Assessing the United Nations approach to post-conflict peacebuilding in Africa : the mission in Liberia

Since 1992, the United Nations (UN) has modified its perspective on peacebuilding in post-conflict countries, moving beyond the traditional peacekeeping operations to include peacebuilding. This perspective, articulated in the UN Agenda for Peace, has guided most mandates of various UN missions in Africa and its peacekeeping since the end of the Cold War. This article examines the UN's approach to post-conflict peacebuilding in Africa, and uses the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) as a case study. It is argued that the UN has made significant gains in recent peacekeeping operations that have peacebuilding as an integral component of their mandate. However, despite some measurable success, a number of problematic areas need to be addressed if the UN is to ensure that peace gains are further strengthened.