Dear Delegates,

I would like to welcome you to what I think is the best committee at ILMUNC, the African Union! My name is Landon Marder and I am a junior at Penn from Long Island studying International Relations and Economics. I am particularly interested in studying the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa and pursued this interest this past fall while studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. Over the fall, I travelled throughout South Africa, Namibia, and parts of Zimbabwe as “research” for chairing this committee.

As chair of the African Union, I hope we achieve two goals. First and foremost, I hope that this committee will help you to better appreciate the continent of Africa. Hopefully, I can make some of you as interested in Africa as I am. The topics chosen will allow you get a good look at both the broad and specific problems that plague the African continent. Second, I would like to create high quality debate for both topics that produces interesting discussions and resolutions.

Most of all, I hope that this committee will be thought provoking and fun. Take advantage of the background guide and if you have any questions about the topics at hand or college life in general, feel free to approach me at conference.

Best,

Landon Marder

Chair, African Union

Ivy League Model United Nations Conference XXVI