Chair Research Report Format and Guideline Johannesburg Model United Nations 2016 JOMUN XIV Forum: Human Rights Commission Issue: Addressing the human rights violations caused by insurgent activities of the Boko Haram Student Officer: Nebyou Mergia Position: President INTRODUCTION The jihadist group known as Boko Haram began to emerge in early 2003, when a group of like minded Islamists retreated to an area known as the Borno State in the Northeast region of Nigeria. Lead by Abubakar Shekau, their current leader, the various human rights violations they continue to infringe upon has wrecked havoc throughout many West African nations for the past 13 years. Their presence within this region has steamed fear and anger in citizens who have experienced the brunt of Boko Haram s malicious and haphazard attacks. These violations include the burning down of entire villages; attacks on places of worship and schools, and the slaughter of people taking refuge in such sites; massacres; cruel and degrading treatment following sentences in so called "courts"; abduction on a massive scale, including of children; torture child recruitment; forced displacement; and severe and widespread violations of the rights of women and girls, including sexual slavery, forced marriages, sexual violence, and forced pregnancy in violation of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Islamic terrorist group has been expanding their influence far from their origins in Nigeria to West African nations like Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. Since their growing reputation as a dreaded militant organization, speculations of their association with al Qaeda has been reported, however in 2015 Abubakar pledged allegiance to another terrorist group, the Daesh. This association has created a bigger problem that is Boko Haram because the interconnectedness this terrorist group has gained by aligning itself with these other jihadist militants such as the Daesh, has resulted in one having to consider the external forces rather than just the isolated area the terrorist group once occupied (Nigeria). DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS *Terrorism Research Report Page 1 of 10
Terrorism is the act of inducing fear through the use of violence in order to launch a political, religious, or ideological change. *There is no universal definition for the word terrorism. Numerous legal systems and governmental agencies use different definitions. This problem arises from the fact that the term is emotionally and politically charged. Shia VS Sunni Islam These two groups steamed from the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Between the two sides, one believed that Muhammad s successor was Abu Bakr while the other believed that successor was Ali ibn Abi Talib. The crucial distinctions between Sunni and Shia Muslims is the significance that the Shiites offer to Ali, while the Sunni do not acknowledge as being the prophet's successor. Financial Extortion This is a crime in which one person forces another individual to do something against his or her own will. This can include giving up money or other property, by using leverage such as physical violence, damage to property, extreme financial hardship, or damage to the person s reputation. Religious Conversion Religious conversion is when an individual take on a new religious belief that is different from convert's previous beliefs. It involves the person having new religious identity, or a change from one religious identity to another. Religious conversions can either be forced or deliberate. Coalition A coalition is a group of people that are bound together through a treaty or a pact, during which they cooperate in a joint action. Each party might have their own self interest in joining, yet they work together for a common cause. Daesh Daesh is an acronym for the Arabic phrase al Dawla al Islamiya al Iraq al Sham (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). It is a another word for a commonly used term in media, ISIS. The reason these terrorist groups have been abbreviated is to strip away the legitimacy of the groups. Term is commonly used in lieu of ISIS or ISIL in politics (especially in the UN). Boko Haram The name, Boko Haram", is derived from the Hausa word 'boko' meaning western or non Islamic education" and the Arabic word 'haram' that figuratively means "sin". Research Report Page 2 of 10
BACKGROUND ON THE ISSUE During its founding 2002, the Islamic sect based its ideals on a version of Islam that makes it "haram", or in other words forbidden, for Muslims to be a part in any social or political activity connected with Western society. The history behind the sect s belief begins with its founder, Mohammed Yusuf. The founder, Mohammed Yusuf was able to exploit public anger against Nigeria s corrupt government by associating it to Western influence in governance. As a result, Mohamed Yusuf was able to produce propaganda that would attract people who agreed with his stance, which at that time was a common one. Yusuf s messaged attracted many people that would become his followers. Since the Islamic sect s foundation lied upon the distrust of Nigeria s government, Boko Haram took advantage of this by associating the Nigerian state as being run by non believers (the Christian south), even when the country had a president who was Muslim (Umaru Musa Yar'Adua) during its uprising in 2009. Boko Haram continued to capitalize on the poor governance of Nigeria as they extended their military campaign by targeting neighboring states as a way to retaliate against the Nigerian government who trade with these nations. Since the