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NOTTINGHAM INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE 2011

STUDY GUIDE

AFRICAN UNION

CRISIS COMMITTEE



2

“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 02

Agenda: Review of the African Union peace keeping mission in Somalia 03

Introduction 03

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

04

04

05

05

06

0709

AMISOM and Al-Shabaab Troop Numbers 10

Recommended reading 11

COMMITTEE PERSONNEL & CONTACT DETAILS

Committee President: James Rathbone

Chairman: Philip Middleton

Vice-Chairs: Munkhbold Badarch and Mark Stevenson

Contact Address: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]






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-AGENDA-

Review 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



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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 factionsthat 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

1http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unosom1backgr2.html

2Ibid.

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




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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 1990’s, 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 self-

declared 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

3http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unosom1backgr2.html

4http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/16/AR2006051601625_pf.html


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/16/AR2006051601625_pf.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/16/AR2006051601625_pf.html




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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 andTFG 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

5http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6207427.stm


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






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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 increating a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

7,8Despite 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 7February 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 Mogadishuleft 11 Burundian soldiers dead and another 15 wounded. Two days later heavy fighting

7http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/964109

8http://www.undemocracy.com/S-RES-1772(2007)/page_1

9http://allafrica.com/stories/200806020030.html



12http://www.sudantribune.com/Ethiopia-to-pullout-Somalia-after,29559

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/964109

http://www.undemocracy.com/S-RES-1772(2007)/page_1

http://allafrica.com/stories/200806020030.html



http://www.sudantribune.com/Ethiopia-to-pullout-Somalia-after,29559

http://www.sudantribune.com/Ethiopia-to-pullout-Somalia-after,29559




http://www.undemocracy.com/S-RES-1772(2007)/page_1

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/964109



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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 thecapital. 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 Al-

Shabaab 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 Al-

Shabaab, formally doing so on 20 Decemeber.17

13http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/02/2009228161951283106.html





http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/02/2009228161951283106.html












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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 troopswere 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

Somalia’s neighbours.

(f) Kenyan Intervention

In response to Al-Shabaab cross border raids into Kenya, which have caused the deaths of a

large number of Kenyan’s 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

18http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12650263

19

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL6E7J601H20110806?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=

0&sp=true20

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/10/2011101813351279957.html21

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/East-African-Nations-Back-Kenyan-Offensive-in-Somalia-

132374053.html22

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/world/africa/kenya-says-western-nations-have-joined-somalia-

fight.html?_r=2&src=tp23

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/african-union-understands-kenya-incursion-in-somalia/

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

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL6E7J601H20110806?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true



http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/East-African-Nations-Back-Kenyan-Offensive-in-Somalia-132374053.html


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/world/africa/kenya-says-western-nations-have-joined-somalia-fight.html?_r=2&src=tp











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



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AMISOM Troop Deployments and Causalities 2007-2011Country Number of troops Casualties

Uganda 5,210 81+ wounded, 17 deceased Burundi 4,400 41+ wounded, 50+ deceased, 1 captured Kenya 10 none

Ghana 9 none Nigeria 8 none

Sierra Leone 8 none Cameroon, Mail, Senegal, Zambia 4 none

Total 9,649 175+ wounded, 67+ deceased, 1 captured, 2 missing

Estimated Al-Shabaab Milita Numbers by Tribe/ClanTribe/Clan Number of troops

Rahanwein 4,250 Darod 3,100

Hawiye 2,400 Dir 1,700

Other 1,000 Foreign Fighters 2,000

Total 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/Battle_of_Mogadishu_(2009)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_East_Africa_drought

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Linda_Nchi



http://www.au.int/en/sites/default/files/273rd%20FINAL%20PSC%20Press%20Statement%20-%20Somalia%20EN.pdf










































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