Timeline of United Nations peacekeeping missions

Last updated

Canadian peacekeeper in 1976 wearing the distinctive UN blue helmet UN-Marty.jpg
Canadian peacekeeper in 1976 wearing the distinctive UN blue helmet

The United Nations has authorized 71 peacekeeping operations as of April 2018. These do not include interventions authorized by the UN like the Korean War and the Gulf War. [1] The 1990s saw the most UN peacekeeping operations to date. Peacekeeping operations are overseen by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and share some common characteristics, namely the inclusion of a military or police component, often with an authorization for use of force under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. [2] Peacekeeping operations are distinct from special political missions (SPMs), which are overseen by the Department of Political Affairs (DPA). SPMs are not included in the table below. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

1940s

StartEndNameAcronymLocationPurposeComment
1948Ongoing UN Truce Supervision Organization UNTSOFlag of Israel.svg  Israel

Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg  Syria

Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon

Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan

Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt

To monitor ceasefire in the Arab-Israeli conflict.Authorized in June 1948 after the First Arab-Israeli War. The first UN peacekeeping mission.
1949Ongoing UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan UNMOGIPFlag of India.svg  India

Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan

To monitor India-Pakistan ceasefire in the Kashmir conflict.Authorized after the First Indo-Pakistani War.

1950s

StartEndNameAcronymLocationPurposeComment
19561967 UN Emergency Force I UNEF IFlag of the United Arab Republic.svg  Egypt To supervise withdrawal of Egyptian and Israeli troops from Suez Crisis.First armed peacekeepers. Ended June 1967 during the buildup to the Six-Day War.
19581958 UN Observation Group in Lebanon UNOGILFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon To prevent troops and weapons entering Lebanon during crisis.Ended December 1958

1960s

StartEndNameAcronymLocationPurposeComment
19601964 UN Operation in the Congo ONUCFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1966-1971).svg  Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) To prevent foreign intervention in and preserve territory of the Congo during the Congo Crisis.Ended June 1964
19621963 UN Security Force and UN Temporary Executive Authority UNSF / UNTEAMorning Star flag.svg  Netherlands New Guinea

Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia

Monitor ceasefire during transition of West Irian from Dutch to Indonesian rule.Ended April 1963
19631964 UN Yemen Observation Mission UNYOMFlag of North Yemen.svg  North Yemen Supervise disengagement of Saudi Arabia and Egypt from the North Yemeni Civil War.Ended September 1964
1964Ongoing UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus UNFICYPFlag of Cyprus (1960-2006).svg  Cyprus

Prevent conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

 
19651966 Mission of the Representative of the Secretary-General in the Dominican Republic DOMREPFlag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Monitor situation caused by rival governments in Dominican Republic.Ended October 1966
19651966 UN India-Pakistan Observation Mission UNIPOMFlag of India.svg  India

Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan

Supervise India-Pakistan ceasefire outside of Kashmir after the Second Indo-Pakistani War.Ended March 1966

1970s

StartEndNameAcronymLocationPurposeComment
19731979 UN Emergency Force II UNEF IIFlag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg  Egypt Supervise withdrawal of forces from the Sinai Peninsula after Egypt, Syria and Israel fought in the Yom Kippur War.Ended July 1979
1974Ongoing UN Disengagement Observer Force UNDOF Golan Heights

(disputed between Flag of Israel.svg  Israel and Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg  Syria)

Maintain ceasefire between Syria and Israel on the Golan Heights. 
1978Ongoing UN Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFILFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Supervise Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. Keep the international peace and security, and help the Lebanese Government restore its effective authority in the area.

1980s

StartEndNameAcronymLocationPurposeComment
19881990 UN Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan UNGOMAP Flag of Afghanistan (1987-1992).svg Afghanistan

Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan

Enforce Afghanistan and Pakistan from mutual non-interference.Ended March 1990
19881991 UN Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group UNIIMOGFlag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg  Iraq

Flag of Iran.svg  Iran

Supervise ceasefire after the Iran-Iraq War.Ended February 1991
19891991 UN Angola Verification Mission I UNAVEM IFlag of Angola.svg  Angola Supervise withdrawal of Cuban troops from the Angolan Civil War.Ended June 1991
19891990 UN Transition Assistance Group UNTAGFlag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South West Africa

(Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia after 1990)

Supervise Namibia's elections and transition to independence from South Africa.Ended March 1990
19891992 UN Observer Group in Central America ONUCAFlag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Monitor ceasefire in the Nicaraguan Civil War. Ended January 1992

1990s

StartEndNameAcronymLocationPurposeComment
19912003 UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission UNIKOMFlag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait

