Since the inception of the first United Nations peacekeeping operation in 1948, the African continent has become the main theatre of these missions. Today, more than 70% of peacekeepers are deployed on African soil, a reality that requires deep reflection on the adaptation of these mandates.

Conventional UN operations — military observation, interposition between belligerents, ceasefire surveillance — are becoming increasingly inadequate in the face of asymmetric conflicts, the rise of non-State actors and multidimensional crises combining armed violence, humanitarian crisis and political instability.

The African Union, through the African Standby Force and missions such as AMISOM in Somalia or the SADC mission in Mozambique, is experimenting with more robust approaches, including offensive roles and enhanced civilian components.

The debate on the reform of peacekeeping mandates is at the heart of the work of the United Nations and the AU. Key elements of a new paradigm include: more flexible and context-specific mandates, sustained funding of African missions, better integration of peacebuilding components, and a clear articulation between the roles of the United Nations, AU and subregional organizations.