CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Background of the Study
The United Nations (UN) founded in 1945 after the Second World War was established among other reasons to sustain peace and security among nations of the world. Since then, in several parts of the world, the UN has continued to be involved in acts capable of fostering peace and security across the globe. As an institution with the task of advancing global security and peace, the UN through several intervention efforts has continued to demonstrate acts capable of sustaining peace in several parts of the world where peace and security are at the brink of collapse if not completely collapsed already.
Over the years in Africa, the United Nations through peacekeeping operations has remained steadfast in fostering peace, even though founders of the institution did not envisage the prospect of engaging in peacekeeping operations. According to the UN Department of Public Information, no mention of peacekeeping operations was made in the novel UN Charter.
Peacekeeping operation was initiated as a concept which require a collective security system made up of security forces from members nations to provide and maintain security when dispute arises between two opposing governments or between state actors and non- state actors, where the parties involved in the disputes are obliged to seek amicable solution by any peaceful means possible. Adisa(2010) argues that the notion of peacekeeping was developed after the Cold War between the then world super powers, the United States of America (USA) and Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). The dispute between the world powers during the period, threatened the mandate of the UN to maintain peace across international arena.
Peacekeeping operation as an engagement of the UN to sustain peace is contained in the provisions of Chapter VI of the Charter which provides for specific settlement of disputes and Chapter VII which enables enforcement actions by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Implementation of Chapters VI and VII relies basically on the agreement of the UNSC’s permanent members (China, France, USSR now Russia Federation, the UK and the USA).
Agada (2008) says that peacekeeping was developed and recognized in chapter VI of the UN charter, a means of negotiation, reconciliation, mediation, arbitration, peaceful settlement or use of regional agencies to sustain peace when such is threatened among member nations.
Chapter VII of the UN Charter becomes enforceable if peaceful means fail to settle disputes and the disputes escalate into an armed conflict. According to the UN Department of `Public Information, peacekeeping constitutes the core of the UN Collective Security System. It provides that in the case of a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or an act of aggression, the UNSC may adopt enforcement measures to restore international peace in such situations. These measures are principally: arms embargoes, complete or partial economic sanctions, severance of diplomatic relations, and in the last resort, the use of force.
According to the online encyclopedia, the first UN peacekeeping operation was the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) formed in 1956 during the Suez Canal Crisis. During UNEF peacekeeping operation, a UN force was deployed in the Middle East in 1956. Since then, this has provided the model for classical peacekeeping which requires the consent of the leading parties involved in the crisis. The main goal of this conventional form of peacekeeping was to facilitate conditions for a more comprehensive peace agreement to be achieved.
Peacekeeping undertaken by the United Nations is a role exercised by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The role refers to the unique and dynamic instrument developed by the UN to assist countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for enduring peace. However, in Africa, UN peacekeeping continues to contribute immensely to peacekeeping efforts in the continent especially in the post-independence era where political, ethnic, religious and economic conflicts continue to threaten the sustenance of peace. The first peacekeeping operation in Africa was the United Nations Operation in Congo which lasted between 1960 and 1964.Till date, there have been over 25 peacekeeping operations across the continent of Africa with several still ongoing.
In Liberia, a country in West Africa, there have been two peacekeeping operations undertaken by the UN to ensure peace in the country torn by civil war spanning more than two decades. The first UN peacekeeping in Liberia was United Nations Missions in Liberia (UNMIL), between September 1993 – September 1994. Between September 2003 till date, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has been in operation to monitor a ceasefire agreement in Liberia after the resignation of President Charles Taylor and the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War. It is expected that the ongoing peacekeeping operation was expected to be completed after 2018.
1.1 Statement of Problem
The UN peacekeeping efforts in Africa have continued to play essential role in mediating peace agreements and ensuring the implementation of the agreements in several countries including Liberia. This seems to account for the appreciable decrease in the level of conflicts, if not eliminate the incidences of conflicts. Nevertheless, in Liberia, it is likely that the UN peacekeeping efforts has been effective, considering how political power has been transferred from one president to another three conservative times during the period of the peacekeeping operation. Liberia has recorded successful transition of political power between three presidents without much incidences of conflicts capable of bringing West Africa nation into civil unrest.The three former Presidents under the democratic transition arrangement are: Charles Taylor, Elean Johnson and George Weah. This study therefore intends to investigate if the relative peace being experienced in Liberia is because of the ongoing UN peacekeeping operation, especially as the peace agreements achieved due to the UN peacekeeping efforts in the country have not been proven to be sustainable, now that the peacekeeping is due to end in 2018.
However, in spite of the smooth transfer of political power from one president to another three conservative times, it has been observed that many citizens of Liberia have not been able to return home. Many of them are still in refugee camps in other countries like Nigeria and Ghana.
It is probable that Liberia may return into political conflicts if the on going UN peacekeeping operations ends this year as the UN plans to wind down its operation which has lasted over a decade. This study is therefore set to examine the effectiveness of the on going peacekeeping operation in Liberia and the likely challenges which may serve as setbacks to the
maintenance of enduring peace in the country. The study will also find out if there is a fundamental relationship between the challenges of the UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia and the effectiveness of the peacekeeping in the country.
