].

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signed agreements to establish regular air service between the two capitals; they also agreed to

increase Yemeni-Iranian cooperation.

Iranian supplies and personnel, including Lebanese Hezbollah allies, began flowing into Yemen.

The Iranians also increasingly promoted their own brand of Twelver Shiism over the traditional

Zaydi sect practiced in Yemen.

Iran’s four-point plan:

In 2015, so at the very beginning of the Yemeni Civil War, Iran suggested a four-point plan,

which had a large chance of eliminating the problem in its roots. The plan consisted of four

clauses:

❖ Ceasefire;

❖ Humanitarian Assistance;

❖ Intra-Yemeni dialogue;

❖ Establishment of broad-based government.

Unfortunately the plan was rejected by the Saudis.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has had strong interests in Yemen from the very start of the Civil War. However, it

was only after the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh formed an alliance with a powerful

military group in the north of Yemen (the Houthi’s), did Saudi Arabia intervene in a definite

way.

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In 2015 Saudi Arabia alongside the U.S., U.K., and other regional powers formed a coalition in

support of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The aim of the coalition was to ensure that the

forces of the current President were making territorial and military gains in the war with the

Saleh-Houthi alliance.

Over the past 4 years the coalition performed more than 15,000 airstrikes on Houthi territory,

however, not all of them targeted military positions. In fact more than 6,500 civilian deaths were

noted from the beginning of the Saudi activities in Yemen. With the innocent death count being

so high it is no surprise that many countries have become more and more sceptic about the

performance of the coalition.

The reason why Saudi Arabia is so involved in the Yemeni Civil War is because it fears that

Houthi control of Yemen would give Iran a foothold in the Arabian Peninsula that would threaten

Saudi interests. Iran and Saudi Arabia are engaged in a larger battle for dominance in the Arab

world.

Humanitarian catastrophe and UN’s response

The United Nations describes the situation in Yemen as ‘the World’s worst humanitarian crisis”.

According to UN figures14:

14 UN News. (2019). Yemen. [online] Available at: https://news.un.org/en/focus/yemen [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019].

24


1. 24 million people, 80% of the population are in desperate need of humanitarian aid and

protection.

2. 20 million people have no access to food, out of which 10 million Yemenis are one step

away from famine.

3. 80 thousand children have died before the age of 5 of starvation

4. Eight children a day are killed in war-related activities.

5. 360 thousand children are suffering from acute malnutrition, with life-threatening

consequences.

In response to the Yemen Civil Wra, the United Nations issued a donor conference in order to

properly address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country. 2.6 billion out of the 4 billion

dollars necessary has been raised, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates being the

main donors, pledging 500 million each and contributing to a 30-percent increase in pledges from

last year.

Questions a Resolution Must Answer

1. What actions should be taken to end the Yemeni Civil War?

2. Will it be necessary to divide the country into two independent territories?

3. Will the United Nations actions be military or political?

4. Will there be a need for United Nations peacekeepers or any additional United Nation

resources?

5. How are the proposed actions the best possible course of action?

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6. Does the resolution align with your country policy?

7. How do the actions proposed eliminate the humanitarian crisis?

8. How is this resolution, the best resolution compared to all others that are going to be voted

upon by the council?

26


The problem of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea

and Boko Haram

Introduction to the topic

The central and western regions of

Africa have been facing various

challenges, problems and threats

throughout their checkered histories.

The international community is

concerned primarily with the

countries adjoining the Gulf of

Guinea. These include political

instability, insufficient economic development, poverty, civil unrest and armed conflicts, all of

which are parts of the region’s reality. Two of these issues, which pose a major threat to the

whole region, shall be addressed by the Security Council during the MILMUN 2019 session:

piracy and religious terrorism.

