STATEMENT BY
H.E. DR. MICHEAL IMRAN KANU
AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
Thank you, Mr. president, and I warmly welcome Your Excellency Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, to the Security Council.
Sierra Leone commends Denmark’s presidency for convening this important and timely open debate, to advance fresh thinking and a forward-looking vision on United Nations (UN) peace operations.
I thank His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, for his insightful briefing on strengthening the effectiveness of integrated UN peace operations.
I also thank Ms. Jenna Russo, for her important contribution.
Mr. President,
Over the past eight decades, the UN has deployed more than 120 peace operations in over 50 countries, and to a very large extent, these missions have helped prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts while protecting civilians in some of the world’s most fragile contexts. Peace operations remain a principal instrument in the UN’s efforts to maintain international peace and security.
Sierra Leone speaks from lived experience, both as a former beneficiary of UN peacekeeping and as a current contributor to peace and security efforts. As we pay tribute to all peacekeepers and peace operations personnel, and honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. We echo the prevailing view that peace operations have made significant contributions with notable achievements, even under some of the most difficult conditions.
Just over two decades ago, Sierra Leone was in the throes of a brutal civil war. The UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) marked a turning point. With robust support and partnership, the Mission assisted in disarming more than 75,000 ex-combatants, restored state authority, and oversaw our first post-conflict democratic elections. What once seemed an intractable conflict became one of the UN’s landmark peacekeeping success stories. The mission at the time seen “as a prototype for the UN’s new emphasis on peacebuilding” showed how a well-resourced and adaptable UN operation can support a country to rebuild, reconcile, and reclaim its future.
Today’s operating environment for peace operations, however, is far more complex and perilous. In many conflict zones, there is tragically “no peace to keep.” Nearly 98 per cent of UN peacekeepers now serve in missions mandated to protect civilians, with most deployed in active conflict settings, often absent a comprehensive political settlement. This reflects how UN peace operations are increasingly required to engage in multidimensional responses, addressing not just security, but state-building, stabilization, and the root causes of conflict.
The Pact for the Future acknowledges these challenges and rightly underscores the need to “adapt peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities,” through stronger links to political solutions and more sustainable financing. These priorities echo the recommendations of the 2015 HIPPO Report and remain central to current peace operations reforms. Yet, political divides, funding shortfalls, and rising host-state disengagement continue to challenge mission effectiveness.
In light of these realities, as said already by some members, the Security Council must ensure that peace operations are equipped with mandates that are clear, realistic, agile, and adaptable, informed by the situation on the ground and shaped through inclusive engagement with key stakeholders. Against this backdrop, Sierra Leone wishes to highlight four key points.
First, peace operations must be guided by mandates grounded in political objectives and strategies, supported by comprehensive threat assessments. In a polarized global landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, resource competition, and shifting alliances, peacekeeping must be deployed as part of broader political efforts aimed at sustainable peace.
Mandates should be outcome-oriented and linked to political processes and peacebuilding efforts. They should also leverage the convening role of the Peacebuilding Commission and the capacity of UN Country Teams. A successful peace operation must lead to long-term investment in reconciliation, recovery, and development.
Regular reviews and adaptive planning, including well-defined exit strategies and transition plans, should be built into mission mandates. This must be done in close consultation with host governments, field missions, and local communities to ensure ownership and mutual accountability, as outlined in Security Council resolution 2594 (2021).
Second, UN peace operations should leverage the comparative advantages of regional and sub-regional organizations. Strategic and operational partnerships, particularly in Africa, have proven essential to tailoring responses to context-specific challenges. This is why the adoption of Security Council resolution 2719 (2023), is a landmark feat, as it marks a significant step toward predictable and sustainable financing for African Union-led peace support operations. When regional arrangements are empowered with sufficient resources and legitimacy, they can more effectively support the full peace continuum, from conflict response and stabilization to reconstruction and peacebuilding.
Third, predictable and sustainable financing remains the lifeblood of effective peace operations. No amount of mandate innovation or tactical agility can compensate for underfunding. This is especially true for African-led peace support operations, which frequently face funding gaps and excessive reliance on voluntary contributions. The adoption of resolution 2719 must now be followed by strong and full implementation. Funding arrangements must be shielded from political shifts and driven by the needs of the missions and the civilians they protect. The UN, and member States, particularly the member of the Security Council must stand behind these missions, politically and financially.
Fourth, both the UN and TCCs should invest in enhancing the capabilities and professional competence of peacekeepers to respond to emerging threats. Stand-by forces should be supported through non-discriminatory recruitment, regular training, and mission-specific preparations, including on conflict resolution, protection of civilians, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas, and climate-security nexus.
Technology and innovation must be harnessed to improve situational awareness, communications, and early warning capabilities. Peacekeepers must deploy with the appropriate equipment, tools, and skills to respond to modern challenges, including transnational terrorism, violent criminal activities by gangs, where the line between peacekeeping and peace enforcement is increasingly blurred.
Moreover, recognizing the disproportionate impact of conflict on women, girls, and children, we call for robust protection services to be integrated into all missions. This includes full implementation of the Secretary-General’s Bulletin on PSEA, and stronger accountability mechanisms. Women and youth must also be central to peace processes, transitional justice, and local peacebuilding efforts.
Mr. President,
Addressing the rising mistrust and resistance toward peace operations requires that missions operate transparently and uphold the highest standards of conduct. Accountability must be ensured not only for violations by peacekeepers, but also for crimes committed against them. Strengthening triangular cooperation, among the UN, TCCs, and host States, is key to advancing implementation of resolution 2589 (2021).
In conclusion, Sierra Leone reaffirms its commitment to the UN Charter, and the principles of effective, responsible, and transformative peacekeeping. We will continue to contribute to shaping the future of peace operations, grounded in solidarity, partnership, and people-centered strategies. We look forward to the outcomes of the upcoming Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin as an opportunity to deepen collective commitments and chart a bold, unified path forward.
I thank you.
