RhodesMRC was established in 2010 in response to a gap within the Model United Nations ecosystem. While simulations of the United Nations, the European Union, and NATO had long existed, regional organizations were often underrepresented or treated as secondary components of larger conferences. RhodesMRC was conceived as the first annual conference entirely dedicated to regional international organizations.
From its earliest editions, the conference demonstrated a strong commitment to academic innovation. It hosted the first-ever simulations of the Union for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Organization, followed by pioneering simulations of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, and later the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Organization of American States and the African Union. The creation of the Middle East Peace Conference introduced an advanced crisis format that became a defining feature of the conference.
As the conference expanded, so did its scope. By 2017, RhodesMRC covered all major geographical regions, introduced interconnected crisis simulations supported by digital platforms, and formally separated its High School and University editions. Attendance reached record levels in 2019, marking a peak in participation and international reach.
Following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, RhodesMRC entered a period of renewal. Building on over a decade and a half of experience, recognition, and community engagement, the conference continues to evolve, remaining faithful to its founding principles of innovation, regional cooperation, and academic excellence.