More than any other continent, Africa has become a laboratory for peace operations. After several years of research in the field on peace-keeping and crisis management in Africa, GRIP has established a network of European researchers (representing more than 15 institutions in 12 countries) with the aim of “contributing to the drawing up of a European peace operations doctrine” which would be added to the European Security Strategy without abandoning the multilateralism at the heart of the common foreign and security policy.
The reflection and research generated by this network will examine the criteria which should determine when the European Union should envisage carrying out peace missions in the world, particularly in Africa.
The responsibility to protect: a new concept for old practices? (Julie Lemaire)
La communauté internationale, partagée entre le respect de la souveraineté nationale et l’impératif d’intervenir à des fins humanitaires, n’a pas toujours su comment réagir face aux atrocités de masse. Le débat relatif à l’action onusienne en situation de crise a connu de nombreuses évolutions mais une étape fondamentale a été franchie en 2000 avec le concept de responsabilité de protéger, permettant de concilier ces deux principes. Adopté par les États membres des Nations unies en 2005, ce principe a été appliqué pour la première fois en Libye et en Côte d’Ivoire en 2011. Pourtant, cette mise en œuvre pose question quant à savoir si elle résulte d’un nouveau consensus plus large au sein de la communauté internationale ou si elle reflète finalement la simple poursuite des intérêts nationaux.
The United Nations Mission in Congo: the laboratory of missing peace. (Xavier Zeebroek)
For better or for worse, the history of the Congolese conflict and the history of the United Nations Mission in the Congo have been enmeshed since 1999. Throughout its history MONUC has been a laboratory for peace but after nearly ten years in the field, peace is nowhere to be found. This report therefore discusses the success and failure of the United Nations in DRC.
In terms of successes, the holding of presidential, general and regional elections should be noted, although local elections have not yet been held. Security has improved in most of the country and robust operations have made it possible to convince some rebel chiefs to hand in their weapons. This has not, however, prevented the FARDC from suffering a series of military disappointments at the hands of Kivu rebels ...
ANALYSIS • 2012/01/31
