Peacekeeping armies: what are they, why do African states build them and what impact do they have?
Since 1948, more than two million uniformed peacekeepers have served in over 70 United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions.
They have come from over 120 UN member states. But a few countries have regularly contributed a significant proportion of their troops. They have also made peacekeeping a foreign policy priority, and have adapted their armed forces to fit UN requirements. These states have developed what we call “peacekeeping armies”.
Since the end of the cold war, the vast majority of these peacekeepers have been deployed in Africa, many of them by African countries. Today, 11 of the top 20 countries that contribute to UN peacekeepers are African. African states also provide soldiers for operations authorised by the African Union and other African regional organisations.
Why do these countries contribute so many peacekeeping troops so regularly? How do they do it consistently? What are the consequences for the individual soldiers, the military organisations, and the wider practice of peacekeeping? Answering these questions requires a deeper analysis.
This article was originally published by The Conversation and can be found on their website. It is a resumé of an earlier article published on the International Affairs website.
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