Transitioning from a U.N. Observer Mission to a Robust Peacekeeping Operation: Lessons from Sierra Leone

Abstract

Abstract : U.N. peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone have special significance, since this is the first time that the Security Council and the U.N. Secretariat has had to formulate mandates and concepts of operations (CONOPS) to confront a power/money based organization that rules through terror with no clearly defined ethnic, clan, political or ideological agenda. A central conclusion of this survey is that although DPKO has demonstrate an improved capacity for organizing forces and formulating rules of engagement (ROE), its further damaged the U.N.'s already frayed reputation for neutrality and effectiveness. Moreover, the U.N.'s setbacks in Sierra Leone showed that success in execution today's post-Cold War second generation peacekeeping operations depends less on coalition building or fielding large numbers of troops than on the deployment of an inner core of training and adequately equipped contingents under a unified command structure that are supported by militarily competent powers committed to executing an overall political/economic/military strategy.