The UN mission in Mali and problems for peacekeeping

TLDR

Clair MacDougall and Maggie Dwyer's article, "Troops Benefit From Their Roles, but Are Big Peacekeeping Ops Over?" explores the personal and broader implications of United Nations peacekeeping missions, mainly through the experiences of Liberian soldiers. While peacekeeping provides life-changing financial and professional benefits for troops, the missions are increasingly questioned for effectiveness, leading to a global decline in large-scale peacekeeping operations.


The article examines the role of African troops, focusing on Liberian peacekeepers deployed to Mali under the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma). For Liberian soldiers, these missions offered significant economic benefits, with wages often five times higher than their regular army pay. This enabled them to support their families, build homes, and invest in education. The deployment also allowed soldiers to work internationally, broadening their professional and personal horizons.
 
However, the article highlights the ethical and emotional challenges faced by peacekeepers. Many soldiers expressed guilt over their relatively privileged conditions compared to the local populations in conflict zones such as Mali. Despite their efforts, they observed that the missions often failed to bring about meaningful change, with violence and instability persisting in many areas. This led to doubts about the overall impact and purpose of peacekeeping missions.
 
The article also contextualizes these individual experiences within the broader trend of declining UN peacekeeping missions. Over the last decade, active operations have decreased significantly, with no new missions established in the same period. Political resistance from host nations, high costs, and skepticism about effectiveness have contributed to this decline.
 
Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan have requested peacekeepers' withdrawal, reflecting a growing reluctance to host large-scale operations. While Liberia serves as a case study for the duality of peacekeeping. Once home to one of the world's largest UN peacekeeping missions, Liberia transitioned from beneficiary to contributor, with its troops deployed to Minusma. While this brought national pride, it also underscored the dependence on African troops from impoverished nations to sustain global peace efforts.
 
This reliance raises ethical concerns about the burdens placed on developing countries to address international security challenges. The authors also explore the economic and social impacts on contributing nations. For Liberia, peacekeeping missions provided a rare avenue for soldiers to escape poverty and improve their lives.

However, the winding down of primary operations like Minusma leaves uncertainty about whether such opportunities will remain available. The authors question whether the global retreat from peacekeeping risks leaving conflict zones without adequate support and contributing nations without a vital source of income and development.
 

Concluding Reflections

Clair MacDougall and Maggie Dwyer critically analyze the complexities surrounding UN peacekeeping. While missions have profoundly impacted the lives of individual soldiers, their broader effectiveness and sustainability are increasingly debated. The decline of large-scale peacekeeping operations highlights shifting priorities in international conflict resolution. It raises questions about the future of global peace efforts. 
 
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