Whereas Gulf of Aden (Somalia) has successfully fought against pirates from their territory, the

number of incidents in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) has increased over the last years15, turning it

15Sow, Mariama. "Figures Of The Week: Piracy Increasing In The Gulf Of Guinea". Brookings, 2019, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2018/08/02/figures-of-the-week-piracy-increasing-in-the-gulf-of-guinea/. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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into one of the biggest piracy hotspots in the world16 besides South-East Asia. This affects,

alongside others, especially the Federal Republic of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as Nigeria),

which suffered from more piracy incidents than any other country last year. Additionally, Nigeria

is confronted with yet another main threat onshore: the Islamic terrorist organization Boko

Haram. The organization has been spreading fear in the North-East of Nigeria and its bordering

countries - Chad and Niger - especially between 2011 and 2016. After that period, the group

fragmented and reportedly joined ISIL as a so-called Islamic State’s West Africa Province17.

Although the media coverage has decreased significantly, the group18 and its factions19 have

remained active till date and might regain power in the region20.

The goal of this session of the Security Council is to discuss and develop strategies and measures

to tackle the development of piracy and Islamist terrorism in Central and West Africa both on-

and offshore. Past actions referring to both topics shall be reevaluated and put into a broader

perspective with the aim to increase stability and security in the whole region.

16 Mukundan, Pottengal. "IMB Piracy Report 2018: Attacks Multiply In The Gulf Of Guinea - ICC - International Chamber Of Commerce". ICC - International Chamber Of Commerce, 2019, https://iccwbo.org/media-wall/news-speeches/imb-piracy-report-2018-attacks-multiply-gulf-guinea/. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.17 "IS Welcomes Boko Haram Allegiance: Tape". News.Yahoo.Com, 2015, https://news.yahoo.com/accepts-allegiance-nigeria-jihadists-boko-haram-201513146.html. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.18 "Eight Killed In Boko Haram Attack In Nigeria". Aljazeera.Com, 2019, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/killed-boko-haram-attack-nigeria-190216120448266.html. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.19 "Dozens Killed In Clashes Between Nigeria Villagers And 'Bandits'". Aljazeera.Com, 2019, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/dozens-killed-clashes-nigeria-villagers-bandits-190221152744211.html. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.20 "Boko Haram, Nigeria’S Jihadist Group, Is Regaining Strength". The Economist, 2019, https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2019/02/16/boko-haram-nigerias-jihadist-group-is-regaining-strength. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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Key definitions

Piracy is defined in Article 101 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

(UNCLOS) as certain violent actions against ships and aircrafts on the high seas or outside the

jurisdiction of a country21, whereas Armed Robbery against ships refers to such actions against

vessels which are located within a State’s internal waters and territorial sea, according to the

International Maritime Organization (IMO)22. This distinction has an impact on the handling of

such incidents, as events happening within the jurisdiction of a country have to be treated

differently from those occurring within international territories or waters. Members of the council

shall refer to the above mentioned definitions by UNCLOS and IMO while working on this issue.

The full definitions are available in respective footnotes.

History of the Conflicts

The situation in Nigeria which led to the development of piracy

The fact that Nigeria is affected so severely by criminal actions both onshore and offshore is no

coincidence. Even though the issue of piracy and terrorism affects many countries in Western

and Central Africa, Nigeria plays a key role in the emergence of these problems and therefore

shall be taken into consideration with particular attention.

21 United Nations Convention On The Law Of The Sea. The United Nations, 1982, pp. 60-61, http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.22 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF CRIMES OF PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY AGAINST SHIPS. International Maritime Organization, 2010, p. 4, http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/Assembly/Documents/A.1025(26).pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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With a total population of around 200 million inhabitants, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the

seventh largest country in the world, close behind Pakistan and Brazil, and by far the most

populous country in Africa, accounting for about half of the population of Western Africa23.

Within the last 20 years, Nigeria’s population has approximately doubled.

However, the inequalities are tremendous. The population does not profit from the rich exports of

its natural resources, namely oil. The workforce is estimated at just around 60 million people

which results in an unemployment rate of more than 13 percent. Even though Nigeria is one of

the largest economies on the continent, an estimated two-thirds of the population live below the

poverty line, bringing corruption, crime and many more problems into the country.24 Life

expectancy is rather short (52-55 years) and AIDS is a big health concern.25 Many of these

problems are rooted in the Conflict in the Niger Delta, which arose in the early 1990s, escalated

in 2003 and are still ongoing26.

