Military Engagements by the United Nations

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Beginning with the effort to understand the military engagements of the UN, it can be assessed that in what possible ways the international body is making a futile effort to keep peace in the world. First manifestation of military engagement of the UN is named as UN Peacekeeping Missions. These are the military missions carrying soldiers from the armies across the world. The missions are deployed by the UN for the sake of securing peace in a region or country of crisis. UN military engagement in the form of Peacekeeping Missions have been mostly deployed in the African continent. Besides that, these missions have served in the chaotic Middle Eastern situations. But the question remains about their performance and role in securing the global peace and security. These military engagements of the UN are often criticized because the troops in Blue Helmets remains unable to ensure peace in chaotic situation. Further, they have been found indulged in certain war crimes along with showing indifference to the genocide of any group in the area under their supervision. Their work thus remains a military engagement of the UN that is failing to lead the world towards peace.
Second manifestation of UN military engagements is the Military Observer Groups deployed in the regions where disputes can erupt any time owing to the unsettled territorial or political problems. These groups lack authority in the areas of their observation. States often override the suggestion and recommendations of the Military Observer Groups thus undermining the world peace. Third manifestation of UN military engagement comes in the shape of sending special representatives to the combative areas of the world. The representatives endeavor to bring the opposing factions to some terms for the sake of the world peace.

UN military engagements in Africa speak clearly that how this endeavor is proving a failure in keeping the world on the right track of peace. UN has deployed UN Peacekeeping Missions in the African countries of Sudan, Somalia, Chad, Libya, Congo and Angola. Many missions have been completed but the situation in Africa remains miserable. Peace is still a far cry in that underdeveloped continent. Sudan remains in conflict and Libya presents a bleak picture of collapse. Further, the problem over the Aouzou Strip between Chad and Libya remains unresolved despite the years of UN military engagement there. All these factors bring Africa as an obstruction in the way of ultimate peace and the world remains in chaos.