Topic: Situation in Somalia
Country: Gabon
Delegate Name: Susan Rusinowski
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Gabon position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
Since the overthrow of President Barre in 1991 and the civil war that followed, Somalia has had no effective central government. It has been a stateless society for two decades, which has caused problems with their economy, political state, humanitarian issues, and more. Currently, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is the standing government in Somalia, after being established in 2004, and it is recognized by the United Nations. Despite attempts for creating peace within the country, other organizations have created chaos and violence in Somalia, including Islamic groups in the central and southern part of the country. Without improving Somalia’s infrastructure and government, Somalia will continue to deteriorate, and it will bring consequences of its failed state upon the region, affecting other governments and economies.
Gabon, as an African nation and part of the African Union, is extremely devoted to helping resolve the situation in Somalia. As a stabilized African nation, Gabon supports the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)—operated by the African Union and approved by the UN—in its regional peacekeeping efforts. AMISOM is helping maintain security as well as supporting the TFG and assisting in creating a secure government so that aid can be distributed. Gabon believes that supporting the TFG and moving towards democratization within Somalia is key to all other issues in the nation, because the government impacts everything else: piracy, aid distribution, security, and government stability. To establish a strong central government, Somalians need to be the representative body expressing their own views, so they need to trust and support the government. If the people are representing their own views through democratic election, they can strive to be one country as a whole, rather than different factions representing smaller groups vying for national power. As Gabon’s president Ali Bongo Ondimba says, “Election must rely on the three pillars of peace, democracy, and good governance.”
Peace will help attain a stronger government in Somalia, so Gabon calls for a ceasefire between the different factions, including Islamic groups such as the ICU and Al Shabaab. To attain this, Gabon suggests help from regional groups, such as the African Union and the Arab League, who are willing to restore peace to their region and Africa as a whole. Gabon also calls for the removal of military interference from other nations, including the Kenyan army. Gabon is willing and eager to resolve issues in Somalia, and as a stable country within Africa, it is a priority to help other less developed countries.