late 2000s, Boko Haram continues carry out extensive human rights violations in regions around northeast Nigeria. Since December of 2013, the terrorist group broadened their attacks to other nations that border Nigeria, especially Cameroon, followed by Niger and Chad. Their continued expansion prompted multilateral and bilateral counterinsurgency actions initiated by involved nations. A cooperation agreement was made in January of 2015 between Chad and Cameroon/Nigeria that caused joint military operations against the terrorist group, eradicating them from much of their previously claimed territory they had once controlled. On March of 2015, the international community within Africa took action to ensure the steadfast opposition against Boko Haram by the African Union creating a Multinational Joint Task Force to fight Boko Haram. This coalition force involves troops from five countries Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. Despite such efforts, Boko Haram continues to commit horrific human rights violations and abuses in terms of the international humanitarian law. This has resulted in casualties and further destruction of property within the nations involved. Loss of human life has been an evident byproduct of Boko Haram s cruelty, as they have killed more than 15,000 people since 2009. This does not count the multitude of abducted, sexually enslaved, tortured, forcibly displaced and military recruited individuals. Boko Haram s area of occupation throughout the years: Research Report Page 3 of 10
MAJOR COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED Al Qaeda Even though al Qaeda has not explicitly stated their affiliation with Boko Haram, Boko Haram does seem to be connected to other organizations in al Qaeda's broader network. For example, Ansar Dine, a group that received logistical and military support from al Qaeda, funding, hosted hundreds of members of Boko Haram in territory it controlled in Timbuktu. Nigeria Not only the birthplace of the jihadist group, however most arguably the most impact nation, Boko Haram continues to envelope the nation in terror leaving a trail of human rights violations throughout the country. The Borno State, more specifically the area surrounding its capital of Madagali, has been simply rendered as Boko Haram s major stronghold and an unofficial headquarters. Niger A neighbor of Nigeria, Niger continues to endure the influence Boko Haram has on the region. Many of the human rights violations occurring in Nigeria have spilled to out to Niger, which has left national authorities to forcibly move people in areas potentially dangerous due to Boko Haram. This has lead to over 40,000 Nigerians to become internally displaced. Cameroon Another key player of the Boko Haram effort and a victim to their atrocities, Cameroon has played a key role in trying to eliminate the Islamic terrorist group. The country has taken in many Nigerian refugees, nearing to almost 180,000, as well as fighting the militant group in reclaiming previously acquired Boko Haram controlled areas. Chad Chad, even though is one of the four major countries devastated by Boko Haram s insurgency, the nation has not truly been at the forefront of the many cruelties carried out by the militia group. After their state of emergency in 2015, Chad has not received dangerous Boko Haram activity lately. Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Originally the task force was organized as a solely Nigerian Force in 1994 to protect the northern boarder, however in April of 2012, the task forces mandate expanded to encompass counter terrorism forces from surrounding nations. Since this merge, the task Research Report Page 4 of 10
force has primarily been organizing themselves into a more structured military group. There is still skepticism from the international community on the effectiveness this multinational TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS endeavor. 1903 British Acquisition of Nigeria In 1903, the Sokoto Caliphate and Borno Emirate (the region currently seized by Boko Haram), was taken control by the British Empire. During the colonization, English Christian missionaries began spreading their believes upon the heavily populated Muslim regions. This created some resentment within the Muslim community against western ideologies once British rule ended in 1960. With Christianity becoming more and more popular within Nigeria and gaining more political power after this acquisition poverty, social inequality and the increasingly drastic nature of Islam, internationally and locally grew. This has contributed greatly to the Boko Haram uprising as it has provided them a rational for their extremist agenda. 2002 Boko Haram Founding 2009 Operation Flush In 2002 in Maiduguri, the capital of the northeastern state of Borno, Mohammed Yusuf founded the sect Boko Haram with the motivation to eliminate all influences of westernized ideology from Nigeria and surrounding areas. In 2009, Nigerian police carried out the investigation Operation Flush, where police arrested ten Boko Haram members and seized weapons and lethal bombing equipment. They also attacked a Boko Haram headquarter where 700, mostly Boko Haram jihadists, were killed. During this fight, Mohammed Yusuf had been killed. September, 2010 Grass Roots Uprising After their believed take down in 2009 by the Borno government officials, Boko Haram was able to regroup under the authority of their current leader Abubakar and break free 105 of its former members out of prison along with 600 other inmates. May, 2011 Presidential Inauguration Bombings Moments after Goodluck Jonathan s presidential inauguration in May, series of bombings took place in Zaria, Bauchi and Abuja. These were Research Report Page 5 of 10
