Topic: The Future of State Boundaries
Committee: Disarmament and International Security Committee
Country: Namibia
With the rapid rise of the interstate conflicts, spurred by centennial political disagreements on
national borders, states’ national security is threatened to erode in territorial disputes, conflict
spillover, national movements or insurgent interference with state boundaries. The Republic of
Namibia is an independent state that seeks to prosper through friendly political and economic
relationships, for which reason, diplomatic relationships with its neighboring countries are highly
desired. Notwithstanding, the problem of the future of state’s boundaries limit the development
of political and economic partnerships and alliances in the area due to unsettled negotiations over
states’ borders, which impede the establishment of peaceful relationships required for raising up
to the standards of the 21st century politics. Namibia’s boundaries shared with its neighboring
countries South Africa and Botswana is a matter of national security, which endangers the
sustainability of its residents living at the borders with these states, but also the overall security
of the nation.
The unsettlement of the national boundaries may further lead to new attempts to limit the
authority of Namibia over its rightfully possessed territories, weakening the future state
boundaries’ stability. Currently, Namibia’s residents who are relying on the natural resources
provided by the bordering territories are highly dependent on fishing or grazing on the Orange
River, bordering with South Africa, respectively on harvesting, cropping and fishing in the
Kasikili/ Sedudu Island, shared with Botswana. The residents of the Republic of Namibia
