Topic: 2024-Private Military Contractors
Country: Morocco
Delegate Name: Ella Fabyanic
Topic: 2024-Private Military Contractors
Country: Morocco
Delegate Name: Ella Fabyanic
Great Lakes Invitational Model United Nations Conference
Delegation of Morocco
Disarmament and International Security Committee
Private Military Contractors
Armed forces have been used to maintain power and peace for millennia, but what happens when there is no one to stop these groups from extensive brutality? Many of these situations are implemented by groups known as Private Military Contractors or PMC’s. PMC’s also fall under the titles of militias and mercenaries (Mercenaries). With the use of PMC’s, countries can become violently unstable- rendering said country helpless. Private Military Contractors are commonly hired by governments that are participating in ongoing wars to boost their chances of victory and safety for their citizens. During the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union used PMC’S for a variety of tasks, including infrastructure management, combat service support, consulting, covert operations, and logistics (Mercenaries). The reason that many countries are threatened using private military contractors, is the fact that many of these groups do not hold back from immense violence and assault. Violent actions specifically work against goal 16 of the United Nations’ SDG’s plan, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions (Mercenaries). Continuing the use of private military contractors is a highly controversial topic because many countries involved have either been in cohorts with a PMC or have had one used against them.
The Delegation of Morocco continues to deal with landmines and unexploded ordnance resulting from engagement between Morocco and Polisario Front forces over Western Sahara. Since 1993, the United States has provided $1.996 million dollars in Conventional Weapons Destruction program assistance to Morocco, including $1.154 million in FY2022 (US). Morocco has been a partner of NATO since 2004 and is strongly allied with the United States of America (US). This is clear through the countries’ extensive trade history. The United States has provided Morocco with over 9 billion worth of supplies and weaponry (US). In 2011, Morocco and the United States joined 28 other countries as founding members of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. This is an initiative to help reduce citizens’ vulnerability to terrorism by preventing, combating, and prosecuting terrorist attacks and countering incitement and recruitment to terrorism (US). The issues with the terrorist group, “Polisario Front”, date back to its formation in May of 1973. The group was initially founded on the grounds of establishing the independence of the Spanish Sahara. Their political manifesto states that, “power and military action”, as the only way to liberate the people within the Sahara (Report). Since part of the Saharan land is claimed by Morocco, this is directly their issue to tackle (Intelligence).
The Delegation of Morocco has faced their fair share of run ins with private military contractors. The country has suffered casualties and losses, and this is why they have decided that this issue must be dealt with; especially since Morocco is aware they are not the only country dealing with these militia, mercenaries, and terrorist groups. To fight this problem, we want to add a more official way of determining the proper uses of PMC’s. To do this, we will create a program that combines the current programs that are in place to tackle the terrorist attacks. Programs such as the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime are already in place to help counteract the violence put in place by these PMC’s. The new code of conduct will not prevent the entirety of all PMC use but merely regulate the excessive force some of the uses have reached. To ensure that there is significant and consistent funding for enacting these programs in all affected countries, we will combine the finances of both the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. The Delegation of Morocco recognizes that they are not the only country facing this violence, and that it must be handled in a mature but peaceful manner.
Works Cited
“Intelligence Memorandum.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve09p1/d87. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
“Mercenaries, Private Military Contractors Can Destabilize Rule of Law, Expert Tells Third Committee, amid Calls to End Racism, Respect Migrant Rights | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases.” United Nations, United Nations, press.un.org/en/2018/gashc4246.doc.htm. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
“Report Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1977-80v17p3/d221. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
“US Security Cooperation with Morocco.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-morocco/#:~:text=Morocco%20is%20a%20stalwart%20partner,Non%2DNATO%20ally%20in%202004. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.