15 April, 2014 Chibok Kidnapping 3 7 January, 2015 Baga Massacre 9 September, 2015 Supposed Defeat Johannesburg Model United Nations 2016 late claimed by Boko Haram in response to the Christian South of Nigeria neglecting the terms of a tacit agreement that outlined how a president would alternate after two terms of office between candidates from the Muslim north and the Christian south of the country. On the 15 th of April in Chibok, 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped from the Government Secondary School in the Borno State, Nigeria. Expectedly, Shekau broadcasted his intention of selling them into slavery or back to their families as a form of financial extortion. Since the capture, 57 of the girls have been able to escape as well as disclose information on the human rights violations Boko Haram has carried out on the girls; these abuses include sexual assault, torture and forced religious conversion. The Baga Massacre was a series of mass killings carried out by the Islamic radical group, Boko Haram in the Nigerian town of Baga. Noted as one of the biggest defeats by the Nigerian military, Boko Haram was able to inflict heavy fatalities. Reports from international sources proposed that the event caused a loss of life up too 2,000 while local reports say no more than 150 individuals. Colonel Rabe Abubakar, Director of Information of Defense, announced that all Boko Haram camps and cells have been demolished, and that they had weakened the group so much that they could no longer claim any territory. However, miscellaneous attacks throughout regions previously claimed by Boko Haram have taken place in recent months, primarily in the form of suicide bombings. RELEVANT UN RESOLUTIONS, TREATIES AND EVENTS The United Nations has taken considerable steps in eradicating the terrorist group through the development of resolutions, reports, and conventions. These actions have all have guided the affect nations on how to possibly solve the issue as well as putting forth an agenda on a global scale. However, the key drawback these UN inquisitions have posed is their incapability to produce aggressive actions that would solve the issue or a military to carry out UN policies on the bases of passed resolutions. Research Report Page 6 of 10
Atrocities committed by the terrorist group Boko Haram and its effects on human rights in the affected States, April 1 st 2015, Resolution 23 (A/HRC/S 23/2) This resolution gives a good generalization on how to structure a possibly well detailed and original resolution. The resolution itself isn t specifically focused in terms of its operative clauses, yet will provide a foundation of what your resolution should be. Violations and abuses committed by Boko Haram and the impact on human rights in the countries affected, December 9 th 2015, Report 30 (A/HRC/30/67) This report gives a clear and concise summary of the ongoing human rights violations committed by Boko Haram in affected areas. The report is very thorough and well balanced in its ability to expresses the enormity of the issue. Please read over and consider the document as a primary source when doing research or completing a resolution. The United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, September 20 th 2006, Report 60 (A/RES/60/288) This resolution is one of the most prominent efforts made by the United Nations to stop not just the Boko Haram issue, however, all terrorist organizations. The resolution was the first time where all UN members agreed to a common strategy and operational approach to fight terrorism. As a result of this collaboration, the resolution acts as a way to send a clear message that terrorism is deplorable in all its forms and demonstrations. Overall, this resolution is very pertinent to this issue and would a great source when completing ones own resolution and policy statements. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE THE ISSUE U.S. Armed Forces Deployment In Cameroon (2015) The United States took the initiative to deploy 300 military based personal to Cameroon in an effort to enhance performance in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. This effort was primarily based in Cameroon and not in Nigeria, due to the instability politically and socially during the time of deployment. All 300 US military soldiers helped aid and train the Cameroonian soldiers who were a part of Multinational Joint Task Force as well as the other 2,000 police officers and 8,500 soldiers that hail from Nigeria, Benin, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Even though the effort may seem secure, the operation may be too little, too late. Apparently, based on global experts, the effort by the U.S. in terms of contributing equipment and troops will not provide necessary military force to eliminate Boko Haram. Borno State Operation Flush Research Report Page 7 of 10
