September 9, 2024
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, said that “in its seventy-seventh year, United Nations peacekeeping remains a cornerstone of multilateralism in action”. The UN’s peacekeeping operations can only ever be as strong as the collective support of Member States. As geopolitical tensions have mounted, including in the Security Council, and amid shifting global and regional dynamics, peacekeeping operations are increasingly unable to rely on Member States to act in a strong, unified manner to support peacekeeping or the political processes they are mandated to support. In parallel, peacekeeping missions are increasingly confronting drivers of conflict with no borders, such as transnational organized crime, the illegal exploitation of natural resources and climate change’s impact. Non-State actors engaged in these illicit activities are also weaponizing cheap technologies such as improvised explosive devices and drones and are propagating disinformation and hate speech. In such circumstances, at least one of the parties to the conflict often lacks any political ambition beyond fuelling disorder, making them reluctant parties to peace. “Despite all these challenges, today over 70,000 peacekeepers bravely continue their vital work,” he said.
He then laid out several key prerequisites for effective peacekeeping. Stressing the need to unify political support and foster trust, he said the ultimate objective of all peacekeeping operations is political. All UN peacekeeping operations are designed to support peace agreements between parties to a conflict. The United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) is engaging key stakeholders at both national and local levels to advance inclusive, consensual political solutions. At the very least, peacekeeping aims to build confidence and create conditions for a durable political process to take hold. While little progress has been achieved in the political process since 2017, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) continues its efforts to maintain calm, playing a preventive role and promoting an environment conducive to negotiations and an eventual settlement. Yet, there is only so much that peacekeeping can do on its own. “For peacekeepers to be effective, the Council, and the wider membership, must muster strong, consistent and unified support for peacekeeping missions.” Further, all Member States should exert their diplomatic influence to back the political processes that peacekeeping operations are deployed to support, he said, citing all successful examples of peacekeeping operations, such as in Timor-Leste, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone.
He went on to stress that the optimal performance of peacekeeping operations depends on mandates that provide clear strategic direction. Mandates must also have the resources to match the Council’s ambitions. Adopting long, detailed mandates without the requisite resources raises unrealistic expectations, which has the potential to fuel frustration amongst host States and their populations and provides fertile ground for mis- and disinformation. Today’s complex challenges can only be addressed through networked multilateralism and strong partnerships — locally, regionally and globally. The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is successfully striking local peace agreements among herders and farmers by working alongside UN and non-UN partners on the ground. Community engagement and the better use of technology are among the ways to update Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+). The safety, security and well-being of peacekeepers remain an overriding concern, he said. Over the past few years, the number of peacekeeper fatalities due to malicious acts has decreased from 33 in 2022 — of which 15 were from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) — to seven in 2023 to four thus far in 2024. However, the total number of hostile acts has increased across missions, including the emerging threat of unmanned aerial vehicles.
He pointed out that even with all the political commitment and necessary investments, peacekeeping still has its limits. Blue helmets can act robustly to protect civilians, but they do not fight wars. Where there is no ceasefire or political agreement whatsoever, enforcement action carried out by partners may be required. “We are at a pivotal moment,” he said, noting that in two weeks, the Summit of the Future will present world leaders with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bolster and restore trust in the multilateral system, when the verdict remains out on whether Member States remain committed to multilateral solutions. Every day, UN peacekeepers are bravely saving countless lives for a relatively small investment. But their missions need the attention, political backing and resources they deserve. “There are few better tools for securing peace in a fragile age,” he concluded.