Topic: 2025-Situation in Somalia
Country: Sierra Leone
Delegate Name: Lynn Meradi
Back Ground:
Somalia is facing current tensions with the boarding nation, Ethiopia, as well as internal struggles. Ethiopia and Somalia are currently facing territorial disputes over Somaliland. Ethiopia recently made a deal in 2024, to have naval port access in Somalia’s northern coast. This raised fears of an Ethiopian invasion, leading the Somalian government to call for a withdrawal of all Ethiopian troops. Furthermore, Somalia’s internal struggle for power against the military organization, Al-Shabaab, (which many countries consider a terrorist organization) has led to rising tensions. This organization grew power in 2006 and has been able to obtain enough power today to run its own government within Somalia, bringing in as much as $100-$150 million in taxes alone.
Multiple tribes in Somalia have been given weapons (by the Somali government) to defend themselves against Al-Shabaab. However, there have been multiple tribal militias that have turned against their villages and towns with their given weapons.
These situations have affected countries and multiple committees. An example is the United States, who have had a military presence in the country since the 1990’s. Along with multiple international groups trying to help Somalia, such as the United Nations Support Office. However these groups have led to civilian deaths, leading to distrust within Somalia’s population.
The United Nations recognizes the complicated situation and has plans to build up the Somali government, so that they can transition to the current stabilization mission, AUSSOM.
Policy:
Sierra Leone has been giving logistical, financial, and training support to Somalia’s security sector plan. Sierra Leone has also welcomed reforms supported by Somalia’s Federal Government to add an amendment to its constitution. This would be a critical point in State-Building, as the amendment calls for appointing women in senior Government positions to have a thirty percent quota, when it comes to decision making.
Moreover, Sierra Leone has contributed an immense amount of effort and contribution for Somalia to gain peace. An example of this is how the nation has deployed 160 trained police efforts from Sierra Leone’s Police Unit, to prepare for the peace making mission in Somalia.
As for any policies, resolution 2767 (2024) was passed. This entails financing AUSSOM and setting a framework for how the finances will be handled in the African Union peace support operations. The United Nations will contribute to secure predictable and stable financing for these peacemaking missions. Sierra Leone voted to pass this resolution with the “hybrid” implementation. This adds a “hybrid” option to the resolution where they make seventy five percent of the funding done by the UN assessed contributions and the twenty five percent will be covered by the African Union and the UN. The “hybrid” option of resolution 2767 was passed and is planning on being implemented on July 1 of 2025.
Proposal:
Resolution 2753, mandates transitional assistance mission for Somalia to the United Nations. The resolution passed unanimously by the security council, where the plan entails to have two phases. Phase one will end on October 31, 2025 and Phase Two is planning on ending on October 31, 2026. The resolution supports State-Building, conducting free and fair elections and there will also be a constitutional review process. Furthermore, there are plans to promote and protect human rights, rule of law, justice, and security sector support. The text also reads to have coordination of international donor support and the UN’s efforts in Somalia. The Somali government requested there to be two phases to aid the state-building process and to advance in Somali’s security sector plan.
Overall, Sierra Leone would like the United Nations to pass on their support through financial aid. Not to mention, holding up their end of the deal in these two resolutions in order to assist in the implementation of Somalia transition to AUSSOM in order to bring security to the country. Sierra Leone proposes that African Nations and countries on the world stage, such as America, to help implement these efforts, as they will be affected by the outcome of Somalia’s situation. These countries can come together to help aid financially and send out troops, just like Sierra Leone to assist the villages and tribes being troubled by the current wave of militias in the nation.
