NOTTINGHAM INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE 2011

STUDY GUIDE
AFRICAN UNION CRISIS COMMITTEE

We charge you with the responsibility to lead our peoples and Continent into the new world of the next century which must be an African Century during which all our people will be freed of the bitterness born of the marginalization and degradation of our proud continent of Africa." Nelson Mandela, speaking to the Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 8 June 1998

It is up to African leaders to show their will and political courage in order to assure that this new pan-African institution becomes an efficient instrument and not a place for endless discussions. Omar Bongo, President of Gabon 1967-2009

CONTENTS
Committee Personnel & Contact Details Agenda: Review of the African Union peace keeping mission in Somalia Introduction Background (a) Origins of the Civil War and the 1992-1994 United Nations Intervention (b) Founding of the Transitional Federal Government (c) Advance of the Islamic Courts Union (d) Ethiopian Intervention and the 2006-2009 War in Somalia (e) Al-Shabaab and the War in Somalia 2009-2011 (f) Kenyan Intervention AMISOM and Al-Shabaab Troop Numbers Recommended reading 02 03 03 04 04 05 05 06 07 09 10 11

COMMITTEE PERSONNEL & CONTACT DETAILS Committee President: James Rathbone Chairman: Philip Middleton Vice-Chairs: Munkhbold Badarch and Mark Stevenson Contact Address: au.nottsmun11@gmail.com

-AGENDAReview of the African Union peace keeping mission in Somalia

Introduction Somalia, located on the eastern end of the horn of Africa, with a commanding position at the entrance from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea via the Gulf of Aden, is the quintessential example of a failed state. Since the downfall of Siad Barre, Military Dictator and President of Somalia for twenty two years, in 1991 the country has been in a state of civil war, with a constant splintering of factions and readjustment of alliances, leading to the total collapse of civil society. Since then the country has splintered into three rough parts; the North West, which declared independence as Somaliland on 18 May 1991, and is perhaps the most stable part of the country, though unrecognized as a sovereign state; Puntland, the easternmost areas on the very tip of the Horn of Africa, which declared itself an autonomous state in 1998, however supporting a united federal, united Somalia unlike Somaliland; and Sothern Somalia, controlled by a variety of warlords, Islamist groups and tribal alliances. The majority of these support a unite Somalia, however Al-Shabaab, by far the most powerful and extremist of the current factions, fiercely opposes the concept and the Transitional Federal Government, the internationally recognized if largely powerless federal government.

Territorial Control of Somalia 22 May 2011 3

Background (a) Origins of the Civil War and the 1992-1994 United Nations Intervention The origins of the present situation in Somali can be traced back to 1991, and the downfall of Siad Barre. With the collapse of his regime a power vacuum emerged, and the various factions that had opposed his dictatorship rapidly began fighting amongst themselves. As a result of the emergent civil war a humanitarian crisis developed, with roughly half of the Somali population of 4.5 million people being deemed by the UN to be in severe risk of starvation and malnutrition. Roughly three hundred thousand people died in early 1992 due to famine, and as many as one million more fled the country as the first wave of refugees from Somalia, mainly to neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya.1 In 1992 the United Nations (UN) and Organization of African Unity (OAU) successfully negotiated a ceasefire between the warring factions. On 24 April 1992, in response to a recommendation of the Secretary-General, the Security Council adopted resolution 751 (1992), by which it decided to establish a United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM), tasked with maintaining the ceasefire and organizing the distribution of humanitarian aid. An agreement was also reached for the deployment of five hundred UN security personnel, provided by Pakistan. In September 1992 the Security Council approved the strengthening of UNOSOM to a total deployment of 4,219, in response to the inability and unwillingness of Somali factions to provide adequate protection for humanitarian workers and the poor logistics of aid distribution.2 Regardless of UNOSOM efforts, the situation in Somalia continued to deteriorate throughout late 1992, with intense fighting between rival militias despite the ceasefire, as well as general looting, the organized confiscation on aid supplies and attacks on UNOSOM personnel and aid workers. In response, on 3 December, the Security Council adopted resolution 794 (1992), authorizing the use of "all necessary means to establish as soon as possible a secure environment for humanitarian relief operations in Somalia". The Council authorized the Secretary-General and the participating Member States to make arrangements for "the unified command and control" of the military forces that would be involved, and called on all Member States that were in a position to do so to provide military forces and to make contributions in cash or in kind. As a result of this the United Task Force (UNITAF), led by the United States (US) deployed to Mogadishu on 9 December. By 3 March 1993 UNITAF deployments totaled 37,000 personnel, and had been able to restore some semblance of stability to Somalia, though much of the country remained lawless and violence and famine remained common, with prominent warlords such ads Mohamed Farrah Aidid denouncing the ceasefire entirely. On 26 March, the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, adopted resolution
1 2

