campion school model united nations - csmun

Fourth Session: October 8th – 9th, 2016

Campion School Model United Nations Security Council

The Situation in the Central African Republic

Chair: Panos Themelis

Co-Chair: Alexandros Kyriakopoulos

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Introduction

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the Security Council of Campion MUN 2016! Panos Themelis, my fellow President and I, Alexandros Kyriakopoulos, will guide you through the topic and the preparation for the conference.

Your brief and responsibility at MUN Campion is to act as a diplomat for the country you were assigned to represent. In this capacity you must familiarize yourself with the topic assigned to us (The Situation in the Central African Republic) and with your country’s position on this topic as you will be required to debate and support your judgements. Since it is impossible to know your country’s point of view on every single proposal you will encounter during the conference, it is important you have a solid knowledge of the policies and the position of the country you represent. This way, you will be able to deduce how a real-life delegate would submit recommendations and negotiate matters of policy in your place. Don't derive your opinion based on what you personally believe but on the actual foreign policy of the country you represent. This is a very important aspect of the MUN. If every one of us is thoroughly prepared, we will have a very interesting and exciting MUN!

As your chairs, we are initiating a support network for your preparation. The first step towards this is providing you with this study guide. We hope it helps with your deliberations and we trust you will make the best use of it. This document contains general information on our topic (The Situation in the Central African Republic) as well as some in-depth analysis on this extremely important topic we will be debating during the second weekend of October. It is our hope this document gets you jump- started with your research. However, this guide is only a starting point for you preparation; you will have to put in quite a bit of additional work!

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Be sure to learn and read up about your country’s policy on the Situation in the Central African Republic. Having all the relevant information and facts will ensure we participate in an impressive and interesting debate - a great experience for all of us!

If you have any questions about the contents of this study guide, please don't hesitate to send an email to either of us: [email protected] or [email protected]

But enough about work! Panos and I have been to multiple MUNs so we bring with us experience to ensure that Campion MUN will be a lot of fun, both inside and outside the conference room. The MUN will not only develop your knowledge but you will also get to know how the UN works.

Definition of key terms

The Central African Republic is a country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, South Sudan to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo to the south and Cameroon to the west. It has an estimated population of 4.7 million.

Sé lé ka is an alliance of rebel militia factions that overthrew the Central

African Republic (CAR) government on March, 2013.

Anti-balaka are Christian militias formed in the Central African Republic in 2013. Some members have forcibly converted Muslims to Christianity


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Timeline

1880s - France annexes the area. 1960 - The Central African Republic becomes independent with David Dacko as president. He turns country into a one-party state. 1965 - Dacko ousted by the army commander, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, who declares himself emperor of the "Central African Empire". 1979 - Bokassa ousted in a coup backed by French troops. 1981 - Army commander Andre Kolingba seizes power. 1993 - Ange-Felix Patasse wins presidential elections, ending 12 years of military rule. 2003 - Rebel leader and former army commander Francois Bozize seizes power. 2009 - Clashes between government and rebels are ongoing. UN Security Council agrees to creation of UN peace building office for CAR to address ongoing insecurity. 2012 - November - New Seleka rebel coalition rapidly overruns north and centre of country, and eventually the capital. 2013 - Turmoil as rival Muslim and Christian fighters are accused of killing hundreds of people. 2014 - Michel Djotodia (coup leader who headed the Seleka coalition) quits as president. Catherine Samba-Panza takes over as interim leader. 2015 - Referendum on constitutional changes in November, followed by first round of presidential election. 2016 - Tension ahead of second round of presidential election, which however, passes off peacefully. Constitutional court had earlier cancelled parliamentary election results.


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Topic discussion

Overall Summary

Since gaining independence from France in 1960, CAR has experienced six authoritarian leaders and the continuous presence of foreign troops. Following a series of coups, civil wars, and foreign interventions, CAR held its first multiparty elections in 1993. However, instability grew and, with the backing of Chad, Army General François Bozizé rebelled and took power in 2003. Although Bozizé brought relative stability for several years and was elected in 2011, many Central Africans began to view him as an autocratic leader. Many rebel groups were already active in the north and northeast, including groups formerly loyal to Bozizé, and in 2012, they formed a loose alliance known as Séléka, predominantly made up of civilians from northern CAR. To gain supporters, Séléka exploited frustrations with the concentration of power in Bozizé’s family and the underdevelopment of the northern region. In March 2013, the Séléka, backed by heavily armed mercenary fighters from Chad and Sudan, overthrew Bozizé. The group’s leader, Michel Djotodia, became the first Muslim leader of the mainly Christian country. Over the following months, the Séléka led brutal attacks against civilians. Under a U.N. resolution, France deployed an initial force of 1,200 troops to CAR in December 2013 to stabilize the capital, Bangui. Violence intensified beyond Bangui when former-President Djotodia resigned in early January due to pressure from governments in the region, and a transitional government took over. Thousands of Muslims fled the country out of fear of retaliation attacks by self-defense militias known as Anti-Balaka. The Anti-Balaka, who are mostly Christian, seek revenge for the acts of Séléka over the last year and perceive Muslims as Séléka collaborators. This is in part because Séléka forces include fighters from


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neighboring Muslim-majority countries, Chad and Sudan. While the violence could appear to be religious in nature, religious-based violence is an outcome, not a cause of conflict. Economic and political incentives are motivating internal and external actors.

