Position paper for Sierra Leone
| Committee: | SC-B |
| Topic: | MONUSCO and the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Paper text: | |
| The United Nations (UN) approximates that nearly 7.8 million individuals are internally displaced within the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and 28 million face food insecurity in the region, near the North and South Kivu Provinces. Such figures reflect the historical disruption to the security of both the DRC and neighboring Rwanda, the continual exploitation of natural resources, and the disregard for international norms and law regarding state sovereignty. This includes thwarted efforts from UN peacekeeping forces (under S/RES/1674) and aggrivation toward international groups, such as the Economic Council of Western African States (ECOWAS). The DRC has faced warfare and instability for the past three decades, beginning with a humanitarian crisis in the wake of the Rwandan genocide (1994), with sectarian and militia violence threatening the lives of the state’s nearly 110 million citizens. Violence has continued to increase as groups like M23, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) escalate tensions and carry out attacks in North and South Kivu. Recent UN efforts have been established to contend with chronic violence, such as the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution S/RES/2773(2025), which supports the cessation of violent acts from the RDF and a return to diplomatic efforts for all parties; a response to the RDF’s incursion into the eastern region of the DRC. MONUSCO report S/2025/590 (19 September 2025) describes an escalation of attacks lodged by M23 and ADF as contributing to a rise in civilian casualties between 23 June 2025 and the filing date of report S/2025/590. This continued escalation necessitates increased global response and multilateral coordination. The Republic of Sierra Leone is in favor of the renewal of MONUSCO’s mandate in December 2025 as well as the guarantee of financing, as laid out in UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/75/300. Further, the Republic calls for a renewed multilateral peace agreement between the DRC, Rwanda, actors of M23, and the ADF that further details demilitarisation of the eastern DRC, the strengthening of peacekeeping efforts, and the safeguarding of the sovereignty of the DRC. Such agreement may be promulgated through regional and international neutral parties and must prioritize the inclusion of interested parties. Sierra Leone is committed to seeking peace throughout the region and encourages the UNSC to take steps to bolster the safety of civilians in the region. | |
| Committee: | SC-B |
| Topic: | Events in the Gaza Strip |
| Paper text: | |
| Growing humanitarian, political, and military issues in the Gaza Strip necessitate swift and sustainable responses on behalf of the United Nations (UN). The World Food Programme has reported an imminent famine in the north of Gaza without immediate intervention of humanitarian efforts into the Gaza Strip—a famine that will almost certainly expand to Gaza’s southern region, in time. The Republic of Sierra Leone is appalled by this humanitarian crisis and condemns attacks on civilians, including the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) officials in East Jerusalem. The Republic offers a two-pronged approach in addressing and assuaging issues within the Gaza Strip. First, the UNSC ought to note Article 2(1)-(5) of the United Nations (UN) Charter, which states that the UN operates in accordance with the sovereign equality of all states. In compliance with such a clause, the State of Palestine must be granted membership so as to engage on an equal level with neighbouring states. Recent measures within the UN Security Council (UNSC), which sought to recommend granting membership status to the State of Palestine, were vetoed by the Council, including UNSC 2/2011/592, which reconsidered the State of Palestine’s 2011 request for permanent recognition as a UN member. This consideration must be reevaluated by the UNSC and approved by the UN General Assembly. Second, The Republic of Sierra Leone calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire on behalf of all parties within the Gaza Strip. In compliance with UNSC S/RES/2712, S/RES/2720, and S/RES/2728, the Republic continuously and unceasingly advocates for a humanitarian intervention immediately. This intervention is only feasible with the cooperation of all parties, the cessation of violence promulgated by all actors, and the global recognition of international law. In the interim prior to a ceasefire agreement, the Republic urges the Council to consider a mandated halt to the humanitarian catastrophe, including the allowance of international aide to enter safety into Gaza and provide basic needs to civilians. Ceasefire considerations must include adopted measures of the UN General Assembly and UNSC through Resolution 181 (ii) Future government of Palestine, which proposes a “two-state solution” in accordance with Article 4 (1) of the UN Charter. The Republic of Sierra Leone, along with 139 other Member States of the UN, restates its support for the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority and seeks to work with fellow UNSC members to address continuous crises in the Gaza Strip. | |
| Committee: | SC-B |
| Topic: | UN Peacekeeping Efforts |
| Paper text: | |
| The United Nations has a long history of peacekeeping operations aimed at maintaining international peace and security, beginning with Resolution 50 (1948), which authorized the first observer mission in the Middle East. Over time, the Security Council has continually refined mandates, as seen in Resolution 1674 (2006), which reaffirmed the protection of civilians, the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative (2018), and Resolution 2493 (2019), which recommitted the Council to the Women, Peace and Security agenda and emphasized greater participation of women in peacekeeping. Sierra Leone strongly supports these initiatives, viewing them as essential mechanisms for ensuring stability. Africa has remained a major focus of UN peacekeeping. Missions such as MONUC/MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Resolution 1925, 2010), UNAMID in Darfur (Resolution 1769, 2007), and MINUSMA in Mali (Resolution 2100, 2013) highlight the ongoing presence of instability on the continent. Sierra Leone recognizes that peacekeeping operations in Africa provide security while also assisting in state- building, disarmament, and humanitarian access. ECOWAS has played a central role in regional conflict management, particularly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire, where cooperation with the UN has proved vital. Domestically, Sierra Leone stands as a success story of UN peacekeeping. The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), authorized by Resolution 1270 (1999), was pivotal in ending the civil war and supporting disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs. This mission is regarded as one of the UN’s most effective peacekeeping operations. Sierra Leone now contributes back to global peace efforts, currently deploying 67 uniformed personnel to nine missions, with its largest contingent in UNMISS in South Sudan (Resolution 1996, 2011). Notably, Sierra Leone has prioritized gender inclusion in peacekeeping, with nearly 28% of its deployments being women, aligning with Resolution 1325 (2000) and Resolution 2493 (2019). Sierra Leone urges the Security Council to strengthen peacekeeping by ensuring adequate funding, clearer mandates, and stronger partnerships with regional organizations such as ECOWAS and the African Union. It also recommends expanding women’s participation in peacekeeping to at least 30% and sharing best practices from successful operations such as UNAMSIL to guide future missions. | |
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