Study Guide 2014 Final

The African Union
Assembly, Short
Diplomacy Course 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Topic: Somalian Piracy
African Union
Piracy in Somalia
Civil War
AMISOM
Current Situation
Questions a Resolution Must Answer
Bloc Positions
Suggestions for Further Research
Position Paper Requirements
Sample Position Paper
Closing remarks
Bibliography

The African Union Assembly, Short Diplomacy Course 2014

2

Dear Delegates,
Allow me to welcome you all to the
Short Diplomacy Course 2014 held by
Depatment of International Relations
UniversitasAirlangga. My name is Adriana
and Im a sophomore in International
Relations in UniversitasAirlangga.
Outside academic activity,Im one of
UniversitasAirlanggasdelegation for
Asia Pacific Model United Nations
Conference 2014,
UniversitasAirlanggasdelegation for
Harvard Model United Nations
Conference 2015, anda member of
International RelationsStudent Union
External Division 2014-2015.
Model United Nations usually takes
United Nations bodies for its committees.
However, this year we would like to
introduce SDCs first ever African Union
Assembly. Taking into consideration that
every countries is equal or theoretically. We
would like to emphasize the importance to
underrate developing nations. Our
international forum will invites not only
African nations but, countries that effected
by this issue. This AU Assembly only
consists of countries involved in AMISOM
since this is a matter of great emergency that
needs to be addressed. Furthermore, these
nations will decide actions toward Somalian
piracy to ensure both economic and political
stability. Having said that, international
forum must seek possible solutions for not
only piracy issue but, also the downfall of
Somalia as a state. On the ground that it is
duty of international forum to prevents
economic and political crisis as well as
humanitarian disaster.
I hope you are as excited as I am for
SDCs first ever African Union, and I
cant wait to see you all this week!

Sincerely,
Adriana Rondonuwu
Director, African Union
adrianarondonuwu@gmail.com
+62 82131044046


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AFRICAN UNION

Director: Adriana Rondonuwu

Introduction

In essence a Short Diplomacy
Course is a compressed version of a
Model United Nations. The cases
involved are usually not as complex as
those presented in a fully-fledged MUN.
The duration is also shorter, three days
being the longest. This is so that those
new to the concept of a simulated
international forum can get accustomed
to what it is, what goes on in it, and to an
extent, what the actual represented forum
does in real life
Piracy in Somalia would be one
part of the overarching case presented in
this years SDC. This issue demands an
international forum deliberation since it
creates potential harm to national
security of other countries. The Civil
War in Somalia makes up the second
part of the overarching case in this years
SDC, and arguably the root of all
Somalias current problems Somalia is
also embroiled in a civil war between its
government and Al-Shabaab militants.
Study guide will only assist you to
basic understanding of the issue,
however it is crucial for delegates to do
deeper research regarding the issue. The
question must answer will assist you to
points that the forum should take into a
consideration.

AFRICAN UNION
The forum for this years SDC will be
the African Union. As the name
suggests, the AU is a union of all
African nations and states sans
Morocco, it is currently headquartered
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Borne out
of Muammar Ghaddafis idea of a
forum for all Africa, the AU was
established in 26 May 2001 and
launched in 9 July 2002, its objectives
are:
1. To achieve greater unity and
solidarity between the African
countries and Africans.
2. To defend the sovereignty,
territorial integrity and

4

independence of its Member
States.
3. To accelerate the political and
social-economic integration of
the continent.
4. To promote and defend African
common positions on issues of
interest to the continent and its
peoples.
5. To encourage international
cooperation, taking due account
of the Charter of the United
Nations and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
6. To promote peace, security, and
stability on the continent.
7. To promote democratic
principles and institutions,
popular participation and good
governance.
8. To promote and protect human
and peoples' rights in
accordance with the African
Charter on Human and Peoples'
Rights and other relevant
human rights instruments.
9. To establish the necessary
conditions which enable the
continent to play its rightful
role in the global economy and
in international negotiations.
10. To promote sustainable
development at the economic,
social and cultural levels as
well as the integration of
African economies.
11. To promote co-operation in all
fields of human activity to raise
the living standards of African
peoples.
12. To coordinate and harmonise
the policies between the
existing and future Regional
Economic Communities for the
gradual attainment of the
objectives of the Union.
13. To advance the development of
the continent by promoting
research in all fields, in
particular in science and
technology.
14. To work with relevant
international partners in the

