Abstract

Over the past sixty years, United Nations peacekeeping has evolved into one of the main tools used by the international community to manage complex crises that pose a threat to international peace and security. Since the beginning of the new millennium, the number of military, police and civilian personnel deployed in United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world has reached unprecedented levels. Not only has United Nations peacekeeping grown in size but it has become increasingly complex. Beyond simply monitoring cease-fires, today’s multi-dimensional peacekeeping operations are called upon to facilitate the political process through the promotion of national dialogue and reconciliation, protect civilians, assist in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants, support the organization of elections, protect and promote human rights, and assist in restoring the rule of law.

In order to meet the challenges posed by the unprecedented scale and scope of today’s missions, the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the Department of Field Support (DFS) have embarked on a major reform effort, Peace Operations 2010, aimed at strengthening and professionalizing the planning, management and conduct of United Nations peacekeeping operations. A key objective of this ongoing reform process is to ensure that the growing numbers of United Nations peacekeeping personnel deployed in the field, as well as those serving at Headquarters, have access to clear, authoritative guidance on the multitude of tasks they are required to perform.

                                         CHAPTER 1

                    GENERAL INTRODUCTION

• BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

World peace, or peace on Earth, is the concept of an ideal state of happiness, freedom and peace within and among all people and nations on Earth. This idea of world nonviolence is one motivation for people and nations to willingly cooperate, either voluntarily or by virtue of a system of governance that has this objective. Different cultures, religions, philosophies, and organizations have varying concepts on how such a state would come about.[1]

Various religious and secular organizations have the stated aim of achieving world peace through addressing human rights, technology, education, engineering, medicine or diplomacy used as an end to all forms of fighting. Since 1945, the United Nations and the five permanent members of its Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) have operated under the aim to resolve conflicts without war or declarations of war. Nonetheless, nations have entered numerous military conflicts since then.[2]

After World War II, the United Nations was established to save successive generations from the scourge of war which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind.[3]. All treaties on international human rights law make reference to or consider “the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and “peace in the world”.[4]

In Africa, there have been issues of wars and conflict which has affected the peace, security and livelihood of the citizens of these countries. With the start of the uprising against authoritarian regimes in North Africa and the Arab, the government of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya responded violently and did brutal crackdown.[5] The severity of violence committed by the Gaddafi regime in the face of protesters and civilians had attracted international attention and finally by the rapid intervention of the Security Council in relation to the same crises, led to the collapse of Gaddafi’s 42-year rule.[6] The importance of this issue is that Libya case is the first critical that the Security Council based on the doctrine of responsibility to protect every government is responsible to protect their populations against war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

In Cameroon like any other country, there are many factors which hinder the peace and stability which may include; civil war likes the Anglophone crises. Violation of human rights like arbitrary arrest and detention of innocent citizens, weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism such as the Boko Haran insurgence, lack of democracy for instance the president of Cameroon has been in power for 37years failing to give another a chance to rule. This is not in line with true democratic principles. Poverty and underdevelopment are included in the challenges and threats that have strong potential for growth and negatively affecting peace and national security. However, the UN has contributed in ensuring peace and security in countries which are victim of wars or conflict for instance, in Libya 2011 where the UN Security Council intervened and ended Gaddafi’s 42-year rule.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Since 1945, at least 18 million people have died as a direct result of civil wars, for example the situation in Sudan with has claimed the lives of thousands of people and this happens almost entirely outside the economically most developed countries. This figure does not include the many millions killed in one-sided massacres orchestrated by governments, such as in Argentina, Cambodia, and Uganda under Amin and Obote. By comparison, about 3.3 million people were killed in interstate wars in this period. These three problems (internal war, mass killing by governments, and interstate war) represent the major security risks for much of the developing world.

In Cameroon, there has been the problem of the Anglophone crisis which has led to the burning of houses, deaths, migration of citizens from one place to another for safety. This has affected the socio-economic development of the country from 2016 to 2020 wherein children have not been able to go to school and this has caused business men and women to run away from this area of the country to invest in other areas which has affected the economic status of the country. The government of Cameroon and NGOs has tried to provide a lasting solution to this crisis but yet this crisis is still ongoing. Therefore it is imperative for this study to assess the role of UN in maintaining peace and security in Cameroon as well as other countries as provided for in its charter that “The Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations, or decide what measures shall be taken in accordance with Articles 41 and 42, to maintain or restore international peace and security”[7],And also in chapter 7 of the sane UN charter.

• RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This research seeks to answer the following questions

• MAIN RESEARCH QUESTION

What is the role of UN in maintaining peace and security in Cameroon?

• SPECIFIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• What is the peacekeeping role of the UN?
• What efforts has the UN made in the maintenance of peace and security?
• Is the UN effective in maintaining peace and security in Cameroon?
• Are there any policy recommendations on the role of the UN in the maintenance of peace in Cameroon?
  •  OBJECTIVES

This study seeks to answer the following objectives

• MAIN RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

The main objective for this study is to investigate the role of UN in maintaining peace and security in   Cameroon.

1.4.2 SPECIFIC RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• To examine the role of the UN in maintaining peace and security in Cameroon.
• To critically analyze the efforts of the UN in maintaining peace and security in Cameroon.
• To critically assess the effectiveness of the UN in maintaining peace and security in Cameroon.
• To propose policy recommendations for an effective maintenance of peace and security in Cameroon by the UN.