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country that has been in an escalating, violent crisis since March 2013. In the heart of Africa and bordered by countries experiencing armed conflict and instability, CAR has a long history of coups. Its past and current crises are the result of poor governance and a chronic conflict over state power, access to natural resources, and revenge. In addition, CAR is part of a regional conflict system in which the country is destabilized because of the involvement of neighboring and international actors pursuing political and economic objectives. Multiple external actors have been motivated to intervene because of CAR’s natural resources, which include diamonds, timber, uranium, and potential oil and gas deposits. CAR’s leaders, unable to protect the country’s sovereignty, have allowed this meddling. The past year’s violence has been worsened by national and regional actors using perceived religious tensions between the Christian majority and Muslim minority to mobilize supporters and fuel the conflict. The most recent crisis has spun out of control and deteriorated to a series of retaliatory attacks by both sides. From early December to April 16, 2014, the conflict has resulted in the death of at least 2,000 people, roughly 643,000 internally displaced persons, and an additional 100,000 refugees!

Current Status

The Anti-Balaka and Séléka continue to commit atrocities throughout CAR. In December 2013, fighting escalated in Bangui between the two armed groups with dire humanitarian consequences. Civilians are still threatened by armed militias nationwide, and retaliatory attacks result in multiple deaths in Bangui every day. Nearly all Muslims have been evacuated from Bangui. Humanitarian actors are trying to aid the 2.5 million people in need of assistance, but are greatly limited by instability, underfunding, and the inability to restock areas ahead of the coming rainy season. The existing French and A.U. led peacekeeping operation has


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8,000 troops; however, this is not enough to maintain security nationwide and disarm militia groups. The U.N. Secretary General has recommended a reinforcement of these forces until the deployment of a full-fledged U.N. peacekeeping operation (UNPKO), which was approved by the U.N. Security Council in early April. Although the UNPKO has been approved and the U.S. has recently appointed a Special Representative for CAR, there remain massive security, humanitarian, political, and economic concerns to address in the upcoming months.

6300 is the estimated number of people killed 369000 is the estimated number of internally displaced persons 2.7 million is the number of people in dire need

Causes

In the Central African Region terrorist alliances and groups recruit members and supporters based on their current needs and beliefs. This makes it easier for people who are in need of financial support and believe that they could benefit economically from their participation in such activities to get involved with terrorism. Therefore, the lack of political and social stability as well as an inadequate educational system can make a country more susceptible to terrorist activity. Moreover, when terrorist groups associate with extremist religious behavior people who share the same views are most likely to support such groups. Therefore, providing the public with basic training and ensuring they are informed about the dangers of associating with terrorist organizations can help discourage the public from making rash decisions.

However, it is also important to recognize that terrorist groups often rely on illicit practices in order to obtain weapons for their violent attacks and thus focusing on the proliferation of arms in Central Africa, the illegal arms trade and small weapons trafficking could also provide insight on how to control terrorist attacks.

Possible solutions

When tackling this problem, a delegate must understand the causes that help the development and expansion of terrorist groups in order to find implementable solutions.

In the Central African Region terrorist alliances and groups recruit members and supporters based on their current needs and beliefs. This makes it easier for people who are in need of financial support and believe that they could benefit economically from their participation in such activities to get involved with terrorism. Therefore, the lack of political and social stability as well as an inadequate educational system can make a country more susceptible to terrorist activity. Moreover, when terrorist groups associate with extremist religious behavior people who share the same views are most likely to support such groups. Therefore, providing the public with basic training and ensuring they are informed about the dangers of associating with terrorist organizations can help discourage the public from making rash decisions.

However, it is also important to recognize that terrorist groups often rely on illicit practices in order to obtain weapons for their violent attacks and thus focusing on the proliferation of arms in Central Africa,

the illegal arms trade and small weapons trafficking could also provide insight on how to control terrorist attacks.

Major countries and organizations involved

Central African Republic (CAR): The non-stopping conflicts in the divided country have dealt a major blow to the local community and especially the children, while there have been large displacements of people to other African countries. Moreover, a large part of the population is in serious need of medical attention.

Rwanda: Rwanda has not been actually threatened by African terrorist groups, but the fact that large conflicts are taking place at its borders have caused to the country a great deal of instability.

Democratic Republic of Congo(DR Congo): Since Rwanda intervened in DR Congo in 1997, there have been numerous attempts of a Coup d'état, while there was a great number of rebellions and armed conflicts. In 2008 political instability led to an explosion of violence between the authorities and Hutu rebels and despite the UN’s tries to stabilize the region, in 2009, DR Congo, along with Rwanda, launched a campaign against the Hutu Rebels ending with the arrest of the Hutu Rebels leader, Gen Nkuda.

UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF): The UN CTITF was found in 2005 with a decision by the UN Secretary General. Its objective is to ensure and organize the creation and

realization of counter-terrorism strategies, which have been approved by the UN.

Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA): The UNOCA was established in 2011, after a continuous demand of all the countries of the region to do so. The organization aims to assist member states and other organizations active in this region in maintaining peace and preventing conflicts and violence while it also assists in negotiations between countries and settles border disputes.

African Union (AU): The African Union was founded in 25th of May 1963 and it initially counted 32 members. The organization’s objectives are the establishment and preservation of peace, security, stability and development in member states.

UN involvement: Relevant resolutions and treaties

A/RES/68/119: “Measures to eliminate international terrorism”

A/RES/68/187: “Technical assistance in implementing international conventions and protocols on the fight against terrorism”

A/RES/66/282: “The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review”

A/RES/66/50: “Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction”

“International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 17 December 1979”

“International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 15 December 1997”

“Expert Workshop on the Fight Against Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering for Central African States, Libreville, Gabon, 19-21 May 2015”.

UN involvement: Relevant resolutions and treaties

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