SPECPOL implements theocratic government in Somalia

Early in the discussion of the plan for the United Nations to continue peacekeeping efforts in Somalia, countries voiced their concerns. Two working papers were drafted: one proposed the creation of a new Islamic Republican form of government, while another called upon the committee to reinforce the existing transitional government.

Resolution 2.1, implementing a new government in Somalia, was passed with 33 yay votes from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Great Britain, Japan and Venezuela to 21 nay votes from opposing countries such as Somalia, China, Ecuador, and Cambodia. The resolution entailed that the UN enter Somalia to establish an Islamic Republic and stabilize the country under a unified religious government.

The Venezuelan delegate expresses his support for Resolution 2.1.

The UN’s efforts to stabilize political tension in Somalia date back to the country’s governmental collapse in the 1990s. Somalia has become a failed state facing continued struggles with piracy and lawlessness. SPECPOL passed resolution 2.1 with the hopes of restoring stability and order for the Somali people. The UN previously established the Transitional Federal Government in 2004, which until recently has been the recognized government in Somalia.

With the Al-Shabab insurgents battling for increased control of the war-torn country, the UN felt that it was time to pursue greater efforts to stabilize the political environment. The main religion in Somalia is Islam, and resolution 2.1 used Islam as the foundation for uniting the country under one government.

Yet the Somali delegate remained strongly opposed to this resolution, stating that “the UN should not make efforts to remove established governments [or] implement new ones” and declaring the “ridiculousness” of the resolution. He felt that his country’s sovereignty was being infringed upon. If this resolution is to be implemented, the established transitional government would be entirely changed to a new Islamic republic, bringing in politicians and military forces from the African Union and Arab League. The committee’s Islamic members and Somalia’s neighbors both believed this resolution offered a step towards the stabilization of Somalia because the existing Transitional Government has been criticized as highly corrupt.

A second working paper by North Korea, Russia, Hungary, China, India, and Paraguay called for the consolidation of the existing transitional government. Since the first resolution was passed, this working paper was never seen by the majority of the committee. There were several motions made to show this alternative working paper, but the chairs decided that these motions were not in order. Other motions called for a revote due to allegations that certain delegates had misrepresented their countries, but the initial resolution withstood all challenges.