Although Nigeria’s economy is mainly dependent on oil, its infrastructure is poorly developed.

Pipelines are often illegally hacked in order to steal and sell oil, which results in tragic

accidents27, and people are being kidnapped for ransom. Stealing oil from ships or taking crew

members as hostages can be seen as an offshore-alternative to similar crimes on land. Hence, it

is important to acknowledge that most criminal actions have their roots onshore and that

23 "Africa :: Nigeria — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". Cia.Gov, 2019, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.24 Bello, Muhammad. "Nigeria: Piracy On The Rise In The Gulf Of Guinea". Dw.Com, 2018, https://www.dw.com/en/nigeria-piracy-on-the-rise-in-the-gulf-of-guinea/a-43375090. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.25 "Nigeria". Acaps.Org, https://www.acaps.org/country/nigeria. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.26 Newsom, Chris. Conflict In The Niger Delta - More Than A Local Affair. United States Institute Of Peace, 2011, https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/Conflict_Niger_Delta.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.27 "Over 50 People Missing After Nigerian Oil Pipeline Explosion". Nytimes.Com, 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/02/world/africa/nigeria-oil-pipeline-explosion.html. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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problems in the countries have to be addressed directly at their place of emergence in order to

improve both the security situations on land and at sea.

Boko Haram

The name Boko Haram can be translated to “Western (fake) education is forbidden” or “Western

influence is sin”; it stems from Hausa, a language spoken mainly in the North of Nigeria. This is

the region where the largest ethnic group, Hausa and Fulani, are mainly located. Together they

constitute 29% of the population of a very diverse country with about 350 ethnicities.28 The

group was founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002 in the Northeast of Nigeria with the aim to

establish a fundamentalist Islam state with sharia criminal courts.29

The reasons for the uprising of Boko Haram are rooted in poverty and the lack of development in

the Northern part of the country. The division of the country into North-South can be seen as a

consequence of the colonization by Great Britain, from which Nigeria regained independence in

196030. Since then, Western influences clashed with other approaches, especially regarding

religion. Nigeria is currently considered as one of the most religious countries in the world31.

Whereas the South is mainly Christian, the North is dominated by Islam.

28 Kwaja, Chris. Nigeria’S Pernicious Drivers Of Ethno-Religious Conflict. The Africa Center For Strategic Studies, 2011, https://africacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ACSS-Africa-Security-Brief-No.-14-EN.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.29 Felter, Claire. "Nigeria’s Battle With Boko Haram". Council On Foreign Relations, 2018, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/nigerias-battle-boko-haram. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.30 Owolade, Femi. "Boko Haram: How A Militant Islamist Group Emerged In Nigeria". Gatestone Institute, 2014, https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4232/boko-haram-nigeria. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.31 "BBC NEWS | Nigeria Leads In Religious Belief". News.Bbc.Co.Uk, 2014, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/wtwtgod/3490490.stm. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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On the other hand, corruption, poverty, an ineffective state and political instability have been

undermining the efforts to develop Nigeria since its independence. Military coups, followed by

brutal military regimes and a civil war have become the reality of the people living there.

Henceforth, analyst Chris Ngwodo constitutes: “The emergence of Boko Haram signifies the

maturation of long-festering extremist impulses that run deep in the social reality of northern

Nigeria. The group itself is an effect and not a cause; it is a symptom of decades of failed

government and elite delinquency finally ripening into social chaos.”32

The Boko Haram insurgency

Ever since 2009, Boko Haram evolved and became one of the world’s deadliest terrorist groups,

actively combatting the Nigerian state and spreading fear and terror among the population mainly

in Nigeria, but also partly in the neighboring countries such as Cameroon, Chad and Niger 33. The

group gained power and notoriety for massacres, abductions, suicide bombings and other attacks

against state officials and civilians, especially ]Christians. A Boko Haram launched offensive in

