Topic:
Country: Kenya
Delegate Name: Luci Perez-Simons
Committee: Disarmament and International Security
Topic: Improvised Explosive Devices
Country: Kenya
Delegate: Luci Perez-Simons
In Kenya, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are a real issue, causing deaths, but none of the production of IEDs is made outside of government control. IEDs are usually homemade bombs, and can be made out of many things. IEDs are generally used in terrorist attacks, as well as mine action, and can be very harmful and fatal, because they are a bomb. These are used commonly nowadays in multiple scenarios and situations.
Kenya has lots of experience, and sadly, many losses because of IEDs. A bomb blast from an IED killed a policeman and injured 3 civilians (Waiske). In another accident, 3 people died, and 10 were injured because of an IED placed on the road while a bus drove on the road (Reuters). Kenya has seen that these devices are imposing a threat to the country, and other countries, like China, France, and more, who co-hosted a meeting discussing the threat of these (Security Council Report). Kenya has a lot of experience on this topic, and knows how much of a threat it can be to humanity’s future.
The UN does not like IEDs, for obvious reasons (lots of death caused by these, and only seem to cause harm), but because it’s not under government control, there is nothing specific they can do about IEDs to outlaw them (United Nations). Mine action, though, is of government control. The UN states that working together with other countries is what can help best. IEDs are already illegal from non-military groups, and the only thing more to do is to find a way to enforce this law more. Mine action is to clean lands and rid them from things, which can ultimately help much better, and that is what the UN recommends, as well as to train peacekeepers on how to handle situations dealing with IEDs.
Kenya believes that this situation needs to be handled better, and the goal is to not have IEDs being an issue and deaths not being caused from IEDs. To make things better and easier, it would be best for countries to focus on mine action. In battle/on the field, it’s best for soldiers to have counter IED training, which can help train soldiers about terrorist threats. Kenya is open to discussion about topics, and about finding other solutions to IEDs to cause peace.
Works Cited
Waiske, Andrew. “Bomb Blast Kills Policeman in Northern Kenya.” Anadolu Ajansı, 28 Jan. 2021, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/bomb-blast-kills-policeman-in-northern-kenya/2125863.
“Three Die, 10 Hurt after Bus Hits Suspected Explosive Device in Northern Kenya.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 24 Mar. 2021, https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-kenya-security/three-die-10-hurt-after-bus-hits-suspected-explosive-device-in-northern-kenya-idUSKBN2BG212.
“Arria-Formula Meeting on the Threat of Improvised Explosive Devices against Peace Operations.” Security Council Report, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2021/03/arria-formula-meeting-on-the-threat-of-improvised-explosive-devices-against-peace-operations.php.
“Improvised Explosive Devices (Ieds) – UNODA.” United Nations, United Nations, https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/ieds/.
