Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Somalia
Delegate Name: Leon Pescador
School: Ann Arbor Community High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Somalia position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
Africa has seen more than enough violence stemming from conflict minerals over the last few decades. The Congo area especially. Rapes, murders and massacres are only some of the terrible actions that have been caused by this violence over precious materials. Although Somalia has not seen any of this conflict mineral-related violence within its own borders, it strongly approves of working with other sovereign nations to reduce it from happening elsewhere.
During the summer of 2010, the Congolese Army and United Nations peacekeeping forces “have been conducting operations” against the Ugandan rebel group Allied Democratic Forces, also known as the ADF. Violence caused by the ADF has uprooted around 60,000 people from their homes and there are now many refugees in the region. Additionally, the ADF soldiers are “being accused of being involved in illegal gold and diamond trading.” Intelligence found on the ADF reveals that they are also linked to the terrorist group based in Somalia, Al-Shabab.
The ADF is also linked to other armed rebel groups including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda or FDLR for short, who “reportedly receive 70 to 75 percent of their money from selling illegal minerals.” The ADF’s power has also expanded Al-Shabab’s area of operations. In August of 2011, Al-Shabab launched several terrorist attacks in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Even though some of the worst violence in Africa has past, if the ADF and FDLR expand, it could ruin many more lives and could turn many more civilians into refugees.
The transitional government of Somalia requests other sovereign nations join in creating legislation that will prevent companies from purchasing conflict minerals and penalizing those that continue doing so. Somalia also requests that the United Nations send more troops to the region to assist the Congolese government in eradicating ADF and FDLR bases as well as smuggling roots to prevent these rebel groups from profiting of conflict minerals. If the ADF and FDLR are gone or severely weakened, the region has a new opportunity for a more stable environment, especially for civilians.
Furthermore, the outcome could help Somalia by weakening Al-Shabab and it’s grasp on nearby countries. Somalia would also like to commend other countries that have taken steps to reduce violence associated with conflict minerals, such as the United States, who recently passed laws trying to prevent the buying of minerals from eastern Congo and groups in that region.
Finally, if said legislation is passed, it could usher a new era of peace, stability and prosperity for Africa.
