UNPKF: BRIDGING BORDERS AND BUILDING PEACE

Peacekeeping, defined by United Nations (UN), an operation involving military personnel, but without enforcement powers, to help maintain or restore international peace and security in areas of conflict. The principal organs responsible for the UN peacekeeping are the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Secretariat and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, which are involved in planning, mounting, and supporting UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions.

United Nations peacekeeping helps the countries affected by conflict, create conditions for lasting peace by an ability to deploy and sustain troops and police from around the globe, integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to advance multidimensional mandates connected with political, military, economic, and humanitarian aspects. It protects civilians in armed conflicts, prevents or contains fighting, stabilizes post conflict zones, helps implement peace accords, and assists democratic traditions.

The United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF), often called “Blue Helmets”, is a unique and dynamic instrument that helps countries navigate the difficult path from conflict. Post conflict reconstruction is another main objective of UNPKF. The first two peacekeeping operations deployed by the UN were the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSP) and the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. Both of these, launched in 1948, are operations that are still active and continue to serve as operations of observation and monitoring while being unarmed. Since 1948, there were 72 peacekeeping operations initiated by the UN and 11 of them are under way at present.

PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN AFRICAN NATIONS

Africa experiences a high number of armed conflicts which often stem from state weakness, corruption, resources competition, ethnic tensions and sense of marginalisation. Multiple UN missions emerged across the continent, with a significant number of personnel deployed to support peace, where over 80% UN field personnel is deployed. The continent hosts four of the largest UN Peacekeeping operations. Roughly half of the UN Peacekeeping Missions operating around the world are in Africa.

The first peacekeeping operation in Africa, the UN Operation in Congo (ONUC) in 1960, was deployed in the republic of Congo to ensure the withdrawal of Belgian forces and assist the Congolese government, maintaining law and order. It was the first large-scale UN mission having 20,000 military personnel at its peak. Later on other peacekeeping missions emerged were United Nations Angola Verification (UNAVEM) (1988-91), United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) (1989-90), United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) (1992-93), United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) (1993-97), United Nations Mission in Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR) (1993-34), United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) (1999-2005), United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) (2000-2008), United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) (2005-2011), United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (MINUCI) (2003-2004), Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) (2013-23).

Out of 11 active UN peacekeeping missions, five of them are in Africa. They are:

1.      United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara (MINUSRO), since 1991

2.      United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), since 2010

3.      United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), since 2011

4.      United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), since 2011

5.      United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), since 2014

In Abyei Region

The Abyei region, a disputed oil-rich area between Sudan and South Sudan, is experiencing escalating conflict, fuelled by political instability, intercommunal tensions between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya pastoralists and the ongoing civil war in Sudan since 2023. These conflicts led to displacement of thousands of people, deteriorating humanitarian conditions, weakened state institution, proxy war between Sudan and South Sudan.

The Security Council, by its resolution in 2011, responded to the urgent situation in Sudan’s Abyei region by establishing the United Nations Interim Security Force of Abyei (UNISFA). It monitors the conflict boarder between north and south Sudan, facilitates humanitarian aid and use the force in protecting civilians and humanitarian workers in Abyei. India has contributed both military forces, especially a platoon of Indian women peacekeepers which is largest unit of peacekeepers in a UN mission, and veterinary and other staff services in Abyei region.

EFFECTIVENESS OF PEACEKEEPING IN AFRICA

UN peacekeeping operations in Africa have experienced both considerable achievements and significant shortcomings. Certain missions, such as those in El Salvador, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique, are typically viewed as successful in fulfilling their objectives, whereas others, especially in Rwanda and Somalia, are largely seen as failures due to their incapacity to avert mass atrocities or stabilize the situation. It is subject to criticism for its inability to tackle the underlying causes of conflict and for instances of sexual exploitation and abuse.

A Gradual shift took place over a decade towards peacekeeping operations led by regional actors, such as the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as profound changes to armed conflicts in Africa, as alternatives to traditional UN peace operations.

WOMEN IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

Women play a crucial role in conflict resolution, community engagement and peace building. The push for greater female representation began in 2000, with UN Security Council resolution 1325, which recognised women’s critical role in conflict prevention, peace negotiations and post conflict rebuilding. The presence of women peacekeepers encourage local women to participate in dialogues and open up about the issues they face including sexual and gender-based violence. In 2025, 30% of civilian heads of United Nations Peace Operations were women and 43% women were in justice and correction roles. This illustrates the active role of women in peacekeeping initiatives. Major General Anita Asmah, First African women to lead peacekeeping force, Major General Cheryl Pearce, Police Commissioner Lusala in Abyei, Doris Mogga in South Sudan, Samjhana Deuja from Nepal are some of the inspirational instances of women leading global peace and security.

