MONROVIA – Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made a powerful call for a fundamental rethinking of global peacekeeping strategies, drawing attention to the escalating conflicts that now impact millions. In her article published by Project Syndicate on September 9, Sirleaf highlights the severe displacement issues plaguing Africa, where “conflicts across 16 countries have displaced more than 40 million people.” This figure, she notes, is “larger than the populations of Angola, Ghana, or Morocco, and double what it was in 2016.”
Sirleaf criticizes the current peacekeeping model as inadequate. “While the need for peacekeeping is great, the current approach is not fit for purpose,” she asserts. Traditional peacekeeping methods, which often exclude regional participation and depend heavily on international forces, are failing due to a lack of localized engagement and global cooperation.
According to her, geopolitical challenges are undermining international peace efforts. She explained, “many countries are unable to commit troops because they are already dealing with conflicts within their own borders or subregions.” This, coupled with the major powers’ involvement in ongoing conflicts, starkly contrasts the predominantly internal conflicts of the past, which international bodies once effectively managed.
Drawing from Liberia’s history, where a “14-year brutal civil war” ended with successful peacekeeping operations backed by national and political leaders, Sirleaf contrasts this with the situation in Sudan, where conflicting internal factions and external powers complicate peace efforts. “Under such conditions, it is exceedingly difficult to establish international monitoring mechanisms, let alone launch an effective peacekeeping mission,” she explains.
The presence of mercenary groups like the Wagner Group in Africa highlights another dimension of the problem, with Sirleaf pointing out that despite significant media coverage in the West, “Wagner has never been widely condemned in Africa.” She lambastes the international community for its failure to halt arms sales to warring parties, stating, “It is unforgivable that the international community cannot devise an enforceable policy to prevent this.”
Sirleaf also addresses structural impediments within the United Nations, particularly criticizing the Security Council’s paralysis due to the veto powers held by its permanent members. She proposes a more inclusive approach: “Opening the Security Council to participation by permanent regional institutions would advance this objective,” suggesting it could lead to better cooperation on global issues.
Highlighting the underrepresentation of women in regional peacekeeping forces and the potential of digital technology to mitigate conflict, Sirleaf champions both as critical to advancing peace efforts. She remains hopeful about the upcoming UN General Assembly and its focus on global governance reform, which aims to “expand participation in all international bodies to offer full regional representation for Africa and the rest of the Global South.”
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