2014 was fought back by Nigerian forces with the support of Chad and other countries34, but the

conflict remained ongoing for about two years.35

32 Ngwodo, Chris. "Understanding Boko Haram: A Theology Of Chaos". Revolution By Other Means, 2010, http://chrisngwodo.blogspot.com/2010/10/understanding-boko-haram-theology-of.html. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.33 "Niger And Boko Haram: Beyond Counter-Insurgency". Crisis Group, 2017, https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/west-africa/niger/245-niger-and-boko-haram-beyond-counter-insurgency. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.34 Farge, Emma. "Anti-Boko Haram Force Set To Begin Joint Raids, U.N. Rep Says". Reuters, 2015, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-violence-un-idUSKCN0SN2D620151029. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.35 Ploch Blanchard, Lauren, and Thomas F. Husted. Nigeria: Current Issues And U.S. Policy. Congressional Research Service, 2019, https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33964.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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Current situation

Fragmentation of Boko Haram

In 2015, self-declared leader Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, which

recognized it and subsequently supported the actions of Boko Haram. However, the group

fractioned, and the leader of one breakaway faction, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, was recognized as

the new leader of the Islamic State-West Africa (IS-WA), the largest cell of ISIL on the African

continent. The name “Boko Haram” is still mostly used to refer to these two groups which are

mainly active till today.36

Since the beginning of the war with Boko Haram, the group has been declared defeat several

times37, but apparently Islamic terrorism cannot been rendered extinct in the region, as recent

activities show.38 Almost 35,000 people have lost their lives in this conflict since 2011 and since

2018 the numbers of casualties has begun to increase again.39

36 Ibid37 Bisbjerg, Loke. "The Boko Haram Insurgency: Evolution, Defeat, And Future Challenges". Krigsvidenskab.Dk, 2017, https://www.krigsvidenskab.dk/the-boko-haram-insurgency-evolution-defeat-and-future-challenges. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.38 Zenn, Jacob. "The Terrorist Calculus In Kidnapping Girls In Nigeria: Cases From Chibok And Dapchi". CTC Sentinel, vol 11, no. 3, 2018, pp. 1-8., https://ctc.usma.edu/app/uploads/2018/03/CTC-Sentinel-Vol11Iss3.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.39 Campbell, John. "Nigeria Security Tracker". Council On Foreign Relations, 2019, https://www.cfr.org/nigeria/nigeria-security-tracker/p29483. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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Piracy and Armed Robbery in the Gulf of Guinea

The annual report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) shows that the Gulf of Guinea is

a region with the most piracy and

armed robbery attacks worldwide40.

In 2018 there were reportedly 79

incidents, which is about two

attacks every three weeks. The live

piracy map by the IMB indicates

the highest number of incidents in

2019 also in the GoG.41

The objectives of such attacks are

merely of economic nature; they

include the unlawful seizure of

vessels and their cargo, especially

oil and gas, and lead to hostage-taking of the crew members for ransom. Although the main aim

is not to threat states’ security, piracy has a greater impact on Nigeria than just local or regional

level disputes might. International trade routes are being affected since many crews are afraid of

being attacked while they sail close to Nigeria. As a significant amount of goods pass the GoG,

for example 20% of Europe’s oil and gas is exported from this region, this topic is also of a

global dimension. The United States has addressed the issue with a “Counter Piracy and

40Piracy And Armed Robbery Against Ships – 2018 Annual Report. ICC International Maritime Bureau, 2018, https://www.icc-ccs.org/reports/2018_Annual_IMB_Piracy_Report.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.41 "Live Piracy Map". IMB Piracy & Armed Robbery Map 2019, 2019, https://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-map. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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Maritime Security Action Plan” in 20144243, and the 2018 discontinued program “Oceans beyond

Piracy” by the One Earth Foundation presented a detailed report44 on the matter in 201745,

including findings on the cost of piracy and armed robbery46 the world incurs.

