The Future of Peacekeeping

Abstract

A series of dramatic events during 1988 renewed international interest in peacekeeping and greatly enhanced the prestige of the United Nations. In June 1988 the introduction of the UN Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan (UNGOMAP) with 50 UN military observers (UNMOs) to monitor the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan became the first new UN peacekeeping mission in ten years; the last being the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1978. Several new peacekeeping missions have followed: namely, the UN Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG), consisting of 400 UNMOs, to supervise the cease-fire between the two countries; and a UN Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM), consisting of 70 UNMOs, to monitor Cuban and South African troop withdrawal. In consequence of this agreement the South Africans have agreed to the transfer of power in Namibia and a UN Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG) will be responsible for helping in elections with a peacekeeping force, including police. Negotiations to arrange a cease-fire in the Western Sahara are under way, requiring a UN peacekeeping mission to help with elections. Similarly a UN peacekeeping force is being considered to halt fighting in Kampuchea and arrange the withdrawal of Vietnam’s troops. The Nobel Peace Prize for 1988 to UN Peacekeeping operations is a fitting tribute to the UN, the troop-contributing member states, and the men and women whose devotion and sacrifice have made peacekeeping possible.