Publication

The aim of this paper is to focus on the role of the UN peacekeepers in robust Chapter VII operations; the appropriate level of military response; challenges commanders face in the field; and the need to improve their performance. The change from traditional peacekeeping under a Chapter VI mandate to a complex, robust peacekeeping operation under a Chapter VII mandate has a number of important implications. MONUC’s experience in the DRC is used to provide a number of suggestions on how and when UN peacekeeper’s decisions in the field to use force should be made.