International Peacekeeping in Africa – Expert Voices Part 1

6 Dec 2012

Peacekeeping in Africa remains complex, controversial and, quite often, subject to external geopolitical calculations. Today, we present the first in a series of videos from a recent ISN-CSS Panel Discussion on the relative health of peace operations in Africa.

The Center for Security Studies’ (CSS) recent conference on both peace operations and peacekeeping in Africa provided us with an opportunity to host the latest in our series of ISN-CSS Panel Discussions. Moderated by the ISN’s Peter Faber, International Peacekeeping in Africa – A Troubled or Evolving Concept? brought together three panelists with a wealth of practical experience and academic knowledge on Peace Operations in general and peacekeeping in particular.

Over the next two days, Security Watch will present a series of videos that highlight some of the issues considered by the following panelists. In our first video, Peter Faber introduces them and outlines some of the problems and challenges confronting African peacekeeping missions today.

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external pagePaul D. Williams, who is an Associate Professor of International Affairs at the George Washington University, opened the discussion by explaining why international peacekeeping in Africa is a troubled and evolving concept. He argues that while the United Nations remains the most important actor in peacekeeping missions, other conflict management toolboxes remain works in progress. Williams also identifies overly-complicated mandates, capability gaps, and financing problems as major factors that, among others, continue to impact African peace operations.

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As a senior UN official, external pageAlan Doss has represented the United Nations on a number of peacekeeping, humanitarian and development assignments across Africa. In 2007, for example, he was appointed as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the UN Peacekeeping Mission (MONUC). In this video, he discusses African peacekeeping missions from a practitioner’s point of view, with a particular emphasis on the issues of consent, the protection of civilians, and Security Sector Reform (SSR).

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Jide Martyns Okeke is a Senior Researcher in Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis for our partners at the external pageInstitute for Security Studies. In this video, he discusses the concept of African ownership and autonomy in the context of peace operations. He discusses the growing recognition, particularly at the regional level, that Peace Operations do indeed need to be “owned” by Africans. This ownership, however, must be complemented by growing international support for African-driven peace operations and peacekeeping efforts.

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For additional reading on this topic please see:

external pageInternational Peacekeeping Operations in Africa - A Troubled or Evolving Landscape?

external pageNot Just a 'Women's Issue': Gender and UN Peace Operations

external page“Emerging Security Threats in West Africa”

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