Underneath-Secretary-Basic Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Assistant Secretary-Basic Marta Pobee briefed the Council on priorities for adapting UN peace operations to foster political options.
They emphasised the pressing want for the Council and the broader UN membership to beat divisions and strengthen assist for peace operations as distinctive platforms for advancing diplomacy in battle zones.
“Peacekeeping missions usually function in extremely risky environments, the place political processes are stalled, belief amongst battle events is low and humanitarian situations dire,” Mr. Lacroix stated.
“Progress is incremental, fragile and uneven. A breakthrough in a single second could also be adopted by setbacks the following. But, even modest positive factors will be crucial in stopping a relapse into widespread violence and saving lives.”
He pointed to missions which have made measurable contributions to peace processes, similar to MINUSCA within the Central African Republic (CAR), which helped dealer the 2019 Political Settlement and launched disarmament efforts, or MONUSCO within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which contributed to lowered violence in the course of the 2023 elections.
Safety Council unity essential
Mr. Lacroix pressured that political coherence and unity amongst Safety Council members are important for missions to understand their potential.
With out “robust, united political assist”, he warned, peace operations are restricted to managing conflicts and defending civilians quite than supporting sturdy peace agreements.
The Council’s position, he added, should lengthen past mandate authorisation to sustained political engagement. He cited the unanimous adoption of decision 2773 in February 2025 on the DRC for instance of Council unity reinforcing diplomatic efforts on the bottom.
Subject management and suppleness
Mr. Lacroix additionally highlighted the significance of dynamic mission management, calling on senior officers to function “steadfast ambassadors for peace” who preserve belief with host governments and battle actors whereas adapting to shifting political contexts.
He underscored the significance of regional partnerships, significantly with the African Union (AU). Decision 2719 (2023), which permits assessed contributions for AU-led operations, was described as a “historic milestone” in UN-AU collaboration.
“Leveraging the investments of troop- and police-contributing nations extra purposefully is crucial,” he added, noting the instance of Pakistan’s twin position as a significant troop contributor and elected Safety Council member.
Classes from the chilly struggle
Ms. Pobee’s briefing bolstered these themes whereas providing historic perspective.
She recalled how in the course of the chilly struggle, regardless of international tensions, UN particular political missions facilitated peaceable dispute decision, similar to diplomatic efforts in Equatorial Guinea in 1969, Bahrain in 1970 and the border dispute between Iraq and Iran in 1974.
She recognized a number of key components behind these successes: clearly centered, timebound mandates; the pro-active use of the Secretary-Basic’s good places of work; discreet diplomacy and crucially, consent from host governments and battle events.
This basis of belief, she famous, is more and more absent immediately, representing a “belief deficit” that complicates peace efforts.
UN Photograph
UN particular political missions in put up‑battle settings, such because the mission in Nepal (UNMIN, 2007-11) assist preserve stability, dialogue and assist democratic processes.
A novel software
Each briefers acknowledged the tough international context, with deepening Safety Council divisions, eroding norms and more and more advanced conflicts involving non-State actors, organized crime and climate-driven dangers.
Nonetheless, peace operations, with their mixture of civilian and uniformed capabilities, stay indispensable for stabilising fragile settings and enabling political dialogue, they maintained. The longstanding mission in Cyprus was cited for instance of how sustained UN presence can forestall escalation, even amid persistent impasse.
Mr. Lacroix additionally urged Member States to pay assessed contributions on time, warning that inadequate assets undermine missions’ capability to fulfil their mandates.
Ms. Pobee added that the UN has repeatedly navigated polarised eras earlier than.
“Now we have been there…however, one clear lesson is that amid acute geopolitical tensions, peace operations have helped Member States mount tailor-made responses to challenges to worldwide peace and safety,” she stated.
