India’s Role in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions

India has a long-standing commitment to United Nations peacekeeping missions. This commitment is brought into light by recent events in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following the tragic deaths of peacekeepers, UN officials expressed gratitude for India’s contributions. India has deployed number of troops and police personnel to various missions, showcasing its dedication to global peace.

UN Peacekeeping Overview

• UN peacekeeping involves activities aimed at maintaining or restoring international peace.
• Established in 1948, it operates under principles of consent, impartiality, and non-use of force except for self-defence.
• Today, approximately 100,000 personnel from 125 countries are engaged in active missions worldwide.

Historical Context and Evolution

• The first UN peacekeeping mission was the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in 1948.
• Over the decades, more than one million individuals have served under the UN flag, contributing to over 70 operations.
• The missions have adapted to changing global conflicts and challenges.

Challenges Facing Peacekeeping Forces

• Peacekeeping faces numerous challenges .
• Power politics often hinder timely action.
• Resource constraints limit mission effectiveness.
• The nature of modern conflicts has evolved, complicating traditional peacekeeping strategies.
• Host state resistance further complicates the deployment of peacekeepers, as seen in several African nations.

What happened in Congo?

• Fighting with M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) led to the death of six UN peacekeepers.
• The casualties included two South African, one Uruguayan, and three Malawian peacekeepers.
• The clashes occurred as M23 gained control of new territories, threatening the city of Goma, home to around 2 million people.
• The UN temporarily relocated nonessential staff from Goma but continued essential operations like food distribution, medical aid, and protection.

Peacekeeping in Congo

• The UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO) has been present for over 20 years, with 14,000 troops currently deployed.
• South Africa’s SAMIDRC mission (Southern African Development Community Mission in DRC) also suffered seven casualties in the conflict.

M23 Rebels & Regional Impact

• M23 is one of around 100 armed groups fighting in eastern Congo, which is rich in minerals.
• The group recently captured Sake, a strategic town 27 km west of Goma.
• The Rwandan-backed M23 rebels are accused of exploiting political transitions in the U.S. to advance their offensive.

• The ongoing conflict has led to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
• The situation threatens thousands of civilians, leading to international concerns and UN efforts to stabilize the region.

India’s Contributions to Peacekeeping

• India is the largest cumulative contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.
• It has deployed over 253,000 troops across 49 missions.
• Indian peacekeepers are known for their technical expertise and have provided medical and logistical support in various operations.
• India has contributed specialized military capabilities, including helicopters and engineering units.
• The Centre for UN Peacekeeping in New Delhi has trained over 67,000 personnel, focusing on critical areas such as sexual exploitation prevention.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2025

Category: Defence Current Affairs