United Nations peacekeeping missions in Mali, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have all been expelled or withdrawn under pressure from governments that invited them, often in favor of Russian Wagner Group or African Union security arrangements. The pattern raises fundamental questions about whether the UN peacekeeping model remains viable in an era of great power competition.
Reform proposals under discussion include giving regional organizations like the African Union greater operational authority and funding for peace operations, developing clearer mandates that include civilian protection as a primary mission rather than an afterthought, and creating accountability mechanisms for peacekeepers from nations with poor human rights records. Progress on any of these fronts requires Security Council consensus that current geopolitical divisions make extremely difficult to achieve.