On July 26, 2009, Operation Flush was carried out by a joint military task force and Nigerian troops. The action caused 700 people to die, most of which being Boko Haram members, however many of the government offices, prisons, police stations, schools and churches in that area had been destroyed because of the event. This operation inspired Nigeria to create the coalition Multinational Joint Task Force that would carry out more actions to solve the issue involving Boko Haram. The major problem with the Nigerian military and the coalition forces that were created to aid the Nigerian based issue, is that they are unmonitored. This has caused these groups to carry out human rights violations themselves during these operations. The success of this operation has been deluded significantly as a result of these violations in human rights against innocent citizens. Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) This forum has been actively solving the issue involving Boko Haram since 2009, during their uprising. The Forum has draft many resolutions and report that have been signed on and acknowledged by many nations across the globe and in particular West Africa. The main issue these resolutions and reports have is their incapability to solve the corruption and lack of governance in Nigeria. The lack of transparency the Nigerian government portrays has made it difficult to solve or even pinpoint that exact ways in which Boko Haram has taken advantage of the country s weaknesses. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS Integrate UN Peacekeeping Forces within the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) as well as the militaries of nations heavily affected by Boko Haram Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. This would allow for the UN based agenda on the issue to be carried out and looked after during the fight against Boko Haram. Also, by including UN Peacekeeping forces into these groups, the human rights infringements by the law enforcement and soldiers of these countries upon would be eliminated. Allow INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) the full transparency of the Nigerian government, thus to increase the nations level of Intelligence against Boko Haram and Daesh By the Nigerian government, on that has not been able to fully protect itself from Boko Haram s espionage and intelligence, would greatly benefit through he collaboration with INTERPOL. This intergovernmental organization would facilitate the actions of the Nigerian government and military. They would also address weak points in both these areas and provide solutions to solve them. Increase the coalition force, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), in soldiers, equipment, intelligence, and funding. Research Report Page 8 of 10
Based on previous actions against Boko Haram, MNJTF seems to be the one major solution to this problem faced by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad. With it being the first line of defense for these nations, increasing their power would be a good option in tackling this WORKS CITED issue in the short term. "Who Are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists? - BBC News." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "Boko Haram." Boko Haram. United Nations, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "Boko Haram." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "2015 Baga Massacre." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "Borno State." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "The Origins of Boko Haram." The National Interest. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "UN Rights Chief Urges Concerted Action to Tackle Boko Haram's 'extensive and Far-reaching' Abuses." UN Rights Chief Urges Concerted Action to Tackle Boko Haram's 'extensive and Far-reaching' Abuses. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "Human Rights Council Calls for the Investigation of the Atrocities Committed by Boko Haram." Human Rights Council Calls for the Investigation of the Atrocities Committed by Boko Haram. United Nations, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "Multinational Joint Task Force." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "Security Council Condemns Boko Haram Violence, Backs Regional Efforts to Counter Ongoing Attacks." UN News Center. UN, 28 July 2015. Web. 08 May 2016. "UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL." 23rd Special Session. United Nations, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. Rabasha Palai, Mothusi Bruce. "Report of the Human Rights Council on Its Twenty-third Special Session." UN Human Rights Document Database. United Nations, 13 Aug. 2015. Web. 8 May 2016. "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Violations and Abuses Committed by Boko Haram and the Impact on Human Rights in the Affected Countries*." UN Human Rights Document Database. United Nations, 29 Sept. 2015. Web. 8 May 2016. "Interpol." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. "World Report 2015: Nigeria." Human Rights Watch. N.p., 12 Jan. 2015. Web. 08 May 2016. Publications, Amnesty International, First Published In 2015 By, Amnesty International Publications, and International Secretariat. HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER FIRE: ATTACKS AND VIOLATIONS IN CAMEROON'S STRUGGLE WITH BOKO HARAMAmnesty International Publications(n.d.): n. pag. Amnesty International. Web. 8 May 2016. Research Report Page 9 of 10
APPENDIX OR APPENDICES https://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/cameroon_human_rights_under_fire_ _english.pdf Good resource for about the Boko Haram issue affecting Cameroon. http://www.bbc.com/news/world africa 13809501 Article that gives fundamental understanding of what Boko Haram is. http://search.ohchr.org/default.aspx UN Human Rights document finder database. http://guardian.ng/news/chronology of boko haram attacks/ Chronological attacks by Boko Haram. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kimbo5c0ak Video in regards to the conflict against Boko Haram. The video may contain bias, please watch with discretion. *Previous resolutions mentioned above are key things to look at. They are great resources, so please use them in your research. Research Report Page 10 of 10