5

eradication of preventable
diseases and the promotion of
good health on the continent.

Since its inception, the African
Union has helped in facilitating
dialogue between African nations,
ensuring the timely and relatively
efficient response to problems
experienced by its member states, and
meet threats to the African people, as
has been seen in AMISOM. The
African Union was chosen as this
years committee because it
represented the less seen stages of
international relations. Many today
still consider the Africa as a
backwards, underdeveloped continent
rife with war and humanitarian issues.
While conflict is a fact of life in many
parts of Africa, it would be incorrect
to assume that all of it is
underdeveloped. Throughout history
Africa has seen the rise and fall of
many prominent kingdoms and
empires that have left their marks on
humanity, including but not limited to
the Ancient Egyptians, the Zulu, the
Ayyubid dynasty and the Songhai
Empire. While not as prominently
framed in media as the United States
of America, the Russian Federation,
or the state of Israel, the countries of
Africa, and indeed the continent itself,
represents one of the few relatively
untapped reserves of natural and
human resources on the planet, and
one of the few markets still relatively
untainted by the modern world
trade, though that is likely to change
soon.
PIRACY IN SOMALIA
Piracy in Somalia began when
foreign ships entered Somali waters
without permission. During the days
of the transitional government, the
country was in chaos, the government
could do nothing to stop these foreign
ships as their navy has been
effectively disbanded due to the toll
the civil war was taking on them,
which will be explained further in the
next headings. Without the navy,

6

Somali fishermen were bullied out of
the waters where they have fished, the
source of their likelihoods. Taking the
law into their own hands, bands of
Somali fishermen retaliated. Some
formed ad hoc groups, calling
themselves coast guards and warded
off foreign ships. Other, more
opportunistic Somali, armed
themselves and boarded these ships,
demanding ransom. Over time, what
started out as a form of vigilante
justice evolved into a lucrative
pirating enterprise.Depending on how
powerful he is, a Somali pirate may
rake in thousands and up to millions
of dollars worth of ransom money.
Somali pirates generally refrain from
harming their captives, as damaged
goods do not fetch a high ransom
price, and may lead to retaliation from
the hostages home country. Neither
do these pirates abscond with the
goods aboard the ships they attack, as
generally their targets are large, slow
moving ships such as long haul cargo
vessels and oil tankers, whereas they
ride them down on small, fast motor
boats.
Thus far, countries such as the
United States of America, Great
Britain, Germany, China, and India
(to name a few) have naval assets in
place to safeguard their interests, and
they are not without their successes.
However, the fight against piracy is
very unorthodox. For starters, it is
extremely difficult to discern which
boat is loaded with pirates, and which
are just manned by fishermen, as they
use regular boats. Existing naval
deployments already cost millions of
dollars to the navies involved in
safeguarding Somali waters. Ships are
not eager to enter or leave Somali
territory without a naval escort, and
there isnt always a ship ready to lend
protection. Those pirates successfully
persecuted and brought to justice are
also still able to wriggle their way out
of jail time. Members of larger piracy
syndicates have the funds to bribe
officials and hire defense attorneys to

