Nations agree to use force in peacekeeping missions

By Taddeo Bwambale

KIGALI - The top 30 UN troop- and police-contributing countries have agreed to take direct military action against armed actors that threaten civilian lives in UN peacekeeping mission areas.

The use of force is one of 18 principles endorsed at the closure of an international conference on the protection of civilians held in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali on Friday.

International experts have been pushing for a review of the UN mandate on peacekeeping to provide for rapid use of military force where civilians and peacekeepers are in danger.

Although Chapter VII of the UN Charter authorises the use of force in peacekeeping missions, decisions on military action follow lengthy bureaucratic procedures that leave civilians at risk.

Rwanda became victim to UN peacekeeping failures during the 1994 genocide when over 800,000 people were killed when peacekeepers retreated instead of engaging Hutu militia.

According to the new principles, peacekeepers will not hesitate to take military action in states where government has not demonstrated willingness to protect civilians, in line with UN guidelines.

‘Time for action’
 

Ugandan troops boarding a plane for an AMISOM mission. (File photo)

To avoid delays, respective contingent commanders will have the authority to use force in urgent situations protecting civilians, without need for further consultations with the capital.

Lt Gen Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, the force commander of the UN Stabilisation Mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) said current procedures on use of force are not helpful in volatile areas.

“It is impossible to protect civilians without the use of force. Giving me a 148-page document on threat analysis is not helpful when we are facing fire from an enemy,” he said.

“We must not spend so much time on threat analysis or planning because once we are on the ground, that is time for action.”

It takes up to nine months between UN Security Council resolutions to actual deployment of peacekeepers, former President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta told journalists.

He said troop-contributing countries are not often fully aware of the situation of the ground and ready to carry out their mandate at the time of their deployment.

Potential threats

The top troop-contributing nations agreed to ensure that peacekeeping troops deployed to missions have undergone a high level of training to deal with new threats and protect civilians.

The countries also agreed to regularly identify and communicate to the UN for any resource and capability gaps that inhibit their ability to protect civilians.

New threats and the use of asymmetric warfare tactics by armed groups call for a review of the peacekeeping landscape, Rwanda’s chief of defense staff, Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba observed.
 

Former President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Laureate, José Ramos-Horta ​speaking to journalists in Kigali. (Credit: Taddeo Bwambale)

The troop-contributing countries resolved to identify potential threats to civilians and proactively take steps to mitigate such threats in order to reduce the vulnerability of the civilians.

The countries further agreed to seek to enhance arrangements for rapid deployment of regional forces that are available in the shortest time to protect civilians.

In order to prevent human rights abuses in peacekeeping missions, the countries agreed to monitor and report such cases and take disciplinary action on personnel who fail to act to protect civilian.

They also want to make it mandatory for the UN Security Council to consult all troop and police contributing countries on the review of peacekeeping mandates.

Challenges

Uganda is one of the top 30 African countries that contribute over 80% of global peacekeeping forces. Ironically, however, majority of the peacekeepers are deployed on the continent.

Logistical challenges, sovereignty concerns and inadequate funding were among challenges faced by peacekeepers in mission areas.

Maj Gen Patrick Cammaert, a former commander of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea said peacekeeping efforts are not effective because they are confined to bases.

“In many missions, peacekeepers do not move outside their compounds or operate at night,” said Cammaert, who also served as an advisor to the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

The push for use of force against armed groups also has a basis in the rising number of deaths of peacekeepers. Over 100 peacekeepers are killed every year, Cammaert revealed.

Mona Khalil, a senior legal officer for the UN said peacekeepers have the right to use force to protect civilians within the framework of the mandate.

She, however, argued that focus should be placed on bringing perpetrators of conflict to justice, to deter them from committing crimes against civilians.

The Kigali principles will be endorsed on a voluntary basis and signatories will meet once each year to review efforts to protect civilians in UN peacekeeping operations.