Topic: Situation in Somalia
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Dimi Tcholakov
School: Fishers High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All United Kingdom position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
The United Kingdom believes that the priorities in Somalia must be combating piracy, establishing stability, and providing humanitarian aid. Historically, Somalia has not had a stable government since the 1991 civil war. This is a detriment to the region and is the cause of many of the problems it faces. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG), established in 2004, has not been very successful in obtaining control of the nation. Somaliland and Puntland have both established relative stability, although both areas still experience numerous problems and need aid. Many surrounding nations have pledged to send troops to support stability in the region and protect the TFG. There are roughly 9,000 troops from Burundi and Uganda who will be soon joined by around 850 troops from Djibouti [1]. This increase in regional support is important to the future of Somalia. The piracy that is occurring off the coast has been very harmful to international commerce, and is a major issue.
The United Kingdom is a part of EU NAVFOR, which has been committed to clamping down on piracy in the area. We have supported local governments such as Puntland, who have stepped up efforts to combat piracy, and have shown great improvement in controlling this threat to security in the region. The United Kingdom has provided humanitarian aid to the people of Somalia, and will continue to do so. We feel that it is necessary to continue sending humanitarian aid in order to prevent the deaths of many people in the region. The United Kingdom also advocates continuing relations between the several governmental groups in the area, and trying to foster stability. The success of the TFG is vital to achieving this goal. However, the governments of Puntland and Somaliland should not be ignored, as they also have important roles in the area.
The United Kingdom would like to offer several areas in which to move forward on the issue of Somalia. First, the humanitarian aid provided needs to continue and be expanded greatly. This is to support the population that is suffering under the region’s volatility. Many people are starving in the region, and it is of utmost importance to provide the necessary supplies and care to as many people as possible. Secondly, the issue of piracy needs to be combated. Currently, prosecution is difficult, and there is not enough security forces to control it. We need to cooperate with local governments in order to decrease piracy in the area, as well as amend laws so that those responsible for these actions can be punished accordingly. Finally, there needs to be and increased military presence in Mogadishu. However, we believe that this support should come from nations near Somalia. There are already numerous nations that have pledged support in the area, and we feel that it would be beneficial if more do so This will help security of the area, and will also allow humanitarian aid to reach many more people in the country. UNSPC should follow the paths mentioned in order to try to fix the situation in Somalia.
Works Cited
1.Kron, Josh. "Djibouti's Soldiers to Join Peacekeepers in Somalia." New York Times. 2 Nov. 2011. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
