Proceedings 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Traffic on the Burigarga River. Photo by: Mark Schmidt

While tasks were articulated in a detailed fashion, the syndicates differed in their discovery and approach to the problems and to the solu-tions, some staying very close to the outline provided while others elected to work with a broader view to the discussion. Regardless of style, each syndicate capsulated their conclusion in a set of slides for presentation to the entire group during plenary sessions, with some utilizing the template provided. A moderator and a reporter, one each for each syndicate, managed the administrative details and kept the syndicate discussions moving forward.

Move 1: The Mandate

Description

The game began with the breakdown of a regionally brokered peace agreement. Despite considerable efforts by ASEAN the situation appeared to be deteriorating within Darlan and in bordering countries. In an attempt to prevent further conflict, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy conducted intensive talks with the faction leaders and received a commitment from both sides to adhere to the terms of a recent peace summit. However, despite the talks, the situation continued to deteriorate. Based on the UN Secretary General’s report, syndicates were in-structed to prepare a draft security council resolution to mandate a peacekeeping operation.

Findings

The first task represented an activity, writing a UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR), that none of the participants were likely to find them-selves in a position to have to produce, however they gained valuable insights from the process. The first move allowed them to understand the development of a mandate and the challenges it presents from the very beginning of a peace operation. Devising an appropriate mandate is a complicated task, requiring a balance of comp-eting interests and risks to achieve the best chance of crafting a solution to the problem that is acceptable both to the parties to the conflict and to those who have to reestablish the peace.

Commonly identified, recommended tasks were fairly standard across the syndicates:

• Endorsement of previous UNSCRs

• Reestablishment of the ceasefire

• Creation of conditions for cessation of military activities

• Reestablishment of multi-party commission

• Create environment to sustain the safe movement of forces and supplies

• Protection of civilians under immediate threat

• Protection of returning refugees and IDPs

• Supervision the demobilization of factions, deployment of civilian police

• Supervision of civil affairs

• Reestablishment of civil government and resumption of its function

• Cooperation of bordering countries sought through the office of the Secretary General