Overall situation

The re-election of Muhammadu Buhari as the president of Nigeria is seen by the international

community as a wasted chance to make necessary changes in the country, but also as a signal to

the region and the continent - the turnout was at a record low of only about 35%, with only 73

million having the right to vote at all.47

Henceforth, it seems to be necessary that the Member States support the countries in Central and

West Africa even further and help the region establish long-lasting prosperity and security. Solid

economic development, democratic progression, combined with determined and collective fight

against crime and terrorism are the essentials for a sustainable development, which could enable

the countries in Central and West Africa to evolve self-determined and prosper confidently.

42 "U.S. Counter Piracy And Maritime Security Action Plan". U.S. Department Of State, 2014, https://www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/othr/misc/255332.htm. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.43 UNITED STATES COUNTER PIRACY AND MARITIME SECURITY ACTION PLAN. 2014, https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/255377.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.44 "State Of Maritime Piracy 2017". Oceans Beyond Piracy, 2017, http://oceansbeyondpiracy.org/publications/state-maritime-piracy-2017. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.45 Pigeon, Maisie et al. The State Of Maritime Piracy 2017 - Assessing The Economic And Human Cost. Oceans Beyond Piracy, 2017, http://oceansbeyondpiracy.org/sites/default/files/one_earth_future_state_of_piracy_report_2017.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.46nPigeon, Maisie et al. The State Of Maritime Piracy 2017 - Assessing The Economic And Human Cost. Oceans Beyond Piracy, 2017, http://oceansbeyondpiracy.org/sites/default/files/one_earth_future_state_of_piracy_report_2017_exec_summary.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.47 "Buhari Re-Elected As Nigerian President". BBC News, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47380663?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/crx60q1k8ldt/nigerian-general-election-2019&link_location=live-reporting-story. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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Previous actions on these matters

Measures taken by the countries involved

Both in the fight against terrorism as well as piracy and armed robbery, there have been actions 48

taken by Nigeria49, together with its neighbors, allies and associations. In the case of Boko

Haram, Nigeria has cooperated closely with Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Regarding the fight

against piracy, a so-called G7++ group formed at the end of 2017, comprising of Germany,

Canada, United States, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Brazil (as an observer),

South Korea, Denmark, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and the European

Union.50

In 2014, the African Union adopted its “2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050

AIMSTRATEGY)”, which was a remarkable step forward51. However, it’s implementation is the

crucial part, which is supposed to be challenging52.

There are several actors which are involved in the issues and which also have been referred to by

UNSC resolution. They include:

❖ Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

48 "Nigeria Commits To Blue Economy, Anti-Piracy Initiatives". The Maritime Executive, 2018, https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/nigeria-commits-to-blue-economy-anti-piracy-initiatives. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.49 "Nigeria And Partners To Reduce Maritime Crime On Gulf Of Guinea". Safety4sea, 2018, https://safety4sea.com/nigeria-and-partners-to-reduce-maritime-crime-on-gulf-of-guinea/. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.50 "G7, Gulf Of Guinea Nations Join Forces Against Maritime Crime". Sweetcrudereports, 2017, http://sweetcrudereports.com/2017/12/14/g7-gulf-guinea-nations-join-forces-maritime-crimes/. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.51 2050 AFRICA’S INTEGRATED MARITIME STRATEGY. African Union, 2014, https://cggrps.com/wp-content/uploads/2050-AIM-Strategy_EN.pdf. Accessed 7 Mar 2019.52 Egede, Edwin E. "Maritime Security: Implementing The AU's AIM Strategy". Africa Portal, 2018, https://www.africaportal.org/features/maritime-security-implementing-aus-aim-strategy/. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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❖ Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)

❖ Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC)

❖ International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

❖ Maritime Organization for West and Central Africa (MOWCA)

❖ Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)

❖ Regional Centre for Maritime Security in Central Africa (CRESMAC)

❖ United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

❖ United Nations Office of Central Africa (and Sahel) (UNOCA/S)

❖ United Nations Office of West Africa (UNOWA)

