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Geopolitical Tensions Like Ukraine War Making Future of Peacekeeping Uncertain: Report

64 multilateral peace operations were conducted globally in 2022, of which 20 were conducted by the UN, 38 by regional organizations and alliances, and the rest by ad hoc coalitions of states.

May 31, 2023

Author

Statecraft Staff
Geopolitical Tensions Like Ukraine War Making Future of Peacekeeping Uncertain: Report 
									    
IMAGE SOURCE: UN

									    
UN Peacekeeping Mission in Nigeria.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released a “Report on Multilateral Peace Operations in 2022” to commemorate the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 29 May. 

The report said that a combination of high geopolitical tensions, with increasingly challenging relations between missions and their host governments, makes the future of several peace operations uncertain.


Overview

SIPRI said that 64 multilateral peace operations were conducted in 38 countries worldwide in 2022. Among these, 20 were conducted by the UN, 38 by different regional organizations and alliances, and the remaining six by ad hoc coalitions of states. 

According to the report, the number of international personnel deployed in multilateral peace operations rose by 2.79 per cent in 2022. Regionally, 24 operations were located in sub-Saharan Africa, 18 in Europe, 14 in the Middle East and North Africa, 5 in Asia and 3 in the Americas.

Five new operations were launched in Kazakhstan, Somalia, Guinea-Bissau, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia, deploying a total of 26,000 personnel. 

The report said that in the coming years, “the intensification of geopolitical rivalries between Russia and the West; the deterioration in relations between some operations and their host countries; and a trend towards peace operations being mounted by regional organizations,” will influence multilateral peace operations.

SIPRI said that the multilateral peace operations in 2022 were also affected by geopolitical tensions heightened by the war in Ukraine. The report mentioned that the activities of Russia’s Wagner group in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali made it difficult for peace operations to function in these regions. 


Geopolitical Challenges, Regional Peacekeeping Response

Speaking of the poor relations between host countries and the peace operations, SIPRI said that there’s a prevalent notion that peacekeeping operations have not addressed protracted conflict-related crises properly.

The report highlighted, “Popular discontent with UN peace operations was used by both the CAR and Malian governments as part of the justification for deploying Wagner Group forces.”

It mentioned that countries are undertaking regional responses due to growing discontent with global peace operations. Such operations have a stronger focus on military action rather than other aspects of peace operations, such as strengthening institutions and protecting and promoting human rights.

SIPRI expressed concerns that geopolitical tensions and challenges between peace operations and host countries might lead to future peace operation mandates with less priority given to human rights, good governance, and democratisation.

Author

Statecraft Staff

Editorial Team

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