Department of Peace Operations

Department of Peace Operations. It is a pivotal department within the United Nations Secretariat, responsible for planning, managing, and directing all United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions. Established in 2019 through the merger of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support, it represents the UN's primary instrument for maintaining international peace and security under the Charter of the United Nations. The department works to implement mandates from the United Nations Security Council and supports political processes, protects civilians, and assists in disarmament and security sector reform in conflict-affected regions globally.

History and establishment

The department's origins trace back to the first United Nations peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, established in 1948. For decades, peacekeeping was managed by the United Nations Office of Special Political Affairs before the creation of a dedicated Department of Peacekeeping Operations in 1992, following the end of the Cold War and an increase in complex missions like those in Cambodia and the former Yugoslavia. The landmark Brahimi Report in 2000 led to significant reforms. In 2007, the Department of Field Support was created to provide logistical and administrative backing. Recognizing the need for greater integration, Secretary-General António Guterres merged these two departments to form the current entity on 1 January 2019, aiming to enhance strategic coherence and operational effectiveness across all field missions.

Mandate and core functions

The department's mandate is derived from resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council, which authorizes each mission under Chapter VI or Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. Its core functions include the political and strategic direction of peace operations, ensuring they support political solutions as seen in processes like the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. It is responsible for the safety and security of over 90,000 uniformed and civilian personnel deployed worldwide. Key operational tasks involve protecting civilians, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, supporting the implementation of peace agreements like the Algiers Agreement, and assisting host nations with security sector reform and disarmament, as undertaken by the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan.

Structure and leadership

The department is headed by an Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, a position held since 2017 by French diplomat Jean-Pierre Lacroix. It is organized into several key offices, including the Office of Operations, which oversees individual missions such as MINUSMA and MONUSCO, and the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions. The Office of Military Affairs provides expertise on the deployment of military observers and infantry battalions, while the Police Division manages formed police units and individual police officers. The department works closely with the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and is supported by the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi, Italy. Strategic guidance often comes from the United Nations Security Council's Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations.

Major operations and missions

The department manages some of the world's largest and most complex peace operations. In Africa, major missions include the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, which faces significant threats from groups like Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, operating in regions like North Kivu. In the Middle East, long-standing missions like the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force monitor the Golan Heights. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon operates along the Blue Line. In Asia, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan concluded in 2022, while the United Nations Mission in Kosovo continues its work. Each mission's mandate is distinct, ranging from monitoring ceasefires to robust protection of civilians.

Challenges and criticisms

Peace operations face numerous challenges, including operating in volatile environments with active hostilities, as seen in attacks on MINUSMA bases by Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. Missions often grapple with unclear mandates, inadequate resources, and political obstruction from host governments like the Transitional Sovereignty Council in Sudan. The department has faced significant criticism over allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, leading to reforms and the establishment of the Office of the Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. Other critiques involve mission overstretch, failure to protect civilians in incidents like the 2015 Juba massacre, and the need for better performance accountability, as highlighted by reports from the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services.

Relationship with other UN bodies

The department operates within a complex UN ecosystem. It receives its core mandates and political direction from the United Nations Security Council and reports regularly to this body. It works in close partnership with the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs on integrated political strategies, particularly for special political missions. For logistical and administrative support, it coordinates with the Department of Operational Support. It also collaborates with specialized agencies like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on protection issues and the World Food Programme for sustainment. The department engages with regional organizations such as the African Union, notably in hybrid operations like the former United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur, and with the European Union on training initiatives. Financial oversight is provided by the United Nations General Assembly's Fifth Committee.