[Mhiz Rebecca]

Nigeria is the world’s 14th largest
troops contributing nation to UN
Peacekeeping operations, according
to the latest data published by the UN
peacekeeping.
The data obtained by the News
Agency of Nigeria, NAN, shows that
Nigeria contributed 2, 170
peacekeeping personnel in 2016.
It showed that as at August 31, 2016,
Nigeria had provided 403 policemen,
46 military experts and 1,721 troops,
out of which 232 were females.
According to the data, the largest
contributors to UN peacekeeping
missions are Ethiopia with 8,326,
India with 7,471 personnel and
Pakistan which contributed 7,161.
Jamaica, Guinea-Bissau,
Mozambique, Latvia, and the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
contributed the least with one each.
According to the report, Nigeria
ranks eighth in Africa after Ethiopia,
Burkina Faso – 3,036, Egypt – 2,889,
Ghana – 2,972, Rwanda – 6,146,
Senegal – 3,617 and Tanzania – 2,341.
“As we start this new year (2017),
more than 115,000 people from 123
countries work hard to maintain
peace.
“They are civilian, police and
military personnel deployed in 16
UN peacekeeping missions across the
world,” the report said.
It added that the peacekeeping personnel were
seconded to work with the UN by member
countries.
“They come from nations large and small, rich
and poor.
“They bring different cultures and experience to
the job, but they are united in their determination
to foster peace.”
It said UN peacekeeping helps countries torn by
conflict to create conditions for lasting peace.
“Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most
effective tools available to the UN to assist host
countries navigate the difficult path from conflict
to peace.
“Peacekeeping has unique strengths, including
legitimacy, burden sharing, and an ability to
deploy and sustain troops and police from around
the globe, integrating them with civilian
peacekeepers to advance multidimensional
mandates.
“UN Peacekeepers provide security and the
political and peacebuilding support to help
countries make the difficult, early transition from
conflict to peace.”
According to the report, UN peacekeeping is
guided by three basic principles: consent of the
parties; impartiality; and non-use of force except
in self-defence and defence of the mandate.
“Peacekeeping is flexible and over the past two
decades has been deployed in many
configurations.
“There are currently 16 UN peacekeeping
operations deployed on four continents.
“Today’s multidimensional peacekeeping
operations are called upon not only to maintain
peace and security, but also to facilitate the
political process, protect civilians, assist in the
disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of
former combatants; support the organisation of
elections, protect and promote human rights and
assist in restoring the rule of law.
“Success is never guaranteed, because UN
Peacekeeping almost by definition goes to the
most physically and politically difficult
environments.
“However, we have built up a demonstrable
record of success over our 60 years of existence,
including winning the Nobel Peace Prize.”