The ongoing crisis in Sudan exemplifies this shift. Since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, over 5 million people have been displaced, with millions more requiring urgent aid. Despite the humanitarian catastrophe, political solutions remain elusive, and the UN’s role has been largely limited to delivering aid amidst access restrictions and escalating violence. This trend underscores the UN's increasing reliance on humanitarian interventions rather than direct conflict mediation.
The Security Council: A Humanitarian Body?
The Security Council’s focus has evolved in parallel. Recent conflicts, such as the Israel-Hamas war and the crisis in Sudan, exposed its limitations. While the Council has often failed to agree on ceasefires or robust peace mandates due to political divisions, it has managed to pass resolutions aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid. One diplomat cynically dubbed it the “humanitarian Council,” reflecting the narrow field where consensus is still achievable.
This transformation extends beyond the Council. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has leaned into his humanitarian expertise, prioritizing aid delivery in crises like Sudan and Ethiopia while adopting a more reserved political stance. His approach aligns with a broader skepticism about UN-led peace operations, advocating for regional organizations like the African Union to take the lead in military crisis management.
A Crisis of Peacekeeping
The challenges facing UN peacekeeping are stark. Mali’s expulsion of the UN peacekeeping mission in 2023 highlighted a growing resistance to blue helmet forces. Meanwhile, the conflict in Sudan has further demonstrated the limitations of regional and international efforts. The UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), established to support Sudan’s political transition, has faced severe restrictions since the outbreak of fighting, raising questions about its effectiveness.
Efforts to authorize alternative missions, such as the Kenyan-led police force in Haiti, have faced funding and logistical shortfalls, underscoring the enduring value of UN systems. While not without flaws, the UN’s infrastructure for deploying missions remains unmatched, raising concerns about the wisdom of sidelining its conflict resolution role.
Diplomats and experts warn against abandoning UN peacekeeping entirely. The organization’s logistical capabilities and political reach, though strained, provide a foundation that other actors lack. Yet, the drift toward prioritizing humanitarian aid over conflict resolution raises questions about sustainability. The UN estimated it needed $49 billion in 2024 to address global emergencies but secured only $20 billion, a shortfall exacerbated by donor countries prioritizing Ukraine-related aid.
Rethinking the UN’s Role
Despite these challenges, member states are exploring ways to revitalize the UN’s role in promoting peace and security. In September, a mandate was issued for Guterres to review all forms of peace operations, aiming to design more adaptable and agile missions. Germany will host a ministerial conference in May, focusing on enhancing peacekeeping capabilities and addressing the strategic future of UN missions.
The UN General Assembly is also emerging as a potential avenue for conflict resolution. While the Assembly lacks the speed and decisiveness of the Security Council, its egalitarian structure offers an alternative when the Council is paralyzed. In Sudan, for instance, the Assembly has been urged to take a more active role in galvanizing international support for peace and reconstruction efforts. These efforts signal a collective desire among member states to ensure the UN’s political role does not wither completely.
The Path Forward
The road ahead for the UN is fraught with challenges. Geopolitical divisions, such as those within the Security Council, make large-scale peace initiatives unlikely in the near future. Meanwhile, the humanitarian demands on the organization continue to grow, fueled by conflicts like those in Sudan, natural disasters, and economic instability.
Yet, there is hope in the ongoing debates about the UN’s future. By questioning its drift away from conflict resolution and exploring innovative approaches to peacekeeping, member states are laying the groundwork for a more balanced and effective UN. The organization may not return to its golden age of peace mediation overnight, but its enduring relevance depends on its ability to adapt to the world’s evolving needs.
Keynotes:
The UN’s shift from peacekeeping to prioritizing humanitarian aid has become more pronounced, especially in conflict zones like Sudan, Ethiopia, and Gaza.
The UN Security Council’s inability to authorize new large-scale peace operations highlights the challenges it faces in promoting global peace.
The humanitarian efforts led by the UN have expanded, with increasing emphasis on crisis management rather than addressing the root causes of conflicts.
The limitations of UN peacekeeping missions, as seen in Mali and Sudan, raise concerns about the future of global conflict resolution and peacekeeping infrastructure.
Diplomats and experts continue to discuss and explore the UN’s evolving role, with ongoing efforts to rethink and improve peacekeeping strategies and capabilities.
Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed in this article reflect a perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the United Nations in its role as a peacekeeping and humanitarian body. The views presented do not necessarily represent the positions of the United Nations or its member states. This article aims to foster a deeper conversation about the future of global governance and peacekeeping while acknowledging the complexities of the issues at hand.
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