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Vital role: Unifil at work in south Lebanon. Photo: Unifil-Pio

Dangers of killing peacekeepers

Each unaddressed attack undermines the UN’s legitimacy and reinforces perceptions of impotence

Feminist organisations and collectives gathered at the Monument to the Revolution to march from the Angel of Independence to the Zócalo in Mexico City to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. (Photo by Gerardo Vieyra/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Women are important in the UN’s conflict and peacebuilding missions

Resolution 1325 marks a milestone in the UN’s thinking about women: their lives are multilinear and multiple factors affect their participation in public and private life

More than 50 women accuse aid workers in the DRC of sexual exploitation and abuse, according to an investigation by The New Humanitarian and Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Women accuse aid workers of sexual abuse during the DRC’s Ebola crisis

More than 50 women have accused Ebola aid workers from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and leading nongovernmental organisations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the…

‘The UN didn’t do anything wrong’: Peacekeepers in South Sudan respond to Covid-19 criticism

The international organisation has been on the receiving end of bitter criticism since South Sudan’s first case of Covid-19 was confirmed to be a UN staffer

Scouts, who are unarmed, play a crucial role in the Central African Republic. (Will Baxter)

The Boy Scouts keeping the peace in the Central African Republic

There are more boy scouts than peacekeepers in the CAR. Even in the midst of a civil war, the scouts are arguably more effective

As part of the new qualification programmes

UN: South African peacekeepers in DRC face paternity claims

The latest allegations have surfaced a month after South African troops were accused of sexually exploiting women in North Kivu.

French “Blue Helmets”.

Report: UN peacekeeping arms losses could equip an army

​UN-backed peacekeepers have lost enough guns and ammunition in sub-Saharan Africa over the past two decades to arm an army, said Small Arms Survey

We are not going to sit idly by waiting for the solution to be found, said Morocco’s King Mohammed VI

Morocco king rejects independence for Western Sahara

A UN peacekeeping force has been in Western Sahara since 1991 with a mandate to organise a referendum on its independence or integration with Morocco.

French “Blue Helmets”.

UN names first victims’ rights official to combat sexual abuse by soldiers

UN head Antonio Guterres has tapped Jane Connors to put victims first as she works to eliminate sexual exploitation committed by peacekeeping troops.

Military women need to trouble gender relations and roles for peace’s sake

Research on the South African National Defence Force shows that women regard their contribution to peacekeeping operations far highler than men do.

In its statement, the Security Council reiterated the readiness of MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, “to provide support if requested.” (Phil More/AFP)

More UN peacekeepers accused of sex crimes

More UN troops in the DRC are accused of abusing those they were meant to protect – and face paternity claims from their alleged victims.

Peacekeepers probed for rape, killing

Men sent to stabilise the Central African Republic are accused of sexual violation and civilian death.

The newly installed interim president Cathérine Samba-Panza will have a hard time ruling out the ubiquitous violence in the Central AFrican Republic.

CAR still ruled by violence

While the political situation in the Central African Republic seems to stabilise after an interim president took over, violence is still rife.

UN peacekeepers replace African troops ahead of Mali polls

UN troops have taken over security duties from African soldiers in Mali just four weeks ahead of planned elections.

UN peacekeepers to take over from African soldiers in Mali

UN soldiers will take over from African troops in Mali after Ban Ki-moon highlighted the lack of training among the West African peacekeepers.

The Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution that would authorise a UN force comprising of 11 200 military personnel and 1 440 international police. (AFP)

New UN peacekeeping force for Mali expected to be voted in

The UN Security Council is expected to approve a peacekeeping force for Mali to help restore democracy and stabilise the northern half of the country.

South Africa

3 069-strong UN brigade to intervene in DRC

An intervention brigade designed to fight armed groups in the restive eastern DRC will be made up of 3 069 troops, the UN has confirmed.

Hilde Johnson

South Sudan: ‘Unknown rebels’ gun down 12 peacekeepers and UN staff

Five Indian peacekeepers and at least seven UN civilian staff have been killed in an ambush in South Sudan, officials have said.

We are fine, say released SA peacekeepers

Happy to be home, the four South African police officers who were kidnapped in Sudan said their captors treated them like human beings.

Calls continue for release of kidnapped SA peacekeepers

Negotiations are continuing to secure the release of four SA peacekeepers who were abducted in Sudan, it was reported on Friday.