After The Cold War, The Five Permanent Members To Participate In United Nations Peacekeeping Operations In Africa

The UN peacekeeping operation takes its shape and develops in accordance with the UN Charter in process of solving international conflicts. For over 60 years, the peacekeeping operations play an important role in keeping the world peace, which have been struggling with emerging difficulties and problems. The study of post Cold War peacekeeping operations in Africa especially led by the Permanent Members of the Security Council provides a new angle of view for better development of UN peacekeeping operations, which intend to enhance China's better participation in future as well.Africa has been the very focus of UN peacekeeping efforts for its strategic value and continuous inner conflicts since the end of Cold War. Among the 63 UN peacekeeping operations already conducted, there were 26 in Africa. While in the 16 operations under way, there are 7 in Africa. For the lack of regional security mechanism and peacekeeping resources, major powers especially the Five Permanents have been getting involved in African peacekeeping more and more directly. As a result, the multiple international powers and different national interests cluster and crash in Africa, which bring great influence on the UN peacekeeping moves in the continent.The UN Security Council is the decision-making organization to authorize and take up UN peacekeeping operations. Because of the Right of Veto on proposals referred to the Security Council, the unanimity of the Permanent Members has been the most important key factor for an UN peacekeeping resolution and its result. For example, in Namibia, Mozambique and Sudan, peacekeeping operations took right effect under the common standpoint and cooperation of Five Permanents. While in Angola, Somali and Rwanda, the trends completely went to the other side without actions in concert. On one hand, the international community expect more active participation of the Five Permanents in African peacekeeping operations, which have obviously promoted the overall stability and regional security. On the other hand, the concerns about the intervention of African inner affairs have also arisen. The role of major political powers in Africa is getting increasingly vital and sensitive.After the Cold War, the UN has rapidly expanded its abilities and scope for peacekeeping operations. Africa has become a realistic need for the Permanents to reconsider the definition and effect of veto rights, domination, neutralism, rightfulness. With these changes UN must plan as a whole and properly handle the relationship among major powers, Security Council, regional organizations and NGOs, to meet the challenges to its principle of neutralism and compulsion with facilitating peacekeeping mechanism and operations.China should refer to the successful experience of past peacekeeping operations likewise, and further the development of our own peacekeeping principles and standpoints. As a responsible nation, China may selectively participate certain operations according to the "Three Principles of Peacekeeping" and uphold the maximized national interests by maintaining international peace and security.