India has been a cornerstone for women’s participation in UN peacekeeping, and Indian women peacekeepers are redefining peacekeeping itself. India deployed the first ever all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) to Liberia in 2007. An “all women peacekeeping force” from India was deployed to the Abyei region to be part of the Indian Battalion within UNISFA. Today 20.45% of its deployed military observers and staff members are women. Another prime example of women leadership in peacekeeping is Major Radhika Sen, whose outstanding work in MONUSCO earned her the “2023 UN Military Advocate of the Year Award”.

Despite global efforts, women are significantly underrepresented in peacekeeping. As of January 2025, only 10% of UN uniformed peacekeeping personnel were women. Gender stereotypes are deeply ingrained within security personnel, and there is the belief that gender-inclusion efforts disadvantage men. To increase the participation of uniformed women in peacekeeping, UN launched the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS 2018-2028). By 2028, the objective was to ensure that women made up at least 15% of military personnel in troop contingents and 25% of military observers and staff officers.

INDIA’S PEACEKEEPING LEGACY

India stands out as being the largest democracy in the world and is relevant in the context of twenty-first century peacebuilding and security. India’s commitment to non violence, enshrined in its philosophy by Mahatma Gandhi, is in harmony with United Nation’s strategy for promoting global peace. This commitment is rooted from India’s age-old principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One Earth, One Family), underscoring the interdependence of humanity and peaceful coexistence.

India, being a founding member of United Nations, has played a significant role in UN Peacekeeping missions, contributing more than any other country. The first direct participation of Indian troops was seen in UN peacekeeping Operations in Congo region during the period of 1960s. Later on India extended to supply its troops to Cambodia(1992-93), Mozambique(1992-94), Somalia(1993-94), Rwanda(1993-94), Angola(1989-99), Sierra Leone(1999-2001), Ethiopia(2006-2008). Since 1948, India has contributed with over 2,90,000 peacekeepers serving in more than 50 UN missions. Currently, over 5000 Indian peacekeepers are deployed in 9 active missions, often in dangerous and hostile region for noble pursuit to promote international peace. This reflects India’s significant involvement in peacekeeping efforts.

Indian peacekeepers have served more than 22 missions in Africa so far, and 80% of Indian peacekeepers are serving in Africa, and 70% of all the casualties happen there. Indian armed forces are presently contributing in all the ongoing UN peacekeeping missions in Africa. India also made financial contributions to the United Nations and also regional bloc’s peacekeeping missions, such as African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in Africa. Hence, India’s ongoing and significant contribution enhances the UN’s capacity to uphold peace and security in Africa.

Beyond deployments, India actively helps host nations by offering training, infrastructure development and Civil Military Coordination programs. Notably, Indian Army Veterinary Detachments have significantly impacted various UN missions, showcasing India’s dedication to humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts worldwide.

CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARDS

Despite having a UN mandate for peacekeeping, the world is witnessing a rise in instability and insurgencies. Africa, in particular, having highest number of insurgencies. UN Peacekeeping missions in African Nations have been criticised for mismanagement, failure to act immediately when civilians are under threat. They also have been accused of committing human rights abuses, including pervasive allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation. Missions are understaffed, underfunded, and politically constrained, while their efforts are challenged by local dynamics. Impartiality has become more challenging as conflicts have become more complex and multi-faceted and the mandates of peacekeeping operations expanded

Reforms in UN peacekeeping operations are crucial for enhancing effectiveness of these missions in addressing modern conflicts. In societies emerging from conflict, security sector reform is a determining factor for the exit of a peacekeeping operation, early recovery, sustainable peacebuilding and long term development. These reforms include, strengthening the protection of civilians, rapid deployment of troops to ensure immediate response to the crisis, providing favourable working conditions for women, increased funding and promoting greater gender inclusivity and accountability.

The HIPPO (High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations) report, officially titled ‘Uniting our strengths for peace: politics, partnerships, and people,” highlighted four reforms to the UN peacekeeping operations, namely, UN peacekeeping operations should be directed by a comprehensive political strategy; the organization should draw on the full spectrum of peace interventions to deliver context-specific responses; it should unite in a more integrated way, while engaging with regional partners; and finally, peacekeeping must become more people-centered and field-focused. Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative, launched by UN, focuses on developing more targeted peacekeeping mandates with clear political strategies, improving the safety of peacekeepers as well as civilians in mission area, and better training for troops.

CONCLUSION

The United Nations Peacekeeping remains one of the most effective tools to respond the challenges of world peace and security. Its operations, particularly in Africa, continue to play an indispensable role in restoring stability, fostering reconciliation, and supporting post-conflict recovery. Africa’s prominence as a host to the majority of UN missions reflects the continent's geopolitical significance and enduring need for global solidarity. India’s resolute commitment, based on ideals of peace, cooperation and common humanity, enhances this global effort. India should now gear up its peacekeeping role by not just contributing troops but also deriving newer strategies and thinking from its long term experience. A peacekeeping framework that is more inclusive, regionally coordinated, and accountable, with fair participation of women, will be vital for fostering sustainable peace in the fragile areas of the world.