The Decline of Military Observers in Contemporary UN Missions–One Experience from Monusco

Abstract

After completing one-year military-observer (UNMO) tour of duty in the United Nations Organization Stabilization in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), the author summarises his peacekeeping experience, applying interpretative methods of international law (textual, systematic, teleological and historical). Peculiarities in the MONUSCO operations spotted in the field are analyzed as deviations from the UNMO normative framework, and legal and doctrinal consequences of these deviations are identified. Reasons for the UNMO dysfunctionalities are found in disharmonies between the traditional peacekeeping doctrine and contemporary UN policies 'Responsibility to protect,' and 'Human Rights Due Diligence.' They have been manifested in the lack of MONUSCO's resourcefulness to achieve a synergy of multidimensional efforts, the underdeveloped coordination with co-habiting African regional forces, and the lack of a genuine universal and impartial approach to the peace process. These reasons suggest the decline of UNMO service that may take place in future UN multidimensional peace-enforcement missions. The examples from the field and the attitudes of the MONUSCO HQ and national contingents indicate that UNMOs may continue to be treated as a useless appendage to UN military units and end up as an obsolete and redundant residuum of traditional peacekeeping.