http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unosom1backgr2.html Ibid.

814 (1993), by which it decided to expand the size and mandate of UNOSOM to transfer operational control and responsibility for the peacekeeping force from UNITAF to UNOSOM. 3 However, the situation failed to stabilize as the ceasefire collapsed entirely in late 1992. Between June and October 1993 24 Pakistani and 19 US soldiers died in conflict with Somali Militia, along with several thousand Somalis. The US began withdrawing shortly afterwards, and by 6 March 1994 the UN had withdrawn all peacekeepers from Somalia, though aid workers remained in the comparatively stable areas of the country. For the next decade southern Somalia would be essentially ungoverned, ruled by a number of different warlords, whilst the refugee population increased steadily. (b) Founding of the Transitional Federal Government In 2004 the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed in Nairobi, Kenya as part of a UN and African Union (AU) reconciliation program intended to unite the secular, unionist factions of Somalia in an attempt to end the civil war and bring about a lasting peace agreement in Somalia. Along with the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) and Transitional Federal Charter (TFC) the TFG was intended to serve as an umbrella organization within which those groups open to a peace agreement could operate in tandem. However, it failed to gain much support in Somalia and was unable to establish a seat of government in Somalia until early 2006, when it created a temporary seat of government in Baidoa. At the same time, a US backed alliance of secular warlords primarily based in Mogadishu, The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) was created, with the intent of combating Islamist militias in southern Somalia.4 (c) Advance of the Islamic Courts Union The origins of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) lie in the mid 1990s, when in the aftermath of the UN withdrawal a group of Muslim legal scholars and business people led by Hassan Aweys and Sharif Ahmed, allied with two other powerful factions; Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade the selfdeclared governor of Shabeellaha Hoose, and the militant Islamist group al-Itihaad al-Islamiya led by Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki, forming the Islamic Courts Union. In 2006 the three factions formally merged, forming the Supreme Islamic Courts Council (SICC), uniting the majority of Islamist forces in southern Somalia. In contrast to the areas of Somalia under the control of secular warlords they imposed a harsh regime based on Sharia law, which nevertheless proved popular due to its ability to impose order. The ICU rapidly succeeded in gaining control over most of southern Somalia, with numerous defections from neutral militias

3 4

http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unosom1backgr2.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/16/AR2006051601625_pf.html

and forces loyal to the TFG, and in June 2006 the ICU captured the capital, Mogadishu, from the ARPCT.

(d) Ethiopian Intervention and the 2006-2009 War in Somalia On 20 July 2006 Ethiopian troops entered Somalia in support of the TFG and in opposition of the ICU, but restricted military operations to the Ethiopia-Somalia border area until December, when full scale conflict breaks out between the ICU and the TFG-Ethiopian alliance, and Ethiopia, having previously denied a military presence, admits to launching self-defensive measures against the ICU.5 Initially the fighting is heaviest around the TFG capital Baidoa, where Ethiopian forces combat an ICU offensive starting on 19 December, routing ICU forces by 26 December with the use of heavy armor and air support. On 27 of December Aweys along with several hundred members of the extremist Hizbul-Islam and Al-Shabaab wings of the ICU flee Mogadishu, vowing to fight on and establish an insurgency. On 28 December Ethiopian and TFG forces capture Mogadishu.6 The fighting continued in 2007, focused in southern Somalia. The Ethiopian forces, bogged down in counter insurgency warfare are forced to withdraw into smaller, more controllable
5 6

