Forty-Two Years of Peacekeeping: A Review of Senegalese Participation in Peacekeeping Missions

摘要

Senegal, one of the smallest African countries (in land mass) and with a population around 10 million, is one of the leading African contributors to peacekeeping efforts. Senegal's peacekeeping efforts have not only been on the African continent, but elsewhere in the world as well. When compared to other nations around the globe, Senegal has a higher participation rate (as far as numbers of troops deployed to peacekeeping efforts) than many larger countries, including the US in most instances. This paper will examine both the reasons for and the consequences of Senegal's extensive participation in such missions. It will thus explore ideological and foreign policy explanations, including the possibility that the disproportionate rate of Senegalese participation in peacekeeping efforts is linked to economic compensation. When Senegalese troops participate under the UN flag, for example, they are paid up to ten times as much as they would normally earn. Additionally, the country of Senegal receives compensation for allowing their troops to participate in the peacekeeping missions. Furthermore, in addressing the drawbacks of a high participation rate, this paper will examine the types of domestic problems that may arise and that may also produce adverse effects upon the peacekeeping missions themselves.