25 years ago today, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), through its armed wing; the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), launched an armed struggle that saw the rebirth of a nation. Today, the former rebel army has come of age and is an active player wherever peace keeping is concerned. They stand, among the most committed and valued contingents globally. World leaders on Monday pledged a total of 40,000 peacekeepers for UN peace operations around the word, nearly half of the current strength of the blue helmets that are deployed in 16 missions globally. The fifty nations that pledged the additional peacekeepers also committed to provide modern equipment and facilities that are vital in peacekeeping operations. President Paul Kagame announced that Rwanda would commit an additional 1,600 troops, an all-female Police unit made up of 140 officers, two attack helicopters and a level two field hospital to UN missions, substantially scaling up the country’s involvement in the peacekeeping operations – with over 5000 men and women in uniform already serving in various peacekeeping missions. It has long been argued that the concept of UN peacekeeping needs to be revisited, with a particular emphasis on the mandate of peacekeepers especially in areas where civilians are being killed or where peacekeepers are themselves being targeted. It’s 10 years since the adoption of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, which obliges individual nations and the international community to protect civilian populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Yet, time and time again, the blue helmets and indeed, nation, have dithered when civilians have directly been targeted in systematic murders either by their own governments, rebel groups, or other belligerents. Also, we continue to witness appalling cases of abuse, including sexual violence against women and children, involving peacekeepers, while some blue helmets have also exchanged their weapons for food, often with the same negative forces they are deployed to neutralise. Indeed, the single most important challenge facing UN peacekeeping operations is not be the lack of troops and other peace support personnel, but rather how peacekeeping mandates are enforced as well as lack of accountability when peacekeepers are engaged in disgraceful acts. History is littered with many examples of tragic episodes from which UN can draw lessons to streamline its peacekeeping operations. Additionally, it’s important that the UN increasingly works more closely with regional blocs to prevent conflict and to ensure peace and stability in their respective regions. It’s about time more emphasis is put on prevention rather than cure. This calls for global mutual cooperation in promoting good governance, equality, education and employment opportunities, as well as fighting terrorism and any form of extremism, and pursuing mutual respect and dialogue among nations and people. These are structural reforms that need to be meticulously and urgently undertaken if UN peacekeeping missions are to serve the purpose for which they were formed and, most importantly, help deliver peace in the most volatile regions of the world. Happy 25th anniversary former RPA.
