United Nations Peacekeeping Cases: Gulf War, Somalia, Rwanda, Kosovo, East Timor

SBQ: United Nations

1. Gulf War (1991)

Background: Tensions between Iraq and Kuwait.

Role of UN

• Swift and unanimous action by the Security Council with cooperation by the US and the Soviet Union.
• UN-sponsored coalition was able to gain widespread international support.

Operation Desert Storm was effective against the Iraqi army.

Effectiveness

• Military operations proved effective against Iraqi forces.
• Diplomatic unity in the Security Council enabled coordinated international action.

2. Somalia (1992-1995)

Background: Local conflicts worsened and led to a state of anarchy.

Role of UN

• Establishment of UNOSOM I and UNITAF to monitor ceasefires and ensure humanitarian assistance.
• Unwillingness of conflicting parties to accept UN mediation and peacekeeping.
• Factions did not observe ceasefires.
• Lack of political will from member nations.

Operational notes

• Fighting between UN forces and Somali factions led to the death of about 100 peacekeepers by the end of 1994.
• The US gradually withdrew after the death of 18 soldiers in Mogadishu in 1993.
• Withdrawals were then followed by Belgium, France, and Sweden.
• By 1995, UNOSOM fully withdrew.
• UNOSOM II's ability to provide security was reduced by troop withdrawals, budget restrictions, and military actions by Somali factions.

Effectiveness

• No host state, no peace to keep.
• Did not manage to secure a lasting peace.
• Did not resolve factional disputes, disarm various militias, or reestablish a viable government.
• Did bring relief to millions facing starvation and assisted in massive humanitarian aid.
• Largely marred by the withdrawal despite continuing chaos in Somalia.

3. Rwanda (1993-1996)

Background: Conflict between Hutus and Tutsis.

Role of UN

• Establishment of UNAMIR, but actions were largely unsuccessful.
• Some countries unilaterally withdrew their contingents.
• The Security Council reduced UNAMIR's strength to 270 peacekeepers.
• Decisions took a long period of time to be made.

Effectiveness

• There was a severe lack of political will and resources by UN member states and the Security Council to solve the conflict.
• Failed to prevent the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which Hutu extremists massacred Tutsis.

4. Kosovo Crisis (1998-1999)

Background: Longstanding division between Serbs and ethnic Albanians.

Role of UN

• UNMIK lacked manpower and sufficient support among Kosovars.

Effectiveness

• KFOR, a joint UN/NATO force, succeeded in deterring large-scale hostilities between Serbs and Kosovars.
• Ethnic tensions between Serbs and Kosovar Albanians were not fully resolved.

5. East Timor (1999)

Background: Conflict between East Timorese independence movements and Indonesia.

Role of UN

• UNAMET supervised the independence voting process.
• INTERFET helped quell violence among anti-independence forces.
• UNTAET supported transition and administration after the vote.

Effectiveness

• These missions were able to fulfill their mandates.
• Success was due in large part to cooperation between the parties involved and international support.