UN peace efforts can work in a fractured world if there’s political will

Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Assistant Secretary-General Marta Pobee briefed the Council on priorities for adapting UN peace operations to foster political options.

They emphasised the pressing want for the Council and the broader UN membership to beat divisions and strengthen help for peace operations as distinctive platforms for advancing diplomacy in battle zones.

This consists of not solely peacekeeping missions with uniformed personnel, but in addition the customarily quieter however no much less important special political missions that interact in preventive diplomacy, mediation and post-conflict political transitions.

“Peacekeeping missions often operate in highly volatile environments, where political processes are stalled, trust among conflict parties is low and humanitarian conditions dire,” Mr. Lacroix mentioned.

“Progress is incremental, fragile and uneven. A breakthrough in one moment may be followed by setbacks the next. Yet, even modest gains can be critical in preventing a relapse into widespread violence and saving lives.”

He pointed to missions which have made measurable contributions to peace processes, corresponding to MINUSCA within the Central African Republic (CAR), which helped dealer the 2019 Political Agreement and launched disarmament efforts, or MONUSCO within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which contributed to lowered violence in the course of the 2023 elections.

Other missions have supported profitable political transitions and implementation of peace agreements, such because the political mission UNMIN in Nepal, the place UN engagement aided the peace course of and transition to a republic, and in Angola, the place UNMA supported peace consolidation after many years of civil struggle.

UN particular political missions in submit‑battle settings, such because the mission in Nepal (UNMIN, 2007-11) assist keep stability, dialogue and help democratic processes.

Security Council unity essential

Mr. Lacroix careworn that political coherence and unity amongst Security Council members are important for missions to understand their potential.

Without “strong, united political support”, he warned, peace operations are restricted to managing conflicts and defending civilians quite than supporting sturdy peace agreements.

The Council’s position, he added, should prolong past mandate authorisation to sustained political engagement. He cited the unanimous adoption of decision 2773 in February 2025 on the DRC for example of Council unity reinforcing diplomatic efforts on the bottom.

Field management and adaptability

Mr. Lacroix additionally highlighted the significance of dynamic mission management, calling on senior officers to function “steadfast ambassadors for peace” who keep belief with host governments and battle actors whereas adapting to shifting political contexts.

He underscored the significance of regional partnerships, significantly with the African Union (AU). Resolution 2719 (2023), which permits assessed contributions for AU-led operations, was described as a “historic milestone” in UN-AU collaboration.

“Leveraging the investments of troop- and police-contributing countries more purposefully is critical,” he added, noting the instance of Pakistan’s twin position as a significant troop contributor and elected Security Council member.

UN peacekeeping missions, such because the one in Mali (MINUSMA, 2013-23), have needed to adapt to complicated challenges, together with harsh surroundings and myriad armed teams.

Lessons from the chilly struggle

Ms. Pobee’s briefing bolstered these themes whereas providing historic perspective.

She recalled how in the course of the chilly struggle, regardless of international tensions, UN particular political missions facilitated peaceable dispute decision, corresponding to diplomatic efforts in Equatorial Guinea in 1969, Bahrain in 1970 and the border dispute between Iraq and Iran in 1974.

She recognized a number of key parts behind these successes: clearly centered, timebound mandates; the pro-active use of the Secretary-General’s good workplaces; discreet diplomacy and crucially, consent from host governments and battle events.

Many of those circumstances had been led by particular political missions, which demonstrated how non-military instruments of diplomacy can avert battle and lay the groundwork for long-term peace.

This basis of belief, she famous, is more and more absent immediately, representing a “trust deficit” that complicates peace efforts.

A novel instrument

Both briefers acknowledged the troublesome international context, with deepening Security Council divisions, eroding norms and more and more complicated conflicts involving non-State actors, organized crime and climate-driven dangers.

Nonetheless, peace operations, with their mixture of civilian and uniformed capabilities, stay indispensable for stabilising fragile settings and enabling political dialogue, they maintained. The longstanding mission in Cyprus was cited for example of how sustained UN presence can forestall escalation, even amid persistent impasse.

Mr. Lacroix additionally urged Member States to pay assessed contributions on time, warning that inadequate sources undermine missions’ potential to fulfil their mandates.

Ms. Pobee added that the UN has repeatedly navigated polarised eras earlier than.

“We have been there…but, one clear lesson is that amid acute geopolitical tensions, peace operations have helped Member States mount tailored responses to challenges to international peace and security,” she mentioned.