7

free their members. They also have
informants in the major ports of
Somalia, effectively this gives the
various pirate gangs the information
of every ship that comes into and goes
out of Somali waters.
CIVIL WAR
Somalis and Australian Army soldiers
wait near the loading zone of a US
Marine CH-53 Sea Stallion delivering
Australian wheat
The Civil War in Somalia
makes up the second part of the
overarching case in this years SDC,
and arguably the root of all Somalias
current problems Somalia is also
embroiled in a civil war between its
government and Al-Shabaab
militants. This being part of a series
of violent upheavals in the country,
where it changed names, regimes, and
leaders several times over the course
of two decades. It started with the fall
of Somali dictator Major General Said
Barre. The United Somali Congress,
largest of the contending rebel groups,
overthrew Barres socialist regime
and the new government moved to
become more democratic. Thus the
Somali Transitional Government was
formed, which will eventually
consolidate itself as the Federal
Somali Government. However, rebel
groups such as the Islamic Courts
Union, the local branch of Al-Qaeda,
and Al-Shabaab have continually
challenged and destabilized Somalia.
Their own capital, Mogadishu, was
reclaimed after a series of hard won
battles between the militants and a
joint force of Somali and Ethiopian
soldiers, in 2006. In turn, that sparked
several United Nations peace keeping
missions, and the AU sanctioning
AMISOM to aid the Somali
government in their effort to re-
stabilize their country. As of 2014, the

8

Federal Somali Government, with the
aid of AMISOM and countries such
as the United States and China, has
gained the initiative against Al-
Shabaab forces, though at significant
cost in both funds and manpower.
During the periods of instability, an
arms embargo was imposed upon
Somalia, as at the time, the Somali
military was in chaos, and the
loyalties of their servicemen were put
in question. This has played a part in
stunting Somali armed forces
development in the era of the federal
government, and why they need help
from other countries.
AMISOM

Search and seizure team members
from the guided-missile cruiser USS
Vella Gulf close in to apprehend
suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden
February 12, 2009. (Jason R.
Zalasky/AFP/Getty Images)
The African Union Mission in
Somalia, or AMISOM, is an ongoing
regional peacekeeping mission
mandated by the African Union and
operates with the backing and
blessing of the United Nations.
Formed by the African Unions Peace
and Security Council on 19th January
2007 with an initial six month
mandate, the missions main
objectives are regional peacekeeping,
aiding the Somali government and
Somali National Army, and contribute
to the rebuilding of Somalia into an
effective, productive nation. Countries
that contribute (including but not
limited to Nigeria, Uganda, and
Burundi) have committed soldiers to
aid in the fight against the militants,
and Since its conception, AMISOMs
six month mandate has been
continually extended by six months,

9

the latest being in late February 2014.
Though under the auspices of the AU,
foreign countries such as the United
States have given provisional support
in the form of troop training and
logistical backing, and the missions
mandate is reviewed every six months
by the United Nations Security
Council.
AMISOM was preceded by the
Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development (IGAD) Peace Support
Mission to Somalia or IGASOM
which was a planned Inter-
Governmental authority on
development protection and training
mission in Somalia approved by the
African Union and the UNSC in
September 2006. Originally IGASOM
was proposed for immediate
implementation in March 2005 to
provide peacekeeping forces for the
latest phase of the Somali Civil War.
At that time, the Islamic Courts Union
(ICU) had not yet taken control of
Mogadishu, and most hopes for
national unity lay with the
Transitional Federal Government
(TFG). However by May 2006, the
political climate in Somalia had
changed drastically. The ICU had
begun a military campaign against the
Alliance for the Restoration of Peace
and Counter Terrorism or ARPCT and
was fighting for control of Mogadishu
in the Second Battle of Mogadishu.
By June, they had established control
of the capital.
IGASOM continued to be
planned out and revised to meet
current conditions, though by July
there were indications of opposition
from the ICU, who saw the initiative
as a US-backed, western means to
curb the growth of Islamic movement.
Until December 2006, the UN
Security Council had imposed an
arms embargo on the group, but the
embargo was partially lifted and a
mandate for IGASOM issued in
December 2006. On 20th February
2007, the United Nations Security

