Topic: 2025-Situation in Somalia
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Neel Grover
The UK views the Somalia situation as a pressing geopolitical challenge with vast repercussions for regional stability and global security. Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda-linked militant group; the ongoing tensions with Ethiopia and Somaliland; and the sensitive transition of international security missions pose a challenge requiring deft, long-term international involvement.
The United Kingdom considers Somalia to be an important political region, marked by decades of instability, civil conflict, and the constant danger presented by extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab. Somalia’s location in Africa and its regional destabilization threat makes it a major UK foreign policy and global security concern. As a nation with an extensive diplomatic, humanitarian, and security involvement history, the UK was aware of Somalia’s challenges since independence in 1960, especially during the decades of governmental disintegration and international intervention. Somalia’s vulnerability to local clan conflicts, terrorist groups, and regional rivalries have made it a focus of UK diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, with the UK playing a critical role in the re-establishment of diplomatic presence. One such diplomatic effort was the reopening of its Mogadishu embassy in 2013, the first Western country to have done so since the civil war. This commitment reflects the UK’s long-standing interest in helping Somalia transition to stability, recognizing that the challenges Somalia face reach beyond its immediate borders and can have significant regional and international security effects.
Building on the UK and Somalia’s history of diplomacy, the UK has become vital in backing Somalia’s challenging transition to stable governance. Through investing over £77 million in aid through different trust funds and missions, such as significant contributions to the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS), the UK has shown an extensive approach to solving Somalia’s complex issues. The UK’s involvement is not limited to economic assistance but also includes diplomatic mediation, security sector reform, and humanitarian assistance reflective of our mature appreciation of the region’s complex political situation.
The United Kingdom strongly believes that the strengthening of Somalia’s security forces is the cornerstone of long-term stability in the region. Al-Shabaab is still the most significant security threat, not only to Somalia, but also to the Broader Horn of Africa. Without a well-equipped and trained Somali security force, the Al-Shabaab could reclaim lost territory, undoing significant progress. The UK acknowledges the progress made by individual nations, along with the UN, but more must be done to ensure stability. The UK calls for an increase in non-lethal aid to Somalia’s security forces, including resources such as food rations, communication equipment, and tents. The UK also encourages working with allies such as the EU and US to expand military training for Somali forces, allowing them to have the proper capability to lead counterterrorism efforts.
Efforts beyond Military aid, like diplomatic mediation, are vital to ensuring Somalia’s sovereignty and stability in the region. The UK is deeply concerned by the rising tensions from Ethiopia’s recent unilateral strategic moves in Somaliland, which could further damage regional relations. To prevent further escalation, the UK strongly supports a formal UN or AU lead negotiation process between Somalia and Ethiopia, de-escalation tensions.
The United Kingdom emphasizes that implementing these measures is extremely important to further success. Strengthening Somalia’s Security forces and improving multilateral diplomacy are efforts that must both be used to improve instability and reduce conflict long-term.
