SPECPOL

About the Committee 
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The Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) is one of the six main committees of the United Nations Assembly, focused on addressing unresolved political conflicts and decolonization. SPECPOL seeks to promote and enforce international prosperity and political stability by providing a platform for Member States to work together to tackle issues. Comprising all 193 UN Member States, the committee meets annually to negotiate, debate, and draft resolutions. While its decisions are not legally binding, these resolutions are submitted to the General Assembly for adoption. This year at JBCN Oshiwara MUN, SPECPOL has been tasked with battling neo-colonialism with an emphasis on strategic and economic dependency in Africa.

Although Africa has nearly 30% of the world’s natural resources and minerals, it imports over $100 billion of food each year with a net outflow of wealth much larger than the aid and investment it receives. Debt repayments are higher than healthcare, education and loan conditions and uneven trade arrangements restrict economic growth and national independence. With only 15% of trade taking place within the continent and a population expected to touch 2.5 billion by 2050, these challenges threaten long term development and economic prosperity for future generations. Delegates will be expected to debate the political and economic impact of the rising inter-continental external debt on African independence, development and regional stability while taking into account the role of international lenders, while coming to a resolution that enables sustainable debt management, promotes regional development and encourages fair international economic relationships.