10

Council authorised the African Union
to deploy a peacekeeping mission
with a mandate of six months,
adopting resolution 1744(2007)13.
The aim of the peacekeeping mission
was to support a national
reconciliation congress and requested
a report within 60 days on a possible
United Nations Peacekeeping
Mission. The Security Council had
given a green light to the African
Union to establish a mission in
Somalia for six months, and requested
the Secretary-General to send a
technical Assessment Mission to look
into the possibility of a United
Nations peacekeeping operation
following the African union?s
deployment. Furthermore the council
authorized the African Union mission
to take all measures, as appropriate, to
carry out support for dialogue and
reconciliation by assisting with free
movement, safe passage and
protection of all those involved in a
national reconciliation congress
involving all stakeholders, including
political leaders, clan leaders,
religious leaders and representatives
of civil society (amisom website
origins cite here)

Somalia Today

Somalia Disputed Area
Since its involvement in
Somalia, AMISOM has contributed
greatly in stabilizing the region. Their
mission entails the construction of aid
stations and schools in areas that are
in need of them, aiding government
troops in responding to, locating, and
eliminating Al-Shabaab militant cells,
and general peacekeeping. Though
AMISOM is mainly an army effort,
there have been some unconfirmed
rumors that their mandate be included
to maritime security also. While this
would certainly be welcome news to

11

the beleaguered Somali government,
the cost-benefit equation will
certainly give contributing countries
pause for thought.
Conclusion

Alarmed by how tengible the harm
caused by Somalian pirates the
delegates expected to come up with
solution to put an end to the
overarching issues. While the problem
is that whether or not there are
feasible solution that fit the outlaws,
international society still consider
between the hard way by deploy
forces to eradicate the pirates and
diplomatic way by negotiating with
the pirates since at any rate they are
still the citizen of Somalian
government.

Questions A Resolution Must
Answer

Is an international security effort a
plausible solution?
Is the strengthening of law and law
enforcement to convict perpetrators of
piracy a plausible solution?
How can the AU safeguard the
interests of economy, which rely on
pathway crossing Somalias gate?
What are the implications of further
piracy in Somali maritime territory?
How can the AU work within Somalia
to rebuild its government once a
conducive stability is achieved?
How should the AU respond to
Somalian piracy?
Should there be a change of stance?
Should there be foreign involvement?

Suggestions For Further Research
There are a variety of sources available to you as you begin your research.
To begin, you can start with the committee actual website (http://www.au.int/en/).

12

You want to understand your committees mandate (why it was created), powers
(what it can do), and membership (whos in it).
Next, in doing research for the country that you represent, the CIA World
Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/) isa great
resource with a wealth oI inIormation about every country in the world. There you
will Iind k ey data about your country`s economy , as well as it s stance on major
political issues. Wikipedia is also a great website to give you further information
about the topic we are going to discuss. If you are interested in gaining a greater
understanding of whats already been done in Somalia through AMISOM, this
website (http://amisom-au.org/) will be very helpful.
Last but not least, be sure to use speeches and press releases from people in
the executive branch of your countrys current government (President, Prime
Minister, Foreign Minister or Secretary of State, Ambassadors). Start with the
website for your countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Department of State. Since
this committee essence is how well each country member being represented and do
their role proportionately. You could also see The UN Bibliographic Information
System (http://unbisnet.un.org/) that shows you what resolutions your country has
signed or not signed in the past. Look up actual resolutions drafted in those
committees and see what your country has supported. By seeing what has already
been tried in your committee, you can start thinking about new ones that may
innovate or revise solutions that were not effective.

Position Paper Guidelines
Your position paper should only be one page, single-spaced, twelve-point
Times New Roman font. Your committee, topic and country name should be in the
upper right hand corner. The paper should be outlined in three paragraphs.

