UN Security Council Draft Resolution

S/RES/Peace

Sponsors: Republic of France, State of Palestine, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Signatories:

Agenda: The Ethiopia–Somalia Dispute: Role of Foreign Influence, Non-State Actors and
Control in Coastal Regions

The Security Council,

Bearing in mind the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and its founding
principles with special emphasis on Chapter VII,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, territorial

integrity, and unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, including authority over agreements
involving Somaliland, which remains internationally recognized as part of Somalia, and that
securing proper maritime borders is predominant in maintaining international peace,

Recognizing that regional maritime stability requires absolute adherence to Article 2,

Paragraph 4 of the United Nations Charter, and further emphasizing that transparent,
centralized governance is the primary mechanism to prevent non-state entities from
disrupting global shipping lanes,

Having considered all Security Council resolutions related to the dispute between Ethiopia
and Somalia, with special emphasis on Security Council Resolution 1725 (2006), 733 (1992),
2767 (2024), 2713 (2023), and 2809 (2025),

Reiterating Article 3 and Article 4 of the AU Constitutive Act, which mandate respect for
sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of conflicts, and the prohibition of the
use of force,

Guided by Article 125 of Part X of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
which grants landlocked states the right of access to and from the Sea and Freedom of
Transit, mindful that the terms of transit must be agreed upon through bilateral or regional
agreements with the relevant Transit State, recognizing the legitimate developmental and
economic interests of landlocked states,

Recalling that the Ankara Declaration established the commitment that Somalia and Ethiopia
agree to restore diplomatic ties after the year-long rift, with Somalia severing relations over
the sea access agreement Ethiopia signed with separatist region of Somaliland, demonstrating
that bilateral dialogue and mediation can successfully resolve territorial disputes,
Recalling the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, particularly
regarding the obligations of states to respect the legal jurisdictions and sovereign
administrative authority of neighboring nations,

Noting with alarm the activities of non‑state actors such as Al‑Shabaab and pirate groups,
which exploit instability to expand their influence, disrupt maritime security, and endanger
civilian populations,

Emphasizing the importance of transparency in foreign military, economic, and political

involvement in the Horn of Africa, to prevent external powers from fueling instability or
undermining regional sovereignty,

Alarmed that continued tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia could worsen humanitarian
conditions, slow down development, and threaten peace and stability across the Horn of
Africa,

Recognizing the vital role of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in

facilitating diplomatic dialogue and fostering mutual understanding between neighboring
states in the Horn of Africa,

Determined to place the well‑being of societies at the center of all negotiations, ensuring that
ordinary people benefit from peace rather than bear the costs of conflict,

Guided by the vision of a peaceful and integrated Horn of Africa where disputes are resolved
through cooperation rather than confrontation,

1)​ Urges the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to suspend all unilateral
diplomatic arrangements that bypass sovereign state authority:
a)​ Further recommending that any future commercial port access be secured
strictly through legitimate bilateral treaties with the consent of the Federal
Republic of Somalia;

2)​ Calls upon the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of
Somalia to immediately de-escalate all political rhetoric, exercise maximum restraint,
and resume direct bilateral dialogue within a mutually agreed framework;

3)​ Requests the establishment of a bilateral Ethiopia–Somalia Joint Commission to

find options for maritime access, trade cooperation, and regional economic integration
consistent with international law principles of mutual consent;

4)​ Requests the Secretary-General to create and maintain a voluntary registry of all
foreign military access agreements, naval basing agreements, and strategic port lease
arrangements concluded within the Horn of Africa, and encourages Member States to
 submit relevant documentation within 60 days of such agreements entering into force
in order to enhance transparency and confidence-building measures;

5)​ Recommends to establish the Convention on the Protection of States from Military
Aggression and Territorial Violation, which will be legally binding on all signatories
and ratifiers, as suggested by first draft of the convention in Annexure I;

6)​ Condemns the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and the
self-declared Somaliland, recognising Somalia as the sole legitimate authority over
the entire territory, and therefore declares Ethiopia as violating the UN Charter Article
2(1), 2(4) and 2(7);

