Impediments to the effectiveness of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)

摘要

Within the UN, the 'Mogadishu Line' is a reference to the failed UN mission in Somalia in 1992-1993, intended to mark the limit of UN peacekeeping capabilities. The UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been so disastrous that more recently, the 'Darfur Line' has gained currency as the new limit that the UN should not cross for future peacekeeping missions. Further investigation of UNAMID is relevant to any military force generation department that may contribute to a UN peacekeeping operation in the future. This paper takes into account the latest UN reports on UNAMID, Government of Sudan, and rebel actions that affected the mission's operations. Interviews with well- informed, anonymous UN officials reveal chronic problems with force generation, and ongoing issues associated with the Government of Sudan. Case studies on three different UN missions are introduced to permit comparative analysis and situate the UNAMID mission in a broader peacekeeping context. This research finds that UNAMID's force generation was problematic. Additionally, both the Government of Sudan and the rebels obstructed UNAMID operations in a deliberate and sustained manner. These factors retarded the growth in UNAMID's operational capability and hindered its ability to implement its mandate. However, the absence of a peace agreement has resulted in persistent military conflict and an unstable security environment. Improved force generation and the cooperation of the Darfur Peace Agreement signatories can only have a limited impact on UNAMID's ability to protect civilians as long as there is no peace to keep.