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6207427.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6211573.stm

areas and by the end of the year Islamist forces reclaimed around 80% of the former ICU territory, including roughly half of Mogadishu and much of Kismayo, a vital port city. In January and February 2007 the AU and the UN established the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as a new peace keeping force, mandated to support transitional governmental structures, implement a national security plan, train the Somali security forces, and to assist in creating a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian aid. 7,8 Despite commitments from ten nations, only Uganda and Burundi deployed forces in any real numbers, with over 9,500 AU peacekeepers deployed to Somalia by March 2011. In 2008 the Islamist insurgency continued to make gains against TFG and Ethiopian forces, capturing a number of vital towns and establishing an Islamic Court in Jowhar, capital of the Middle Shebelle region neighboring Mogadishu and a mere 90km away from the capital.9 However, the Ethiopians and TFG had been active on the diplomatic front, agreeing a power sharing deal with the moderate Islamic group Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), forming a new government with Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed ex-leader of the ICU as President.10,11 In December 2008 Ethiopia announced its intention to withdraw from Somalia once it had secured the safe withdrawal of AMISOM peace keepers.12 On 25 January 2009 all Ethiopian troops exited Somalia, with the Ethiopian government claiming to have achieved its objective of securing a TFG presence in Mogadishu and establishing a coalition government. Al-Shabaab captured Baidoa, where the TFP was based, on 26 January, signaling the military collapse of the TFG in Southern Sudan, though in the areas north of Mogadishu and in the capital where the Ethiopians had secured them they maintained a presence, supported by AMISOM. Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed arrived in Mogadishu as President for the first time on 7 February 2009, to a divided city and a weakened government. (e) Al-Shabaab and the War in Somalia 2009-2011 On 4 February 2009 four Islamist groups, including Hassan Dahir Aweys' Eritrean branch of the ARS merged and created the group Hisbi Islam, to fight the new TRF-ARS coalition government of Sharif Ahmed. Al-Shabaab also vowed to fight the government. On February 8, 2009, they declared war on the new government of Sharif Ahmed and the AU peace-keepers. On 10 Febaury Al-Shabaab launched an offensive to take Bakool province, laying siege to the provincial capital. On 22 February, a double suicide bomb attack on an AU base in Mogadishu left 11 Burundian soldiers dead and another 15 wounded. Two days later heavy fighting
7 8

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/964109 http://www.undemocracy.com/S-RES-1772(2007)/page_1 9 http://allafrica.com/stories/200806020030.html 10 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7751090.stm 11 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7865808.stm 12 http://www.sudantribune.com/Ethiopia-to-pullout-Somalia-after,29559

erupted in the city as TFG and AU forces attempted to retake the city from radical Islamist forces. The fighting lasted for two days and killed 87 people, including 48 civilians, 15 insurgents and 6 TFG policemen. At the same time as the fighting raged in Mogadishu, al-Shabaab forces took the town of Hudor, to the north-west, in fighting that killed another 20 people; 10 TFG soldiers, 6 insurgents and 4 civilians. On 28 February, it was reported that Hisbi Islam would sign a ceasefire with the TFG. However, by 1 March, it was clear that no ceasefire would be given, despite President Sharif Ahmed having agreed to proposals for a truce and having offered to accept the implementation of Sharia Law.13,14 On May 6, Al-Shabaab announced that it would continue the war even if AMISOM withdrew. On 7 May, a fierce battle for control of Mogadishu started between Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam against the TFG. Hundreds were killed and injured and tens of thousands were displaced. By 11 May, Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam forces gained the upper hand, taking over most of the capital. Fighting continued until 14 May, though they were unable to occupy the whole city, with TFG and AMISOM forces maintaining control of key areas. Al-Shabaab continued their campaign throughout May and July, cutting of Mogadishu from the TFG controlled areas to the north. In the aftermath of the Islamist victories there was fresh wave of defections from the TFC, handing over many border areas that had been holding out to Al-Shabaab. Only 6 July AlShabaab gave YFC forces an ultimatum, demanding they lay down their arms within five days. The ultimatum was rejected. In the autumn of 2009 a rift developed between Hizbul Islam and Al-Shabaab over the details of the power sharing agreement they had reached in Kisimayo, the key port town in southern Somalia. On 1 October heavy fighting broke out between the two factions, with Al-Shabaab emerging triumphant. 15 Throughout November 2009 the two groups fought throughout southern Somalia, reducing the pressure on TFG and AMISOM forces, with Al-Shabaab emerging as the stronger faction. In February 2010, elements of Hizbul Islam under the control of Sheikh Hassan declared a merge with Al-Shabaab. He encouraged other groups in Hizbul Islam also to join Al-Shabaab.16 Throughout the rest of the year Al-Shabaab continued to overrun Hizbul Islam positions throughout Somalia, and received more deffetions. By Autumn 2010 it was apparent that Al-Shabaab had triumphed, and Hizbul Islam agreed to merge into AlShabaab, formally doing so on 20 Decemeber.17

