4P1 Class MUN 2010Delegation of Yemen Security CouncilTan Tai Joum (28)Tan Yi Wei (29)Hwa Chong Institution

Yemen-Somalia ties

• Yemen has historically enjoyed good relations with Somalia, its neighbour to the south and fellow Arab League member.

• Ethnic Somalis for the most part blend in well with Yemeni society, as they share centuries of close religious, commercial and social ties.

• Following the outbreak of the civil war in Somalia, Yemen unconditionally opened its borders to Somali asylum seekers. The World Refugee Survey 2008, published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, estimates that 110,600 Somali refugees lived in Yemen in 2007, which is a fraction of the estimated 700,000-strong Somali nationals already living and working in Yemen.

Yemen-Somalia ties

• There are also many Somalis who have received Yemeni citizenship due to marriage with Yemenis as well as through service to the nation over the years.

• In addition, Yemen and Somalia have a long history of trade and inter-action, with many of Somalia's Sultans, such as Yusuf Ali Kenadid and Gerad Ali Dable, often being exiled to and recruiting troops from Yemen's Hadhramaut region.

Yemen-Somalia ties

Map of Somalia

Situation analysis

Situation analysisPiracy issue

Piracy have been rampant near the coast of Somalia since the second civil war in Somalia ( early 21st century )

Increasing threat posed by piracy also caused significant concerns to many states (eg. India ) as multiple shipping trade routes pass through the Gulf of Aden

Situation analysisPiracy issue

In recent years ( mainly 2007 – 2009 ), many countries & international organisations have offered to help ease the piracy situation in Somalia

Eg. Russia, Singapore, UN, Maritime Peace org., India, EU, etc

Situation analysisPiracy issue

Despite the increase in actions taken, the piracy rate has inflated, as an increasing number of ships are being held hostage or robbed

Some pirates claimed that they take on piracy to protect Somalian waters as MNCs are dumping waste into the waters, destroying the fishing industry at Somalian coasts

Situation analysisPolitical instability

Excessive amounts of political instability during the past decade

Somalia's transformation into an independent state was peaceful in the beginning but is soon erupted into a violent conflict

Situation analysisPolitical instability

In 1969 Abdi Rashid Ali Shirmarke, Somalia's second President, was assassinated and in the following days a military coup, led by Major General Muhammed Siyad Barre, tgained control of the country

In 1970 Barre declared Somalia to be a socialist state

Situation analysisPolitical instability

Somalia experiences many economic problems

Native clans in Somalia are constantly fighting with their foes ( to gain wealth by taking control of land )

Internal stability will give rise to peace ( no pirates too )

Situation analysisPolitical instability

Since independence in 1960, Somalia did have a well working parliamentary democracy for the first nine years ( note the word FIRST )

Historical Somali values and acquired Western practices ( due to colonization ) appeared to coincide, thus causing conflicting parties

Situation analysisPolitical instability

With political instability in Somalia, unrests are prone to happen which will affect & deter business or investments in the area.

Unemployment rates will rise as many companies will choose to relocate

Situation analysisPolitical instability

Trade and economy is also severely affected by the political instability

When people are poor, they will turn to desperate ways to get $$$

Robberies, PIRACY will become rampantVicious cycle

Situation analysisShortage of funds

Political instability deters foreign investors and MNCs from investing in Somalia

With insufficient funds, Somalia is less unable to deal the piracy issue effectively

Proposed SolutionsVocational training for unemployed youth

Illegal arms trade

Establish/Enhance

border management

and protection system

Resolving The Issue of Piracy

off the Coast of Somalia

Establish intelligence network

• Illegal arms trade– Contribute to piracy– Need to reduce, if not eliminate, the illegal arms

trade

Proposed Solutions

–Benefits:• Reduction or end of conflict and piracy in

Somalia• Reduction or elimination of a regional arms

trade• Reduction of armed crime in neighbouring

countries• Reduction of many levels of violence

perpetrated throughout the region

Proposed Solutions

• Vocational training for unemployed youth– Enhance practical skills of unemployed youth in

sectors such as fishing, agriculture– Target both sexes– Young women may also receive training in health,

pre- and post- natal child care and nutrient

Proposed Solutions

–Benefits:• Curb on illegal activities such as piracy• Growth on economy• An improvement of pre and post natal care and ‐

survival rates of mother and child‐ ‐

Proposed Solutions

• Establish/Enhance border management and protection system– Strengthen the Somali government’s capacity to

monitor and protect its external borders (both sea and land)• Development of intelligence gathering and analysis• Provision of essential equipment such as

communications and computerization

Proposed Solutions

–Benefits:• Enhanced capacity to monitor the movement of

pirates and would be pirates• Give a greater emphasis on prevention of piracy• Greater effectiveness in rooting out piracy

Proposed Solutions

• Establish intelligence network– Establish a dedicated intelligence system directed

at penetrating the pirate organisations– Have a relatively loose operational system– Get more accurate information about them

Proposed Solutions

Proposed Solutions

–Benefits:• More accurate and timely information about

current and planned operations involving piracy• More accurate information about

organisational structures, funding, payment methods and external links• More effective targeting of interdictions and

preventive operations