7)​ Encourages IGAD to convene regular regional forums on maritime security and
trade, bringing together Ethiopia, Somalia, and neighboring states to coordinate
policies and prevent escalation;

8)​ Mandates that all regional investments and maritime infrastructure agreements
concerning Somalia be exclusively routed through the federal government in
Mogadishu, declaring any agreement executed without explicit central authorization
invalid under international law;

9)​ Calls for increased regional cooperation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect
freedom of navigation, combat piracy, and ensure that maritime security efforts are
not used as cover for foreign domination or military expansion;

10)​Urges the establishment of a Joint Ethiopia-Somalia Maritime Transit Authority

(JESMTA), co-managed equally by both nations, to oversee secure commercial
corridors and optimize trade logistics;

11)​Calls upon all Member States in the region to intensify intelligence-sharing

operations to prevent terrorist factions like Al-Shabaab from exploiting current
diplomatic cracks for territorial expansion;

12)​Encourages the implementation of a Joint Maritime Security Protocol, allowing for

coordinated naval and coast guard patrols between the armed forces of Ethiopia and
Somalia to combat piracy, illicit trafficking, and illegal fishing in the Gulf of Aden;

13)​Reaffirms the vital importance of the military cooperation between both nations, and
strongly urges that Ethiopian troops continue their deployment within ATMIS—or its
successor security arrangements—subject to a revised bilateral security pact with the
Federal Government of Somalia;

14)​Decides to be actively seized on the matter;

 Annexure I: First Edition of the Convention on the
Protection of States from Military Aggression and
Territorial Violation
Legal Reason for Existence
Under Chapter I, Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council has powers to
take action with respect to violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Have Agreed as Follows

1) For the purposes of this Convention, it defines:

a)​ Violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states occurs when a state’s independent
right to govern itself is breached by an external factor. This is a violation of international law,
generally manifesting as military intervention or aggression

b)​ Violating a nation’s borders directly violates Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which
protects states’ sovereignty by prohibiting the threat or use of force against their territorial
integrity and political independence

2) Breaches:

a)​ Foreign troops cross physical borders to launch attacks, seize land, or forcibly
overthrow the local government

b)​ A nation uses force to unilaterally declare control and ownership over another
sovereign country’s territory

c)​ Hostile naval vessels enter another country’s territorial waters or exclusive economic
zones without permission

3) State Responsibility in Military Conflicts:

a)​ State Parties, which initiate military conflicts violating national borders or territorial integrity,
shall be held accountable for any breaches stated above, bearing full state responsibility under
international law for all direct and indirect consequences of the unlawful aggression,
including the facilitation or proliferation of non-state armed actors.

b)​ State Parties, whose territorial integrity, sovereignty or national borders are violated, any
subsequent military aggression extending beyond the strict parameters of legitimate
self-defence as defined under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

4) Protection of Civilians
 a)​ Creating demilitarized areas and protected shelters allows trapped populations to safely
escape active combat zones and access first aid.

b)​ Banning the use of highly destructive weapons to prevent mass casualties

c)​ Investigating war crimes and condemning military actors who intentionally target
civilian infrastructure, like hospitals, schools, and residential neighborhoods.

5) International Involvement in Military Conflicts:

a)​ International parties should cooperate in identifying the responsible members of

initiating deployment of military forces that threaten sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the member states.

b)​ International parties must refrain from providing economic, military, or political
support to nations responsible for military aggression.

c)​ International Parties providing economic, military, or political support to nations

responsible for military aggression shall be held equally responsible as the State party
initialing the conflict.

6) Final Provisions:

a)​ This Convention shall be open for signature by all States at the United Nations
Headquarters in New York

b)​ This Convention shall enter into force 90 days after the date of the deposit of the 40th
instrument of ratification

c)​ States Parties may withdraw from the Convention by providing written notification to
the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The withdrawal shall take effect one
year after receipt of such notification, but it shall not absolve the State Party from
fulfilling any legal obligations incurred before the withdrawal.