13 14

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/02/2009228161951283106.html http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/03/20093117498433881.html 15 http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/10/200910185652850176.html 16 http://allafrica.com/stories/201002020211.html 17 http://allafrica.com/stories/201012210370.html

Having consolidated their position in southern Somalia, in Febuary and March 2011 Al-Shabaab attempted to recapture Mogadishu from the TFG. Fifty-three AMISOM soldiers were killed in intensive fighting during the two month, forty-three Burundians and ten Ugandans.18 In March AMIIOM was reinforced by a further one thousand peacekeepers to help resist the onslaught, bringing its operational strength up to nearly 9,000. By 6 August 2011, TFG and AMISOM troops were able to capture all of Mogadishu from Al-Shabaab, though the insurgents continued a guerilla campaign, detonating a suicide bomb on 4 October that killed more than seventy people.19,20 Nevertheless, Al-Shabaab maintains control of most of southern Somalia, and prosecutes campaigns of cross border raids into Ethiopia and Kenya, inciting responses from Somalias neighbours. (f) Kenyan Intervention In response to Al-Shabaab cross border raids into Kenya, which have caused the deaths of a large number of Kenyans as well led to the kidnappings of foreign tourists and aid workers, Kenya launched Operation Linda Nchi in October 2011, deploying around two thousand soldiers along with heavy air support and armored units. In cooperation with TFG forces Kenyan Army Units are attempting to break Al-Shabaabs hold on the south, aiming to take their key stronghold of Kismayo. The Kenyan intervention has received wide spread support from neighboring countries, elements of the African Union, and reportedly covert support from the US and France.21,22,23

18 19

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12650263

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL6E7J601H20110806?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel= 0&sp=true 20 http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/10/2011101813351279957.html 21 http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/East-African-Nations-Back-Kenyan-Offensive-in-Somalia132374053.html 22 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/world/africa/kenya-says-western-nations-have-joined-somaliafight.html?_r=2&src=tp 23 http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/african-union-understands-kenya-incursion-in-somalia/

AMISOM Troop Deployments and Causalities 2007-2011

Country Uganda Burundi Kenya Ghana Nigeria Sierra Leone Cameroon, Mail, Senegal, Zambia Total Number of troops 5,210 4,400 10 9 8 8 4 9,649 Casualties 81+ wounded, 17 deceased 41+ wounded, 50+ deceased, 1 captured none none none none none 175+ wounded, 67+ deceased, 1 captured, 2 missing

Estimated Al-Shabaab Milita Numbers by Tribe/Clan

Tribe/Clan Rahanwein Darod Hawiye Dir Other Foreign Fighters Total Number of troops 4,250 3,100 2,400 1,700 1,000 2,000 14,450

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Recommended Reading
http://somalitalkradio.com/2010/mar/un_report_somalia.pdf http://www.pvtr.org/pdf/Report/Somalia'sStabilityandSecuritySituationinReview.pdf http://www.au.int/en/sites/default/files/273rd%20FINAL%20PSC%20Press%20Statement%20%20Somalia%20EN.pdf http://www.au.int/en/sites/default/files/Report_on_Somalia__Eng__.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somaliland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puntland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Civil_War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_Federal_Government http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Courts_Union http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rise_of_the_Islamic_Courts_Union_(2006) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Somalia_(2006%E2%80%932009) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union_Mission_to_Somalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_for_the_Re-liberation_of_Somalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Somalia_(2009%E2%80%93) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mogadishu_(2009) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_East_Africa_drought http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Linda_Nchi

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