1.2 Research Questions
1. What is the level of peace that has been achieved in Liberia since 2003 till date as a result of the activities of the UN peacekeeping mission?
2. How will the activities of the UNMIL lead to sustained peace in Liberia after 2018?
3. How will the lack of resolution of the challenges faced by the United Nations peacekeeping mission destabilize the peace in Liberia after 2018?
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The study is set out to achieve the following as its objectives:
1. To examine how the level of peace that has been achieved in Liberia by UN peacekeeping mission since 2003 till date.
2. To examine how the level of activities of UNMIL will lead to sustained peace in Liberia after 2018.
3. To examine how the non-resolution of the challenges faced by UNMIL will lead to sustained peace in Liberia after 2018.
1.4 Hypotheses of the Study
· There has been effective peace in Liberia as a result of United Nations peacekeepingactivities from 2003 till date
· The activities of the United Nations peacekeeping mission will lead to sustained peace in Liberia after 2018.
· The failure to resolve the challenges faced by the United Nations peacekeeping mission will destabilize peace in Liberia after 2018.
1.5 Significance of the Study
Since the end of the cold War between the United States and the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), there have been renewed calls for the UN to act as an international institution for sustaining peace and security across international arena, especially in Africa with records of multiple conflicts in several countries after gaining political independence. This has necessitated peacekeeping operations in the continent to stem the tide of the conflicts.
Even as the major players in the UN have intensified actions towards resolving conflicts in Africa, tensions between state and non-state actors in the continent have continued to stand as barriers to the objectives of the UN peacekeeping missions.
However, this study will benefit researchers, analysts, and policy makers in formulating agendas which will serve as permanent solutions to the challenges of UN peacekeeping operations in Africa, especially in Liberia which is the focus of the study.
In addition, it is expected that the findings of this study could result to further research in as it relates to UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia. The study would also contribute to existing body of the knowledge in the field of peacekeeping.
1.6 Scope of Study
The study examines the civil war and UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia .The UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia is peculiar because of the transition of political power from a sitting president from the ruling political party to an elected president from the opposition political party, considering that the peacekeeping operation in the country was necessitated by a political conflict spanning over a decade. The UN has also maintained peacekeeping which has seen political power transferred successfully from one president to another three conservative times.
The study will use the UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia as example to discussing how similar operations can be improved in other African countries with similar experience as Liberia. The study however assumed that the UN will continue to deploy peacekeeping as a means of conflict resolution in countries across the globe, especially in Africa.
Because of the limited time and resources available in carrying out this study, the scope of the research work is limited to the UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia.
The study will focus on the Liberia refugee in Nigeria who, in spite of the peacekeeping mission in Liberia, has not returned home. It will also provide other Liberian citizens residents who reside in Nigeria who may not be in refugee camps but in a position to provide useful information on how effective the peacekeeping mission has been.
1.7 Limitations of Study
A major limitation of this study is the dearth of relevant and up-to-date literature on the specific research subject. The researcher would have wished to visit and interview the actors of the ongoing peacekeeping operations in Liberia which is used as case study but for the financial resources. This, to the researcher is also a major limitation.
These limitations are not likely to affect the objective of the study in any significant way. This is because interviews and consultations will be conducted with serving senior officers involved in the ongoing peacekeeping operations in Liberia using modern communication gadgets. Additionally, since the research shall be adding to body of knowledge, the efforts made so far would motivate further interest for more research in this area.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Conflict: This refers to a situation that arise when individuals or groups identify a goal they want to secure to satisfy material interests, needs or values and these perceptions lead to actions that come up against the interests, needs and values of others.
Peacekeeping: This refers to a United Nations’ presence in the field with the consent of the parties involved in a dispute, to implement or monitor the implementation of peace arrangements relating as it relate to the control of conflicts. Peacekeeping involves warring parties uphold their resolution or to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian relief.
UN peacekeeping: This refers to operations in which personnel owing allegiance to the UN are engaged in military or Para-military duties and are carrying weapons for their own defence in pursuit of duties designated by the UN as necessary for the maintenance or restoration of peace. Peacekeeping operation is essentially a practical mechanism used by the UN to contain international conflict sand to facilitate settlement of conflict by peaceful means
Literature Review:
Literatures which provide discourse on the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Africa will emphasis on UN peacekeeping in Liberia will be reviewed. The literatures will be sourced from libraries and other sources for literatures. The literature review will include: review of concepts, review of related concepts, empirical review and theoretical framework.
Theoretical Framework: This study employed the use of theory to provide a basis for understanding the research. Theory in any research study is an attempt by the researcher in integrating and using information that has been scientifically tested (empirical data) so that it can clarify happenings in the society. In research, a theory is a statement that provides explanations for maximum clarification of events in the society. The explanation is however tentative: it changes from time to time just as happenings in the society are also subject to changes with time. Theory is postulated based on happenings in the society. The theoretical framework for this study will be anchored on the balance-of-power theory of international relations.