Hello Delegates!
A fundamental part of being a representative at the United Nations (and, thus, at a MUN Conference) is an awareness of global events. Given that the theme of OxfordMUN 2025 is ‘The Spirit of Inquiry’, we think it is important to stay inquisitive about international news. From June, we will discuss three articles, with related questions to allow you to inquire about what is going on worldwide.
Peace Between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda
On the 27th of June, representatives from the DRC and Rwanda signed a peace deal in Washington DC, a step which has been described by President Donald Trump as “a glorious triumph”. Yet many worldwide remain sceptical that this peace is secure, and the details of the peace treaty are yet to be released. The fragility of peace is exemplified by the way in which the emergence of the M23 group, one of the main actors in the current conflict, was the result of a failure to demobilise with a peace deal in the region sixteen years ago. So, there is much to hope for but also significant questions that remain.
Some questions to think about: How might peace be ensured in this region? What does “territorial integrity” mean in practice? How might refugees be returned home?
Read more on this topic here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e0ggw7d43o
Israel-Gaza Conflict Continues
Air strikes by Israel have escalated across Gaza, with significant numbers of displaced persons and evacuation policies heightening by the day. Social media activists have drawn considerable attention to the air strikes and the BBC reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure both at home and abroad to negotiate a ceasefire agreement. Similarly to the DRC and Rwanda, whether such peace will be possible is yet to be seen, but activists remain hopeful that the conflict will come to an end.
Some questions to think about: How do you think the conflict could be resolved? What do you think a ceasefire agreement should include?
Read more on this topic here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62884y1pl5o
Heatwave across Europe
Weather warnings have been issued across Europe as temperatures reach record highs. In the United Kingdom, night temperatures have been described as “tropical” and temperatures have risen above thirty degrees Celsius, an incredibly rare occurrence for the month of June. More broadly, in southern Europe temperatures consistently remain above forty degrees, and wildfires have broken out in Izmir, Turkey.
Some questions to think about: Are heatwaves such as this a result of wider climate policies? What are some ways climate-induced issues can be tackled before they result?
Read more on this topic here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd0v29vydx4t