The Great Tragedy of United Nations Peacekeeping

Bangladesh peacekeepers part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission MINUSMA hoist down the UN flag one last time as part of the deperature ceremony from Mali. (Source: AP)

In 2023, the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) left Mali with a whimper. The decade-long mission was established by United Nation Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2100 on April 25, 2013. The mission’s mandate was focused on reestablishing order and security in Mali. At the time, Mali had just gone through a military coup, which transitioned into an interim government, and coincided with the beginning of an ongoing insurgency across the country. These insurgents were initially Tuareg rebels, but as the situation worsened came Al-qeada and ISIS affiliated Islamist groups. MINUSMA, once a mission meant to oversee a peaceful transfer of power, now had to take on the role of counterinsurgency. This isn’t solely the fault of MINUSMA. Despite promises to transition into civilian rule, the Malian military junta has repeatedly failed to uphold these promises. Despite a ceasefire agreement between militant groups and the Malian government, there have been multiple violations, some targeting MINUSMA.  

MINUSMA, prior to its end, was one of 11 ongoing United Nations peacekeeping missions across the world. Most of those missions were nearing or passed the 10 year mark. In fact, MINUSMA was one of the youngest missions only surpassed by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which was established in 2014. United Nations peacekeeping has generally protected civilians and upheld the rule of law. Many analysts consider United Nations peacekeeping, and international peacekeeping as whole, to be a net positive.  However, the real goal of long - term sustainable peace has not yet materialized in many peacekeeping missions. In some cases conflict that was once suppressed arose again. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), established to oversee Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon and the disarmament of militant groups in 1978, faced a major setback when Israel invaded Lebanon in response to repeated attacks by Hezbollah militants in October of 2024. 

Subsequently, Israel has blamed UNIFIL for failing to uphold its mandate by not disarming Hezbollah. Failure to act among Lebanese officials and UNIFIL is what most directly led Hezbollah’s ability to build up weapon stockpiles. The Lebanese government, which Hezbollah’s political wing maintains a heavy influence, hasn’t taken the steps to disarm Hezbollah. Neither has the United Nations provided enough assistance or taken a more direct role in disarming Hezbollah. 

UNIFIL is the best example to show that peacekeeping requires the action of both the mission and the political entities involved. In many cases, peacekeepers depend on ceasefire agreements to be respected in order to not to become targets of violence. In many cases, local communities that depended on peacekeeping see little to no actual benefit. The cause of these troubles is often rooted in apathetic and unwilling leadership.

Considering that fact, plus the multitude of peacekeeping missions that have outright failed to uphold any security, it’s no wonder why United Nations peacekeeping is considered a failure. Most people do not see the small and short term benefits of peacekeeping as enough to justify the monetary costs. It also creates frustration among many people who most directly suffer the consequences of peacekeepers failing to maintain long - term stability. For example, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has recently been criticized for failing to maintain peace within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Lately, both politicians and civilians have expressed a desire for the end of the mission as a whole. MONUSCO is the third United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, and despite the numerous attempts, peacekeeping has failed to maintain peace. 

The reason I bring all these examples up is to display one simple idea; United Nations peacekeeping has lost sight of its original purpose. What was supposed to be a temporary force meant to assist the main political entities involved, now is a crutch for many places facing conflict. Caused by a mix of its own failure, and because of factors outside of its control.

This is the great tragedy of United Nations peacekeeping. However there is still a necessity for the continuation of peacekeeping. For all its issues, peacekeeping is still a cornerstone of international idealism and cooperation. The simple idea that countries can come together, and through cooperation, maintain peace is enough justification to maintain the existence of United Nations peacekeeping.

The United Nations, and the idea of international cooperation, is built on the foundations of idealist goals of global equality and peace. Every United Nations mission, goal, or plan is an extension of these fundamental ideals. In a world plagued by conflict and global inequality, it becomes more important that these ideals are upheld through the actions of the United Nations. We sink deeper into the trappings of conflict and strife when our belief in these fundamental ideals falter. It’s our belief in idealist goals that drive us to act in the worst of situations, and it’s what drives us to cooperate as an international community.

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) is often cited as one of the most successful missions in peacekeeping history. Established to uphold the Lome Peace Agreement, UNAMSIL achieved what many missions could not when it was able to finally end the civil war in Sierra Leone. It oversaw the disarmament of many militant groups, and UNAMSIL acted in the face of danger in order to protect civilians. Its success was dependent on the perseverance of United Nations leadership, and the unilateral support given to it by the international community as a whole. Many claim that the United Nations peacekeeping has failed due to the lack of force exerted by peacekeepers. However, that’s only a symptom of a greater and more malicious: apathy.

The failure of peacekeeping in Yugoslavia, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Lebanon are all signs that United Nations leadership needs to take a more leading role in international security. Peacekeeping can succeed if the people that be give it enough support and direction. Peacekeepers in Rwanda could’ve prevented the genocide if the United Nations and the international community decided to act. The horrific human rights abuses during the collapse of Yugoslavia could’ve been prevented if United Nations peacekeepers were allowed to act. If we truly believe in global peace and unity, then we must be willing to allow the physical manifestations of those ideals to act accordingly. 

Peacekeeping missions have always been welcomed with open arms. They have always been a symbol of hope for a better future. It’s also the clearest path forward if we want to prevent global inequality among STATES. The justification of maintaining peace within a state has always been used by global powers to justify acts of means to maintain dominance over a region. These peacekeeping efforts which are taken on by individual actors do often restore peace in an area. However it’s not the ideals of global security that drive these missions. Rather it’s a remnant of Cold War era mindsets over the need to maintain a sphere of influence. When Russian soldiers entered Kazakhstan, in 2022, in order to restore order amidst protests it came at the cost of continuation of a Kazakhstan with little agency of its own. The same could be said about the presence of Russian soldiers in occupied Northern Georgia, or the NATO lead bombing campaigns in Libya in 2011. These maintain peace, but at the cost of the agency of the target country. Internationally leading peacekeeping is still the best way in which we as a global community can push for global security. As it’s within the best interests of the global community in upholding the agency and long - term stability of states racked by conflict. Because global cooperation is inherantly based in ideals that seek the benefit for all. It acts as a check on political ambitions on individual actors, and helps deepen global bonds between states.

We have 5 years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, peace, justice, and strong institutions. While we may not achieve it within those 5 years, with the right leadership peace, justice, and strong institutions is achievable within our lifetime.

References

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