This committee will be run as a double delegation committee.

Topic Summary

The Sudanese Civil War is one of many examples that highlight the unstable political landscape that Africa has faced for decades. With this war culminating from years of coups and violence, tensions have affected Sudan and the surrounding states in numerous ways. Millions of Sudanese are trapped in homes and many have become refugees, causing nearby states to adapt for their increasing populations. While the UN and other intercontinental bodies have intervened in the past, negotiations and peace talks have been unsuccessful. Despite this lack of success, however, the global community at large is looking for any organization, including the African Union, who is willing to help provide peace within the region. The hope is that the African Union will look at this issue from a wide range of perspectives, from a humanitarian, cultural, and political point of view to usher in a new wave of stability in Sudan.

Director Letter

 Dear delegates, 

My name is Dalevyon Knight, but I go by LJ, and it is my honor to welcome you to the African Union at the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) 2025 conference. As your director, I look forward to facilitating high quality debate and resolution within the committee. Here is a little bit about me, my Model UN experience, and the conference itself. 

I am originally from Fort Myers, Florida, just an hour south of Tampa. I attended Fort Myers High School where I served as the Director of Training and President of the Model United Nations team and competed in several conferences. This past year, I assistant directed the Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN) at the 2024 HNMUN conference. These incredible experiences encouraged me to continue to involve myself in Model UN by directing the African Union at HNMUN 2025.

I selected the African Union as I believe in the power of intracontinental cooperation. The African Union is often overlooked, but I believe in the power of regional bodies like the African Union in solving their own multifaceted issues. I am passionate about problem solving and innovation, and I know that unique and creative solutions will emerge from this committee. Furthermore, I want us to use this power of intracontinental cooperation to help reduce political tensions within Sudan.

I am currently a sophomore at Harvard planning to concentrate in Chemistry with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy and a citation in Spanish. In my free time, I love escape rooms, reading mystery novels, board games, and spending time with family and friends. I tend to be a person that loves to smile and have positive energy, and I want this same attitude throughout the duration of the conference. I look forward to learning about you all as well, in addition to the innovative solutions that you have to offer to the topic at hand. 

As you explore the complexity of the Sudanese Civil War, you will find that there are numerous aspects of this issue your resolutions will have to consider. In addition, you will appreciate your own country’s role as well as the perspectives of your fellow delegates in solving this issue. The substantive growth you will obtain from this conference, coupled with the collaborative and critical thinking skills you will develop in committee will aid you throughout the rest of your college journey and beyond. My goal is for you to leave the conference feeling satisfied, knowing that you collaborated with your fellow delegates from across the world in writing a complex yet full resolution to one of Africa’s most unstable regions.

As you prepare for HNMUN, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions you may have.

Best,

Dalevyon LJ Knight

Director, African Union