Seeds of peace
- UN peacekeeping mission & troops (blue helmets) are helping Sierra Leone in their political operations to ensure that the hard-won peace could sustain.
- Sierra Leone had war marked by terrible atrocities on civilians. The world reacted by supporting the UN peacekeeping & political missions.
- Sierra Leone has seen many UN “firsts” like :
- first multi-dimensional UN peacekeeping operation with political, security, humanitarian and national recover mandates.
- first-ever visit of Peacebuilding Commission to Sierra Leone.
- final mission was led by the first senior UN official heading a unified political and development presence
- first country in Africa to establish a tribunal on its own territory to address the most serious international crimes
- the first of the UN and UN-backed tribunals to successfully complete its mandate
- first conviction of a former Head of State since Nuremberg (Special Court’s sentencing of ex Liberian President Charles Taylor)
- UN blue helmets disarmed ex-fighters, including young soldiers, and ruined weapons and 1.2 million rounds of bullets. The UN served over 50% of Sierra Leonean refugees and forced out people to return home and supported training of local police.
- UN aided the Government to fight illegal diamond mining that fueled the clash, and build control over the affected areas.
- Sierra Leone’s citizens voted in an effectively free and fair elections for the first time. UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office helped Sierra Leone consolidate progress & addressing tensions since its inception as a civil political mission 6 years ago. It enabled the Government to bolster the political process laying emphasis on dialogue & tolerance & strengthening the national police.
- Nations divided by hatred & atrocities can draw hope from Sierra Leone & should understand that national goodwill backed by international support can help the most ravaged areas return to peace.
Exams Perspective:
- United Nations Peacekeeping Mission