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UN Peace Operations and Unconstitutional Changes of Government

European Peace Institute / News - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 18:44

There has been a significant increase in the number of unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs) since 2020. This presents a challenge for the United Nations, which has a presence in all countries that have recently experienced UCGs. In places like Afghanistan, Mali, and Sudan, it has also presented particular challenges to UN peace operations, which face the task of continuing to carry out their work amid a political crisis and using their good offices to facilitate a peaceful return to constitutional order.

The report examines lessons from the experiences of the UN missions in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Mali (MINUSMA), and Sudan (UNITAMS) following recent UCGs. It provides a brief overview of recent trends in UCGs and how the responses of member states and international and regional organizations have impacted the responses of UN peace operations. It then analyzes how these UN peace operations approached political engagement with the de facto authorities. It concludes with several lessons:

  • A principled approach at the highest levels of the UN: While some UCGs may bring to power leaders with greater political will to engage with the UN, they are almost always an indicator of growing political instability. The UN secretary-general, along with the African Union (AU) and other regional organizations, should thus continue adopting a principled approach to condemning UCGs.
  • A pragmatic approach for UN peace operations: While the UN should take a principled approach to UCGs at the headquarters level, UN peace operations are well-positioned to take a more pragmatic approach to engaging with de facto authorities. They should take advantage of any openness displayed by the authorities to engage despite fears that doing so might legitimize them.
  • Planning for UCGs and reviewing political strategies: Even if the UN is unable to prevent UCGs, it can better prepare for managing relationships with transitional authorities. It is therefore important to consider such scenarios in mission planning for potential and current operations and to conduct strategic assessments as soon as possible following UCGs to consider how to adapt and potentially identify a new direction for engagement.
  • The challenge of remaining impartial: Fears of “legitimizing” de facto authorities stem from the assumption that those authorities are inherently illegitimate. Yet not all elected authorities have popular legitimacy, and not all authorities who come to power unconstitutionally lack it. UN missions thus need to factor public opinion into how they respond on the ground.
  • The need for a “One UN” response: While there is unlikely to be a “one-size-fits-all” approach to engagement with de facto authorities across the entire UN presence in a country, coordination is needed to ensure UN personnel have a common understanding of core principles of engagement and a coherent approach to communication.
  • The limits of UN engagement: Ultimately, the ability of UN missions to shape political transitions following UCGs tends to be constrained by factors outside their control. Regional organizations like the AU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) tend to adopt a more principled response, raising questions about the extent to which UN missions should seek to link their engagement to that of these organizations. Missions also face competing pressures from member states supporting different political factions.

The post UN Peace Operations and Unconstitutional Changes of Government appeared first on International Peace Institute.

Belgium maps radioligand therapy capacity as pharma investment surges

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 18:32
Belgium is capitalising on a radiopharmaceutical sector investment boom. Pharma giants are acquiring radioligand therapy companies and expanding research areas.
Categories: European Union

Egypt submarine sinking: What we know so far

BBC Africa - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 18:29
Six people have died after the submarine sank near Hurghada, a popular tourist destination.
Categories: Africa

The Brief – Euros for Russia’s next invasion

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 17:57
From Paris to Berlin, actions don’t match the grandiose verbiage.
Categories: European Union

Retailer brands on the rise, put pressure on food industry

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 17:53
Due to declining market shares, Nestle is closing two production facilities in Germany
Categories: European Union

Un Kazakhstan « nouveau et juste » ? Le jeu d’équilibriste de Tokayev redessine la dynamique de l’Asie centrale

Euractiv.fr - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 17:32
Sous la présidence de Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, le Kazakhstan entreprend des réformes de grande envergure, reconnues dans le monde entier, dans le cadre de sa vision de la construction de ce qu’il appelle un Kazakhstan « nouveau et juste ». Xhoi...
Categories: Union européenne

A ‘new and just’ Kazakhstan? Tokayev’s balancing act is reshaping Central Asia’s dynamics [Advocacy Lab Content]

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 17:32
Kazakhstan's wide-ranging reforms have brought new global partnerships and encouraged EU trade. Xhoi Zahmi takes a closer look at its revamped political and economic horizons.
Categories: European Union

Ein „neues und gerechtes“ Kasachstan? Tokajews Spagat verändert die Dynamik Zentralasiens

Euractiv.de - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 17:32
Kasachstans weitreichende Reformen haben zu neuen globalen Partnerschaften geführt und den EU-Handel gefördert. Xhoi Zahmi wirft einen genaueren Blick auf die neu gestalteten politischen und wirtschaftlichen Horizonte des Landes.
Categories: Europäische Union

VP's arrest ends South Sudan peace deal, his party says

BBC Africa - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 17:28
Riek Machar and his wife are detained after a convoy of 20 armed vehicles entered his home, his party says.
Categories: Africa

French foreign minister flies to China to the rescue of cognac

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 17:15
French cognac and armagnac producers fear that high Chinese tariffs could become permanent
Categories: European Union

Skandinavien fordert EU-Maßnahmen gegen „wilden Westen“ des Onlinehandels

Euractiv.de - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 16:44
Die Umweltminister Norwegens, Dänemarks und Schwedens kündigten heute eine Initiative an, mit der die EU gegen Onlinehandels-Plattformen wie Temu, Shein und Wish vorgehen will.
Categories: Europäische Union

Kenya keeper the subject of match-fixing investigation

BBC Africa - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 16:43
The Kenya Football Federation launches an investigation into allegations that goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been involved in match manipulation.
Categories: Africa

Macron urges Algeria to free writer jailed for Morocco comments

BBC Africa - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 16:33
Boualem Sansal, 80, told a far-right news outlet that colonial France gave too much land to Algeria.
Categories: Africa

France and UK to send ‘joint team’ to Ukraine

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 16:24
Both countries would dispatch a "Franco-British team to Ukraine" to meet with Ukrainian counterparts within “three weeks."
Categories: European Union

Poland suspends asylum applications at Belarus border amid migration crackdown

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 16:15
When invoked, the suspension could last up to 60 days at a time, with the possibility of an extension if approved by Parliament.
Categories: European Union

Press release - Press briefing on next week’s plenary session

European Parliament (News) - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 16:03
Spokespersons for Parliament and for the political groups will hold a briefing on the 31 March ‑ 3 April plenary session, on Friday at 11.00 in Parliament’s Anna Politkovskaya press room.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Press briefing on next week’s plenary session

Európa Parlament hírei - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 16:03
Spokespersons for Parliament and for the political groups will hold a briefing on the 31 March ‑ 3 April plenary session, on Friday at 11.00 in Parliament’s Anna Politkovskaya press room.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Virkkunen: all digital rules to be reviewed in simplification push

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 15:55
If DMA, DSA, and AI Act need to be reopened in order to strip out overlapping requirements, then so be it.
Categories: European Union

Commission’s plan to empower farmers finds tough going in parliament

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 15:48
The AGRI committee was unanimous in calling farmers the weakest link in the food chain.
Categories: European Union

EU pharma intellectual property reform hits another deadlock

Euractiv.com - Thu, 03/27/2025 - 15:44
One source said that the text over compulsory licensing had become a "poison pill."
Categories: European Union

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