UN Peacekeeping in Africa in an Era of Geopolitical Change
27. februar 2026 14.00 - 17.45
The global rules-based order is being openly challenged. Multilateralism, international law, and civilian protection are being questioned by powerful states and nationalist governments alike.
Nowhere are the consequences more visible than in UN peacekeeping.
Africa sits at the centre of this transformation. As the main arena for UN peacekeeping and a hub for evolving partnerships between the UN, the African Union, and bilateral actors, the continent has become a testing ground for the future of multilateral conflict management.
Wars in Ukraine and Gaza have laid bare deep geopolitical divisions, leaving the UN Security Council fragmented. Despite rising violence worldwide, no large UN peacekeeping mission has been launched in a decade. Instead, states are turning to alternative models, from ad hoc coalitions to force-heavy operations outside the UN framework.
Through cases on The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and South Sudan, this seminar explores how UN peacekeeping in Africa can adapt, innovate, and remain effective in an increasingly fragmented global order.
Programme:
• Welcome and Historical Context of UN Peacekeeping Missions – Peter Albrecht, Senior Researcher of global security and worldviews at Danish Insitute for International Studies
• Case 1: The Democratic Republic of Congo – Charlotte Slente, Director General of Danish Refugee Council
• Case 2: Mali – Arthur Boutellis, non-resident Senior Adviser at the International Peace Institute
• Case 3: South Sudan – Fiifi Edu-Afful, Senior Researcher of conventional arms and ammunition at UNIDIR
• Break
• Impact of Geopolitical Shifts on Peacekeeping Missions – Kwesi Aning, Director of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre
• The Ad Hoc Turn: Diminishing interest in multilateral frameworks and the emergence of ad hoc coalitions – Dawit Yohannes, Project Manager and Senior Researcher of training for peace at the Institute for Security Studies of the Mohammed VI University
• Looking Ahead: The future of UN peacekeeping – all speakers
• Q&A – all speakers
Moderator: Peter Albrecht, Senior Researcher of global security and worldviews at Danish Insitute for International Studies
The seminar will also be livestreamed. To register, follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3wRavIbrQh2BHOE74s7oig (copy/paste the link into your browser)
A special thanks to the Hermond Lannung Foundation for
The content is the sole responsibility of the recipient of the grant.
Nowhere are the consequences more visible than in UN peacekeeping.
Africa sits at the centre of this transformation. As the main arena for UN peacekeeping and a hub for evolving partnerships between the UN, the African Union, and bilateral actors, the continent has become a testing ground for the future of multilateral conflict management.
Wars in Ukraine and Gaza have laid bare deep geopolitical divisions, leaving the UN Security Council fragmented. Despite rising violence worldwide, no large UN peacekeeping mission has been launched in a decade. Instead, states are turning to alternative models, from ad hoc coalitions to force-heavy operations outside the UN framework.
Through cases on The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and South Sudan, this seminar explores how UN peacekeeping in Africa can adapt, innovate, and remain effective in an increasingly fragmented global order.
Programme:
• Welcome and Historical Context of UN Peacekeeping Missions – Peter Albrecht, Senior Researcher of global security and worldviews at Danish Insitute for International Studies
• Case 1: The Democratic Republic of Congo – Charlotte Slente, Director General of Danish Refugee Council
• Case 2: Mali – Arthur Boutellis, non-resident Senior Adviser at the International Peace Institute
• Case 3: South Sudan – Fiifi Edu-Afful, Senior Researcher of conventional arms and ammunition at UNIDIR
• Break
• Impact of Geopolitical Shifts on Peacekeeping Missions – Kwesi Aning, Director of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre
• The Ad Hoc Turn: Diminishing interest in multilateral frameworks and the emergence of ad hoc coalitions – Dawit Yohannes, Project Manager and Senior Researcher of training for peace at the Institute for Security Studies of the Mohammed VI University
• Looking Ahead: The future of UN peacekeeping – all speakers
• Q&A – all speakers
Moderator: Peter Albrecht, Senior Researcher of global security and worldviews at Danish Insitute for International Studies
The seminar will also be livestreamed. To register, follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3wRavIbrQh2BHOE74s7oig (copy/paste the link into your browser)
A special thanks to the Hermond Lannung Foundation for
The content is the sole responsibility of the recipient of the grant.
Arrangør:
The Danish Foreign Policy Society, Danish Institute for International Studies
Tidspunkt
27. februar 2026
14.00 - 17.45