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United Nations

UN Peace Operations: Overcoming Divisions and Fostering Political Solutions

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

United Nations 2 Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Assistant Secretary-General Marta Pobee briefed the Security Council on the urgent need to adapt UN peace operations to foster political solutions in conflict zones. They emphasized the importance of Council unity and sustained political engagement to realize the potential of peace operations. The briefers highlighted the complexities of modern conflicts, including non-state actors, organized crime, and climate-driven risks, but stressed the indispensable role of peace operations in stabilizing fragile settings and enabling political dialogue.

Key Takeaways:

  • UN peace operations, such as MINUSCA in the Central African Republic and MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have made measurable contributions to peace processes by brokering agreements and launching disarmament efforts.
  • Political coherence and unity among Security Council members are essential for missions to realize their potential, and the Council's role extends beyond mandate authorization to sustained political engagement.
  • Dynamic mission leadership, regional partnerships, and leveraging investments from troop- and police-contributing countries are critical for the success of peace operations.
  • The UN has navigated polarized eras before and has successfully adapted to changing global contexts, with peace operations playing a key role in helping Member States mount tailored responses to challenges to international peace and security.

Statistics:

  • Since 2013, UN peacekeeping missions have been operating in complex environments, including harsh terrains and multitude of armed groups.
  • In 2023, the Security Council adopted resolution 2719, allowing assessed contributions for African Union-led operations.
  • The UN has a long-standing mission in Cyprus, which has maintained stability and prevented escalation despite persistent deadlock.
  • As of 2025, the UN has a total of 13 peacekeeping operations worldwide, with over 80,000 uniformed personnel.

Sources:

  • United Nations Briefing during the Security Council meeting, February 2025, under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Assistant Secretary-General Marta Pobee.
  • UN resolution 2773 (February 2025) on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • UN resolution 2719 (2023) on African Union-led operations.
  • UNMIN (2007-11) in Nepal and UN special political missions in post-conflict settings.

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