13

The first paragraph should consist of the backgrounds issue, your countrys
experience or particular connection to the topic. For instance, how has your
country been affected by the Somalian Piracy?
The second paragraph should discuss your nations policy on the issues, as
supported by relevant national documents. It should also include a short
description of agreements, statements, and lessons learned from your history and
current diplomatic arrangements with relevant nations in this paragraph. Research
for this paragraph could include speeches given by heads of state or ambassadors,
or national studies and policy statements. Given your countrys history, how has
your country acted to improve the situation of the Somalian Piracy crisis in the
past?
The third, final, and most important paragraph is your countrys plan going
forward. Given your history and your policy going forward, what does your
country believe is the best course of action to pursue? This should be a unique
mixture of international work and your countrys personal past and experiences.
These guidelines are meant to focus your research in the places which will
be most productive for committee debate. Understanding your country, however, is
important for creating a plan to undertake on an international level, and I highly
encourage you to conduct your investigations and learning with vigor and
curiosity.
When writing you position paper, remember to always refer as third person.
You are representing your country, not yourself! I will be checking for plagiarism,
so take care when writing. Plagiarism will not be compromised and will result in
disqualification. Any ideas which are not yours need to be referenced. If you are

14

summarising argument and you dont want to use a direct quote, you can
paraphrase their ideas, but must reference the source. Please submit your position
paper no later than September 12th 07:00pm to irfest2014@gmail.com. Any works
submitted after the time stated and failure to follow the format requirements may
also result in disqualification.

SAMPLE POSITION PAPER
Committee: World Health Organisation
Topic: Eradication of Polio
Country: The Democratic Republic of the Congo

[Paragraph 1 should discuss your countrys history and background of the issue]
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as a nation still dealing with the
detrimental affects of the Poliovirus (PV), believes that the eradication of polio is
not only an essential step towards reaching the Millennium goals established in
2000, but also an attainable goal in and of itself. Globally, there are only two
regions in which PV is still considered endemic: the Central African and Central
Asian regions. The DRC strongly holds the belief that with concrete, realistic
pledges of aid by all member states and the cooperation of affected- nations
governments with WHO and other UN initiated programmes, the disease can be
eliminated within this generation.

[Paragraph 2 should discuss your countrys policy/treaty on topic] With the WHO
as a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the DRC
believes it is essential that all member states of the WHO keep their promises made

15

at the GPEIs establishment in 1988. Specifically, the DRC laments the increasing
funding gap for the programme, and calls upon all nations, especially the
developed nations, to increase their monetary support of the programme. The DRC
also believes that an obstacle to the goal of eradication is the lack of developed
infrastructure. Therefore, the DRC also pleads to developing nations to continue
and augment their development aid to affected nations so as to eliminate this
hindrance. The DRC feels this is an essential aspect to any resolution passed by the
committee.

[Paragraph 3 should outline solutions and policy proposals] The DRC would also
like to offer itself as a model for a successful implementation of an eradication
programme. No longer endemic within the DRCs borders, PV has decreased due
to the use of National Immunisation Days (NIDs) an effort that has begun in
other African nations, such as Nigeria and a social mobilisationprogramme. The
promotion of these two elements is also necessary within a resolution. The major
obstacle to the success of these programmes in the DRC was the Second Congo
War (1998-2003), during which 5 of the 11 DRC districts were occupied by
invading forces and much infrastructure was lost. Due to this, the DRC feels that
any resolution passed must contain some sort of reprimand for a nation who
prevents the continuation of any eradication programmed.

Bibliography
www.unicef.org/immunization/index_48412.html
http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliocampaignmonitoring/Co
ngo.aspx


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References
1. https://www.academia.edu/2315973/APPRAISING_THE_ROLE_OF_THE
_African_Union_IN_SOMALIA_AMISOM_
2. http://amisom-au.org/about-somalia/somali-peace-process/
3. http://pages.au.int/
4. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/fields/print_2008.html
5. http://www.au.int/en/search/node/somalia

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