Flag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg  Iraq

Enforce Kuwait-Iraq border after Gulf War.Ended 2003
19911995 UN Angola Verification Mission II UNAVEM IIFlag of Angola.svg  Angola Enforce ceasefire in the Angolan Civil War.Ended February 1995
19911995 UN Observer Mission in El Salvador ONUSALFlag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador Enforce ceasefire in the Salvadoran Civil War.Ended April 1995
1991Ongoing UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara MINURSOFlag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.svg  Western Sahara

(independence disputed by Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco)

Implement ceasefire and help promote referendum on area's future after the Western Sahara War. 
19911992 UN Advance Mission in Cambodia UNAMICFlag of the State of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia Prepare way for UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia after the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.Ended March 1992
19921995 UN Protection Force UNPROFOR and UNPREDEP [6] Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia

Flag of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992 - 1998.).svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina

Flag of North Macedonia.svg  Republic of Macedonia

Protect area of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic of Macedonia during the Yugoslav Wars.restructured December 1995
19921993 UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia UNTACFlag of Cambodia under UNTAC.svg  Cambodia Assist reorganization of Cambodia.Ended September 1993
19921993 UN Operation in Somalia I UNOSOM IFlag of Somalia.svg  Somalia Enforce ceasefire during the Somali Civil War, reorganized as Unified Task Force (UNITAF [7] )Replaced March 1993 by UNOSOM II
19921993 UN Observer Mission to Verify the Referendum in Eritrea UNOVERFlag of Ethiopia (1991-1996).svg Ethiopia Monitor referendum for independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia.Ended April 1993
19921994 UN Operation in Mozambique ONUMOZFlag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique Monitor ceasefire in the Mozambican Civil War.Ended December 1994
19931995 UN Operation in Somalia II UNOSOM IIFlag of Somalia.svg  Somalia Stabilize Somalia and assist humanitarian efforts during the Somali Civil War.Ended March 1995
19931994 UN Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda UNOMURFlag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg  Rwanda

Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda

To enforce ceasefire between Rwanda and the rebel group based in Uganda during the Rwandan Civil War.Ended September 1994
19932009 UN Observer Mission in Georgia UNOMIGFlag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg  Georgia

Flag of the Republic of Abkhazia.svg  Abkhazia (independence from Georgia not recognized by international community)

Enforce ceasefire between Georgia and Abkhaz separatists after the Abkhaz War.Russia vetoed extension in June 2009
19931996 UN Observer Mission in Liberia UNOMILFlag of Liberia.svg  Liberia Monitor ceasefire and elections after the First Liberian Civil War.Ended September 1997
19931996 UN Mission in Haiti UNMIHFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Stabilize Haiti after coup overturned.Ended June 1996
19931996 UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda UNAMIRFlag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg  Rwanda Monitor ceasefire, and after the Rwandan Genocide to promote relief efforts.Ended March 1996
19941994 UN Aouzou Strip Observer Group UNASOGFlag of Chad.svg  Chad Monitor Libya's withdrawal from disputed territory given by International Court of Justice to Chad.Ended June 1994
19942002 UN Mission of Observers in Tajikistan UNMOTFlag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan Monitor ceasefire in the Tajikistani Civil War.Ended May 2000
19951997 UN Angola Verification Mission III UNAVEM IIIFlag of Angola.svg  Angola Monitor ceasefire and disarmament.Ended June 1997, but follow-up mission MONUA
19951996 UN Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia UNCROFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Attempts to implement ceasefire in the Croatian War.Ended January 1996
19951999 UN Preventive Deployment Force UNPREDEPFlag of North Macedonia.svg  Republic of Macedonia Replaced UNPROFOR in the Republic of Macedonia and monitored border with Albania.Ended February 1999
19952002 UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina UNMIBHFlag of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992 - 1998.).svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina Monitor human rights, demining, relief after the Bosnian War.Ended 31 December 2002
19961998 UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium UNTAESFlag of the United Nations.svg Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia Supervises integration of region into Croatia.Ended January 1998
19962002 UN Mission of Observers in Prevlaka UNMOPFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Monitor demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula, Croatia.Ended December 2002
19961997 UN Support Mission in Haiti UNSMIHFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Modernize police and army of Haiti.Ended July 1997
19971997 UN Verification Mission in Guatemala MINUGUAFlag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala Monitor ceasefire in the Guatemalan Civil War.Ended May 1997
19971999 UN Observer Mission in Angola MONUAFlag of Angola.svg  Angola Monitoring ceasefire and disarmament.Ended February 1999
19971997 UN Transition Mission in Haiti UNTMIHFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Help stabilize Haiti.Ended November 1997
19972000 UN Civilian Police Mission in Haiti MIPONUHFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Modernize Haiti's police forces.Ended March 2000
19981998 UN Civilian Police Support Group UNPSGFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Monitor Croatian policeEnded October 1998
19982000 UN Mission in the Central African Republic MINURCAFlag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic Maintaining security and stability in Central African Republic Ended February 2000
19981999 UN Observer Mission in Sierra Leone UNOMSILFlag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone Monitor disarmament and demobilization in the Sierra Leone Civil War.Ended October 1999
1999Ongoing UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo UNMIKFlag of the United Nations.svg Kosovo

