African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID): A New Template for Future Peacekeeping Operation?

Abstract

The number of conflicts across the globe continues to increase both in intensity and complexity far beyond the ability of the United Nations to cope. In response, a greater role for regional organizations in security management was advocated with the belief that it would ease the financial burden placed on the UN, provide more intimate knowledge of regional conflicts and result in more rapid deployment.

The establishment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) on 31 July 2007 marked a breakthrough in the United Nations/ Regional Organizations' collaborative efforts in peacekeeping and timely response to the changing dynamics of modern conflicts.

This paper critically examines the paradigm shift to determine whether it constitutes a template for future UN peacekeeping operations and concludes that future UN peacekeeping missions will necessarily take a hybrid form due to the comparative advantage and complementarity of the two organizations. The paper recommends that the United Nations should give great attention to critical areas such as command and control, troops training and acquisition of modern equipment by troop-contributing countries to ensure quality and maximize the full benefit of hybrid operations.