UN Security Council actions on that matter

The Security Council has taken notice of both issues, i.e. piracy in the Gulf of Guinea53 and the

threat by Boko Haram. It held sessions with either of these topics on the Agenda and it adopted

several documents, including some resolutions5455 and Presidential Statements. Resolutions with

regards to Boko Haram often refer to the Lake Chad Basin region, whereas resolutions on piracy

in Africa used to mainly focus on Yemen and Somalia, as this was the main piracy hotspot

during the past years. There are two Security Council resolutions referring to the situation in the

GoG; one from 201156 and one from 201257. They aimed to establish a broad collaboration of

53 United Nations Security Council. Gulf Of Guinea Piracy ‘Clear Threat’ To Security, Economic Development Of Region; Countries Need United Front In Response, Top UN Official Tells Security Council. 2012, https://www.un.org/press/en/2012/sc10558.doc.htm. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.54 "UN Documents For Piracy". Securitycouncilreport, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/un-documents/piracy/. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.55 "UN Documents For Boko Haram-Affected Areas". Securitycouncilreport, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/un-documents/boko-haram-affected-areas/. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.56 United Nations Security Council. Resolution 2018 (2011). 2011, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7b65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7d/UNOWA%20S%20RES%202018.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.57 United Nations Security Council. Resolution 2039 (2012). 2012, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7b65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7d/UNOCA

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Western African states to tackle the issue. In April 2016, the Security Council held an open

debate on the issue, releasing a Presidential Statement afterwards58.

Questions a resolution must answer

The United Nations can look back on the successful actions fighting both piracy and terrorism on

the African continent and implement strategies that worked in other places. However, the general

situation in Central and West Africa remains critical. The approach to treat all these issues as one

integrated problem, i.e. the political, economic and military lack of security within the region, is

a new one. It calls for a new and fresh approach in tackling the problem.

Based on the evaluation of previous resolutions, a MILMUN 2019 resolution shall answer the

following questions [note that some of these questions are not to be answered in the resolution

per se but they are supposed to make facilitate the discussion in the committee]:

❖ How effective have the past actions of the UNSC been?

❖ Which measures shall be continued? Which new measures have to be implemented in order

to address the problem accordingly?

❖ Which short- and long-term measures shall be taken to tackle Islamist terrorism in the

affected area? How can external actors support the countries involved?

%20SRES%202039.pdf58 United Nations Security Council. Statement By The President Of The Security Council. 2016, http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_prst_2016_4.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

38


❖ How did the cooperation between the different countries and actors work in similar

operations? What shall be improved? Are there other organizations that can be addressed?

❖ What kind of support can be provided by the international community and which measures

have to be taken by regional organizations and/or national governments?

❖ How can roots of the problems of piracy and terrorism be tackled sustainably, especially

with regards to poverty, unemployment, corruption and political instability?

❖ Should the UNSC provide a mandate for a joint maritime or anti-terrorism task-force?

What would the mechanisms and limits be? Who would be prone to joining?

❖ What measures can be taken to combat the networks that connect maritime pirates to

criminal organisations operating on land?

❖ What maritime capabilities exist in the Gulf of Guinea states that fight piracy? Have they

been effective and, if yes, how? If no, how can they be improved?

Additional readings

A lot of reading content can be found in the footnotes; the links are highly relevant and provide

more than sufficient information on the topic at hand. A profound insight into both issues is

needed to form a broader perspective on the problems and develop a strategy for peace and

security in Central and West Africa. It is strongly recommended to skim through the past

resolutions and statements adopted by the UNSC in order to get a better understanding of the

actual measures which were taken before in order to avoid repeating ineffective solutions.

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Furthermore, on the topic of piracy in the GoG a report published by the Royal Danish Defence

College in 2015 is strongly recommended as a detailed overview of the issue59.

59 Lindskov Jacobsen, Katja, and Johannes Riber Nordby. Maritime Security In The Gulf Of Guinea. Royal Danish Defense College Publishing House, 2015, http://www.fak.dk/publikationer/Documents/Maritime%20Security%20in%20the%20Gulf%20of%20Guinea.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar 2019.

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