THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

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THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

Abstract:

Going down memory lane, we discovered that states have always sought to manage conflicts that impede peace and security in the society at large. With this in mind, I forged ahead to see what international institutions can do to help ameliorate the suffering that comes with conflict. This study, therefore, is concerned with collective management mechanisms of actual or potential conflict so as to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind. After some working assumptions, the study examined briefly the historical development of international institutions. The United Nations is however the focal point of the study. Thus we examined the role of the mo3t universal institution ever organized by States in their international relations. The United Nations has the responsibility of bringing about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, the management of conflicts. We observed that conflict, which can be ‘crisis’ ‘dispute1 or ‘situation’, has no acceptable definition in international relations. Nevertheless, no matter vii the terminology, the fundamental premises on which conflict is based cannot be removed. Our concept of conflict therefore is a r e l a t i o n s h i p among s t a t es in which actions and interactions are mutually opposed on a p a r t i c u l a r issue(s) at a point in time. We identified five common variables in this concept, these are: parties; i n t e r e s t ( s ) ; correlation; incongruity and reaction which could be coercion or violence or both. Conflict is often brought about b a s i c a l l y by power-play over v i t a l national i n t e r e st and incompatible objectives and policy actions. C h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y , conflict could manifest in physical aggression or public verbal dispute or covert verbal aggression or breach of expectation or avoidance. It is our contention therefore that conflict can be effectively managed by a disinterested party or institution. This is particularly possible where the parties to the dispute are unwilling to follow the norms of international society, that is, those rules and regulations which bind nation states in their relations with each other. International law exists because it is to the benefit of all states that some sort of order should govern their international dealings. Though states may disagree about what law applies to given situation, there is a consensus about the fact that some s e t of rules are necessary. Hence the rules of international law can be so framed that a policy of conflict cannot be worked out except through open violation of i n t e r n a t i o n a l law which will meet with protest, condemnation and action by members of the world community at l a r g e. Perhaps the most acceptable sets of rules so far is the constitution of the United Nations, that is the Charter. Drawn and adopted at San,Francisco on June 26, 1945, the Charter enumerated the various mechanisms for managing conflict based largely on past experience. The Founding Fathers’ philosophy as far as conflict management is concerned i s , freedom of action based on equal and inalienable rights and the dignity inherent in a l l men that Member States should s e t t l e conflict peacefully by the common consent of the adversaries. These mechanisms include peace making, the use of force (war), peace-keeping and disarmament and arms control. ix Although the United Nations is not and is not intended to be a world government, because it is based on the principle of sovereignty of States, the obligations of states under the Charter have modified t h e i r sovereignty. Thus; the United Nations is now a symbol of world unity, a unity towards international peace and security. This was demonstrated during the Congo experiment. The Congo c r i s i s was a unique example of a s i t u a t i o n which called for the United Nations’ action. The United Nations f i l l e d the vacuum created by the Belgian abrupt grant of independence in July 1960. This action prevented any of the blocs from taking over from the Belgians. Under the authority of the Security Council, the Secretary-General dispatched military assistance to the beleaguered Congolese government. This was called operation des Nations Unies au Congo (ONUC). ONUC, the largest of a l l United Nations operations was called into being within forty-eight hours of request by Chief of State (Joseph Kasavubu) and Prime Minister (Patrice Lumumba). The request became necessary following the collapse of the Force Publique and the introduction of Belgian metropolitan troop3 to ‘Protect’ Belgian lives and property in the Congo. The establishment of ONUG was based on the fact that the Congo crisis was characterized as a threat to international peace and security. ONUC was complex, expensive and the most controversial operation ever managed by the secretariat of an international institution. It was full of irony and paradox. There was no truce to observe, and no line to patrol. It spread all over the country for about four years with opposition from various groups at different times. But in the face of incredible difficulties and frustrations, ONUG discharged its main purpose to accede to the request of the Congolese central government for the restoration of a united stable Congo without taking sides. ONUC demonstrated, though challenged and criticized, the ability of the United Nations to take collective military measures to maintain law and order within the territory of a Member state, albeit, as a means of preserving international peace and security. In the final analysis, the United Nations mechanisms will nonetheless not serve to lower the level of international conflict unless the Member states rededicate themselves to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. With what happened during the Congo operation, we submit that Charter revision is no guarantee for better conflict management. It is our contention that, education, necessary p o l i t i c a l will, u n i l a t e r a l disarmament, co-operation, preventive measures, functional internationalism and unswerving support for the Secretary-General by Member States, will go along way in conflict management under the United Nations system.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The prevalent of conflict has remained a major feature of post independence Africa. The hopes that accompanied Africa’s Independence in the early 1960’s have, so far, proved to be largely a mirage for many Africans as the region continues to be devastated by conflicts and the widespread destruction of life and property. Africa is perhaps the most devastated by internal conflicts and with catastrophic consequences. Introducing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) mechanism for Preventing, Managing, and Resolving Conflicts to the OAU council of Ministers at Dakar, Senegal, in 1992, the then General Secretary Salim Ahmed Salim, emphasized that:

“Conflicts have cast a dark shadow over the prospects for a united, secure and prosperous Africa which we seek to create…. Conflicts have caused immense suffering to our people and, in the worst case, death. Men, women and children have been uprooted, dispossessed, deprived of their means of livelihood and thrown into exile as refuges as a result of conflicts. Conflicts have engendered hate and division among our people and undermined the prospects of the long term stability and unity of our countries and Africa as a whole. Since much energy, time and resources have been devoted to meeting the exigencies of conflict, our countries have been unable to harness the energies of our people and target them to development Adisa, (1992).

 

These conflicts have been fuelled by uncontrolled accumulation and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, begetting increased criminality, banditry, cross-border crime and emergence of the phenomenon of child soldiers. Though internal, most of these conflicts spill over into neighbouring countries causing wide spread regional insecurity and instability despite the presence of UN Peacekeepers.

 

Conflict remains a major security problem in Africa. Africa continues to have the greatest number of armed conflicts of any continent. In mid – 2001, latent or open hostilities affected Angola, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Eritrea- Ethiopia, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Somalia, to mention but a few. Some of these conflicts have persisted despite UN PKO operations while in some cases the conflicts reopen on withdrawal of UN peacekeepers.

 

Given the number of conflict in sub Saharan Africa, it is not surprising that they cumulatively have claimed at least 7 – 8 million lives.    Also, in 2001, more than 3.5 million of the more than 14 million refugees and asylum seekers in the world were in Africa. Of the approximately 21 Million Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the world more than 10 million are Africans(2)

END NOTE

  1. Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Resolving Conflict in Africa: Proposals for Action (Addis Ababa; OAU Press and Information series 1, 1992) 3

 

  1. Amanee, June 2001

 

  1. Professor Tom Woodhouse and Dr Tamara Duffey 2000, P.11 Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution, A course produced by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, Programme of Correspondence Instruction in Peacekeeping Operations,2000, 11

 

  1. Annan, K. (1997), “ Peacekeeping Operations and the UN”, Conflict Resolution Monitor ,Centre for Conflict Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, 25-32.

 

  1. J W Burton: Systems, States, Diplomacy and Rules Cambridge University Press, 1998, p.6

 

  1. E Doughtey and RT Pfaltzgraft, Contending Theories in International Relations New York, Harper Collins publishing Inc , 1990 p.136

 

  1. Deng, S. Kimaru, Donald Rothchid and W. Zatman Sovereignty as Responsibility: Conflict Management in Africa , Washington DC, the Brookings Institute, 1996, P.xx

THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

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