(later Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo, claimed by Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia)

Exercise administrative authority, including administration of justice in Kosovo  
19992005 UN Mission in Sierra Leone UNAMSILFlag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone Help stabilize and disarm Sierra LeoneEnded December 2005
19991999 UN Mission in East Timor UNAMETFlag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia

Flag of Timor Timur.svg Indonesian Occupied East Timor

To oversee popular consultation on political relation to IndonesiaEnded 1999, See UNTAET the follow-up mission.
19992002 UN Transitional Administration in East Timor UNTAETFlag of the United Nations.svg East Timor

(later independent Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor)

Transition East Timor to independenceEnded May 2002. See UNMISET the follow-up mission.
19992010 UN Organization Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo MONUCFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo Monitor ceasefire in Democratic Republic of the Congo Ended June 2010. See MONUSCO the follow-up mission.

2000s

StartEndNameAcronymLocationPurposeComment
20002008 UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea UNMEEFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia

Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea

Enforce ceasefire after the Eritrean–Ethiopian War.Ended July 2008 after both Eritrea (forced out UN troops) and Ethiopia (refused to accept ICJ ruling on the border) refused to cooperate
20022005 United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor UNMISETFlag of East Timor.svg  East Timor To ensure security and stabilise the nascent state during the post-independence period.Ended May 2005
20032018 United Nations Mission in Liberia UNMILFlag of Liberia.svg  Liberia Oversee ceasefire and train national police after the Second Liberian Civil War. 
20042017 United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire UNOCIFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Cote d'Ivoire Facilitate implementation of peace process after the First Ivorian Civil War  
20042017 United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti MINUSTAHFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Return stability to HaitiLater Coordinated security response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake
20042006 United Nations Operation in Burundi ONUBFlag of Burundi.svg  Burundi To help implement the Arusha accords ended December 2006, replaced by BINUB
20052011 United Nations Mission in the Sudan UNMISFlag of Sudan.svg  Sudan To support implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement after the Second Sudanese Civil War, perform certain functions relating to humanitarian assistance, and protection and promotion of human rightsended in July 2011, succeeded by UNMISS.
20062012 United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste UNMITFlag of East Timor.svg  East Timor To support the Government in consolidating stability, enhancing a culture of democratic governance, and facilitating political dialogue among Timorese stakeholders, in their efforts to bring about a process of national reconciliation and to foster social cohesion 
20072020 United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur UNAMIDFlag of Sudan.svg  Sudan To monitor arms trade and shipping, to cause and keep a ceasefire during the War in Darfur.
20072010 United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad MINURCATFlag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic

Flag of Chad.svg  Chad

Established due to refugee crisis from the Darfur genocide in Sudan.ended December 2010 due to opposition by Chadian government

2010s

StartEndNameAcronymPurposeComment
2010Ongoing UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo MONUSCOFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo Monitor ceasefire in Democratic Republic of the Congo  
2011Ongoing UN Interim Security Force for Abyei UNISFA Abyei (disputed by Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan and Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan)Monitor ceasefire in Abyei  
2011Ongoing UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan UNMISSFlag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan Assist the new state of South Sudan  
20122012 UN Support Mission in Syria UNSMISFlag of the Syrian revolution.svg  Syria Monitor the ceasefire agreement in the Syrian Civil War. 
20172019 UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti MINUJUSTHFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Assist the Government to further develop the Haitian National Police (HNP); to strengthen Haiti's rule of law institutions, including the justice and prisons; and to promote and protect human rights in Haiti  

See also

References

  1. "Historical Timeline of UN Peacekeeping". United Nations Peacekeeping. Dec 31, 2020. Retrieved Mar 21, 2024.
  2. "Our history". United Nations Peacekeeping. Oct 20, 2016. Retrieved Mar 21, 2024.
  3. "Peacekeeping operations timeline". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved Mar 21, 2024.
  4. "List of past peacekeeping operations". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved Mar 21, 2024.
  5. "Past peace operations". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved Mar 21, 2024.
  6. - not counted as separate missions by the UN DPKO, linked below
  7. - not counted as separate missions by the UN DPKO, linked below