By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, Oct. 16, GNA – Ms Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, has called for a politically realistic and innovative approach to reforming United Nations peace operations to make them more responsive to the world’s evolving security challenges.
She said the time had come for the international community to match its aspirations for peace with practical reforms that strengthen the UN’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats, especially in regions like West Africa and the Sahel where instability was deepening.
Ms Tetteh, speaking at the opening of the 2025 Challenges Annual Forum (CAF25) in Accra, said the review of all forms of UN peace operations must go beyond rhetoric to create a “smarter, more agile toolbox” that can effectively respond to the complexity of modern conflicts, particularly across West Africa and the Sahel.
The three-day CAF25, jointly pledged by Ghana and Sweden at the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, is being hosted at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra.
The forum supports the UN Secretary-General’s ongoing Review of All Forms of Peace Operations, with a focus on how peacekeeping can evolve to address new threats and promote sustainable stability, particularly in Africa.
Supported by Ghana, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, CAF25 brings together policymakers, security experts, and academics to explore innovations in technology, regional collaboration, and long-term peacebuilding.
Ms Tetteh said the current global context, marked by the rise of non-state actors, new technologies in warfare, disinformation, and resource constraints, required urgent adaptation of peace operations to remain credible, well-resourced, and impactful.
“The United Nations was always meant to be a politically realistic body, one that could prevent conflict before it arose, offer dispute resolution, and intervene with peace operations when necessary. But today, we must ask: how should peace operations be structured, financed, and supported to make a real difference?” Ms Tetteh questioned.
She noted that while the UN had made important contributions to international peace and security over the decades, it now operated in a far more contested multilateral environment.
“The complexities we face today are defined by the growing influence of non-state actors, the use of artificial intelligence in combat, and severe challenges to human rights and humanitarian norms,” she said.
Ms Tetteh, who leads the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), observed that peace operations across Africa were increasingly being deployed in theatres “with no peace to keep,” where violent extremism, transnational crime, and political instability were interlinked.
In such contexts, she said, success depended on clear mandates, adequate financing, and strategic partnerships.
She warned against overstretching missions through unrealistic mandates, and that, “We should not go away from this forum believing that doing more with less is a sustainable mantra. Without the necessary resources, peace operations cannot achieve their intended outcomes.”
Ms Tetteh highlighted the need for smarter communications strategies, saying misinformation and the weaponization of social media were worsening instability and undermining trust in the UN.
“We need to leverage technology like AI and social media analytics to counter harmful narratives before they escalate into violence,” she urged.
Turning to Africa, she noted the worsening security situation in the Sahel, where extremist groups exploit porous borders and weak governance.
She cautioned: “The speed of regional integration among violent groups is much faster than among states. We must catch up,” and added that innovation, coordination, and political honesty are essential for durable peace.
Ms Tetteh underscored that reforming peace operations must include realistic financing mechanisms, stronger cooperation with regional actors such as the African Union and ECOWAS, and an unwavering commitment to the protection of civilians.
Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi, Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Defence, said Ghana was proud to host CAF25 at a time when peace operations faced mounting pressure from geopolitical tensions, polarization, and financial shortfalls.
“The burning question before us is how to adapt and advance to ensure peace operations remain credible, effective, and relevant,” he said.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s longstanding commitment to peacekeeping, recalling the country’s participation in UN operations since 1960, from the Congo to Lebanon, Liberia, Rwanda, and Mali.
Mr Genfi emphasized that climate change had become “a security priority” that fueled displacement and conflict, and praised Ghana’s creation of a Ministry of Climate Change and Sustainability under President John Dramani Mahama’s “Resetting Ghana Agenda.”
“The challenge before us,” Mr Genfi said, “is how to innovate responsibly, harnessing technology for peace while defending the peace we seek.”
Air Commodore David Anettey Akrong, the Acting Commandant of KAIPTC, described CAF25 as a “strategic and dynamic platform” to generate ideas that can reposition peace operations to build resilience, prevent conflict, and promote lasting stability.
He stressed that modern peacekeepers were increasingly deployed in environments where “traditional ceasefires no longer hold,” demanding innovative approaches and adaptable doctrines.
Mr Per Olsson Fridh, Director-General of the Folke Bernadotte Academy and Chair of the Challenges Forum Partner Meeting, said UN peace operations stood at a critical crossroads and must be redefined to remain effective and relevant.
He called for stronger partnerships with regional and national actors and urged all member states to meet their financial obligations to ensure the sustainability of peace operations.
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie