Consolidation defined peace operations in 2015. The number of operations decreased for the first time since 2010: there were 61 multilateral peace operations active in 2015, two fewer than in 2014. Together these operations deployed 162 703 personnel, slightly more than in the previous year. This increase constituted a reversal of the sharp decline recorded in the preceding years resulting from the drawdown of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Although there were no major changes at the aggregate level, the SIPRI data confirms two important trends.
The first trend is the general increase in the number of personnel deployed. The number of personnel deployed in UN peace operations increased for the third consecutive year to 113 660. This is the highest number ever recorded and accounts for more than two-thirds of the total number of personnel deployed in multilateral peace operations in 2015.
‘Although the UN’s reputation and credibility were seriously damaged by reported attempts to cover-up incidents involving sexual exploitation and abuse in the Central African Republic, the UN seems to be only strengthening its position as the world’s main peace operations organization’, says Jaïr van der Lijn, Head of Peace Operations and Conflict Management at SIPRI. ‘UN member states made unprecedented pledges of personnel and equipment, while the High-level Independent Panel on UN Peace Operations published a report full of valuable recommendations as to how UN peace operations can be strengthened.’
The second trend is the specific increase in the number of personnel deployed to Africa. The sharp increase in the number of personnel deployed in operations in Africa also continued in 2015, with 119 945 personnel (74 per cent of the global total) deployed in 26 operations across the continent.
‘The spectacular increase in the number of personnel deployed in peace operations in Africa may well be the most important trend in 21st century peace operations so far’, says SIPRI researcher Timo Smit. ‘Since 2000, this number has on average doubled every five years’.
Other timely Yearbook topics: sanctions on Iran and peacebuilding in Mali
SIPRI Yearbook 2016 takes a comprehensive look at the role and impact of diverse sanctions—including those related to finance, trade, arms and travel —on Iran. The authors argue that understanding the dynamics of sanctions in this context, which is important in its own right, may shed much needed light on the role of sanctions in other international disputes.
To find out more, read the sample chapter ‘The role and impact of international sanctions on Iran’.
SIPRI Yearbook 2016 also examines the ongoing peace process in Mali that led to a peace agreement in mid-2015. The agreement—the fifth between the Malian state and the Tuareg-led armed movement—is a testament to the difficulty of resolving this persistent conflict. The authors identify four major challenges to implementing the ambitious agreement, including the increased presence of violent extremist groups in northern Mali and the growth in organized crime. They argue that addressing these issues will require consistent and committed participation and support from a broad number of actors.
To find out more, read the sample chapter ‘The implementation of the peace process in Mali’.
Increasing SIPRI’s reach: emerging security issues and global outreach
This 47th edition of the Yearbook follows the book’s esteemed tradition of identifying and scrutinizing the latest trends in armaments and disarmament. It includes chapters on the conflict in the Middle East, issues in European Security, and trends in armed conflict. SIPRI Yearbook 2016 also explores developments in emerging issues of global security, such as women, peace and security; cybersecurity; and the security implications of climate change.
‘SIPRI Yearbook 2016 is the natural go-to-resource for a historical record of developments in peace and security in 2015. Its publication and translation is an important contribution to global peace efforts. We look forward to working with our partners to have it translated into additional languages,’ says Dr Ian Davis, SIPRI’s Director of Publications.
SIPRI Yearbook 2016 out now: coverage includes the latest trends in peace operations, the implications of sanctions on Iran, and the ongoing peace process in Mali