Topic: Countering the Threat Posed by Improvised Explosive Devices
Country: Uganda
Delegate Name: Taegan Long
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Uganda position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
The development and usage of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) continue to increase. In recent years, IED attacks have lead to more death and injuries than any other weapons besides firearms. The rise of IEDs are due in part to the simple design and easy accessibility through criminal networks and borders. Several terrorist groups have adopted the manufacturing and use of IEDs as a way to wreak havoc on the masses and gain territory. While IEDs are regulated by international law, it is the deliberate violation of these laws by armed forces and terrorist groups, such as Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab, that have given a new rise of the threat of IEDs.
Caught in an ongoing conflict against Al-Shabaab, Uganda remains vulnerable to the effects of IEDs. In order to lessen the effects of IEDs, it is necessary to educate the military in counter-IED training -locating and clearing- in order to remove the threat they impose on civilians and noncombatants. Under the Operation Training Detachment (OAT), 22 servicemen were in charge of training Uganda Battle Group UGABAG in basic know-how of IEDs before they were deployed to Somalia to help with the country’s ongoing terrorist crisis. In efforts to draw attention to the issue on a larger scale, Uganda works under United States African Command (AFRICOM) to aid partner nations in combating IEDs through training programs. Since IEDs may still be employed by warring parties if they adhere to humanitarian laws, unlawful use of these devices by non-state groups have spread quickly. As of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, the use of anti-personnel landmines -landmines designed to be used against humans- have been banned, and the use of IEDs has also been outlawed. In 2016, the General Assembly also adopted a resolution that encouraged states to develop their own national policies to combat IEDs. These treaties have brought unsatisfactory results to the issue of IEDs and does not help the problem at hand.
Uganda encourages neighboring countries to unite against the use of IEDs and continue efforts to train militants in the process of locating and clearing these indiscriminate weapons. Uganda proposed that there be laws that fully ban the use of IEDs and outline situations where they cannot be used, since there is currently nothing that completely bans the use of IEDs so long as they adhere to humanitarian law. In regions where there are strict weapon regulations, the use of IEDs have become popular alternatives, taking place of small firearms. Because of their new found popularity, IEDs require more attention on an international scale.
