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Abstract

As crises unfold in Africa and Asia, the international community’s reactions range from robust intervention to mere indifference. However, robust intervention is associated with the deployment of troops from the North under the flag of NATO or coalitions of the willing, while the establishment of UN peacekeeping operations, primarily with troops from the South, falls one step short of indifference. Despite relatively scarce resources, UN peacekeeping underwent a dramatic reform and has achieved much success over the last few years. Security Council Member States have a special responsibility in lending their support and providing UN peacekeeping with the highly qualified troops and specialized assets it requires: This is essential in order to confront the new challenges in failed States. French Operation Licorne in Ivory Coast and EU Operation Artemis in Congo are good examples of Northern countries’ renewed involvement in Africa. But there would be advantages in envisaging future deployments under the Blue Helmet, as a testimony of increased solidarity with the South, as a way of assisting the Security Council in being more united in action.

Jean-Marie Guéhenno is the Deputy General Secretary at the UNO, in charge of Peacekeeping operations.