France? Independence? Colonies? 

The United Nations Security Council is facing a debate unlike no other with one of the main contenders, France, leaving early. During the fourth committee session, UNSC was still on their first topic: colonization as a result of the Algerian War. As a result of the early, unexpected absence of France, the council encountered an alleged counterfeit scandal, sending the council into a frenzy. According to the United States, the debates and discourse have become “heated” with alliances forming around the ideas of (1) France gaining the new Algerian territories, or (2) Algeria keeping the colonies gained from the recently ended Algerian War. When France unexpectedly left, leaving only a note containing their prefrences and ideas for the end result, other delegates began to question the integrity of the paperwork. 

According to Mexico, the document, in summary, stated that France would agree to the idea of eventual independence of Algeria, although self-rule would not be permitted for another thirty-five to fifty years. In the opinion of Mexico, “At that rate, independence of Algeria would never happen.” This information, allegedly from France, was shocking for delegates to hear as France had previously stated, in-person, that the country would never support the independent rule of Algeria. These accusations are leaving the countries of the 2024 UNSC with multiple questions, who wrote the note? What does France really believe? And, most importantly, will the up-and-coming country of Algeria gain independence?

Reported by IPC Delegate, Erin Delaney