international affairs – The Concordian

Delegates from all over the world visited Montreal for the CONMUN conference

The fourth edition of the Concordia Model United Nations (CONMUN) conference took place last week. The annual conference hosted by Concordia, was held this year at the hotel DoubleTree by Hilton. Representatives from delegations across the world arrived in professional attire to compete in the event.

“Concordia has recently risen in the Model UN rankings, we’re fairly in the top 25 schools and our image is growing,” elaborated Rowen Tanguay, a Concordia staff member for Model UN. “More schools and better delegates are being attracted to our conference each year.”

The aim of the conference is to simulate an United Nations conference as accurately as possible. During a simulation, delegates gather around tables to debate one another. The delegates raised a placard, on which the country or the person they represented was written. The Chair and the Vice Chair of the simulation will moderate the discussion.

Danisha Decius, who is part of the Concordia secretary team for Model UN, explained that there are committees made up of general assemblies, specialized agencies, and crisis committees.

CONMUN has been ranked as a Best Delegate conference since 2019.

“It is a great way to bring people not only from Canada, but also from the United States and abroad to see how great Concordia is and the city of Montreal,” said Liam Quraeshi, an assistant crisis director with Concordia’s Model UN team.

The main theme of this year’s conference was climate change, but conferences can focus on any subject that affects the international community, like artificial intelligence.

Quraeshi said that in a typical CONMUN conference, 40 to 50 delegates represent countries or political actors. The countries selected tend to be the most influential like the U.S. and China. But sometimes, smaller countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya are chosen depending on the debate theme of each conference.

Tanguay finds the Model UN environment fantastic. He thinks that the simulations are theatrical, but he loves them because he considers himself a theatrical person as well.

He is interested in politics. “Roleplaying as a political agent is a particularly appealing concept,” said Tanguay.

He appreciates how Model UN skills are applicable in everyday life. “I think it is a good program at the very least in terms of extracurricular activities,” he added. “It is a phenomenal activity for sharpening your social skills and forming lasting connections with incredible people.”

Quraeshi said he particularly loves when the conference is held in Montreal because he prefers the experience here a lot more.

“It is closer to where I live, I am very in touch with the city, in terms of best places to eat, the public transport, and just showing people around having a good time,”
he said.

September 21 marked the first day of a deadly four-day siege on Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya in which the Kenyan military fought to dislodge al-Shabaab fighters in a battle that saw at least 61 civilians and six Kenyan security officers dead. The Red Cross said 39 people are still missing.

The terrorist attack sparked an international outcry and condemnations by countries such as Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Israel and Iran. However, none of these countries will help Kenya fight back against its enemy, it just isn’t in their interest to do so.

The perpetrator, al-Shabaab, was formed in 2006 as a radical wing of the now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia. As the organization grew, foreigners also joined its ranks. Al-Shabaab is believed to currently house between 7,000 and 9,000 militants and is affiliated and funded by al-Qaeda.

Al-Shabaab called the attack strict retaliation for Kenya’s continued military presence in Somalia.

Marcel Danis, a Concordia University political science professor with an expertise in public security, organized crime, and terrorism, said the terrorists are speaking truthfully.

“[Al Shabaab] is a terrorist group that controls part of Somalia,” said Danis. “They do a number of kidnappings and extortions [and are] a pain in the neck to Western companies [in the region].”

Danis claims Western corporate interests companies thus lobbied the African Union (AU) into eliminating al-Shabaab’s influence in Somalia. Of the AU member states, Uganda and Kenya are the two countries that have pledged the most resources to this campaign and, in response, al-Shabaab is now attempting to intimidate them into withdrawing their forces.

“Bombs exploded in Kampala, Uganda, while people were watching the World Cup in 2010. About 70 people died. Al-Shabaab said it was in retaliation as well. Both cases are very similar in nature,” said Danis.

Fortunately, al-Shabaab was unsuccessful in forcing the Kenyan president’s hand.

“We went [to Somalia] to help them bring order in their own nation and will stay there until [we do], we will not be intimidated,” said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta during a multi-faith prayer service on Oct. 1 honouring the victims of the Westgate Mall attack, according to BBC.

Yet Kenyatta does not expect much help from the global community in fighting al-Shabaab.

Based on their exclusive interview with Canadian Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, Global News said the international community has only three possible courses of action: conduct a missile strike on the al-Shabaab headquarters, prosecute the attackers who are still alive in international court, or let Kenya handle the situation on its own.

While indicting those responsible in international court might happen, a missile strike is highly unlikely. Since the 2002 invasion of Iraq the Western community has seen how its interventions in conflict zones have bolstered a negative view of them and/or have led to unforeseen regional consequences, even when their presence is indirect. As such, interceding in other states is not in their interests.

For example, in the aftermath of the Allied forces’ air strike in Libya in 2011, Gadhafi supporters left the country, traveled to Mali, and plunged that nation into civil war.

‘‘Tuareg tribesmen who reportedly fought for Moammar Gadhafi in Libya have returned to Mali with weapons…forcing thousands to flee,’’ said former Mali President, Amadou Toumani Toure, in a public statement, according to CNN. Toure was ousted in a coup d’état by the Tuareg a month later.

Kenya, which knows the only way to keep al-Shabaab under control is by a direct military presence in Somali territory, will most likely have the African Union as the only reliable ally. Yet President Kenyatta’s decision could potentially carry deep consequences.

According to Danis, ‘‘if [Kenyatta] keeps his troops in Somalia, a second major attack will occur in Kenya.’’