The African Model United Nations (AfrO|MUN) has held its second annual international conference at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from March 5-8, 2015. The conference was meant to provide opportunity for youth leaders to deliberate on issues of fundamental importance to Africa and its future, through simulations of the African Union and United Nations assembly of Heads of State and Government. The activities are designed for the youth to analyze best practices from multiple working environment of the UN, AU and various inter-governmental organizations, and help voice their solutions in the shoes of diplomats. 150 student delegates from 10 counties were in attendance.

 Through its various committees, Afro/MUN has addressed the central thematic issues on African youth in Diaspora, Pan-Africanism in the 21st century, natural resource exploitation, crisis management and climate financing. Locally, the event has enabled Ethiopian youth to get exposure on international platforms and high level decision making processes that can involve the youth in policy making. Student delegates had a chance to interact with one another, learn about current issues in the world that affects Africa and learn about the world’s largest multilateral Union, the United Nations.

 The event has also hosted awarding of certificates to all delegates, staff of Afro/MUN, sponsors and people who made the Conference possible.  Delegates were then taken around the city on tour buses where they had a chance to see many landmarks in Addis. The Conference was the first one to host joint model AU-UN simulations, and has provided a golden chance for delegates to be acquainted with International Diplomacy.

Among the many partners, the Addis Ababa University was instrumental for the success of the conference with unwavering endorsement, start-up funding, office space, and transport facility and publishing of multiple publications. Coca-Cola and Agamas Waters, Wahsngton hotel, African Union, have provided support for making the conference possible.

 The Model United Nations has been a student initiative under the office for External Relations, Partnerships and Communications, Addis Ababa University.