Revisiting the contributions and role of the United Nations in contemporary African peacekeeping challenges.

The UN currently deploys more peacekeepers in international peacekeeping theatres than ever before â€" the majority of whom are deployed on African soil. The emphasis on Africa is also reflected in the UN peacekeeping budget which earmarked more than 75% of available funds for African peacekeeping requirements. This paper will be aimed at providing a better understanding of the contributions and role of the UN in contemporary African peacekeeping challenges. Specifically, the UN’s completed and current peacekeeping operations will be analysed and discussed. Furthermore, the paper will explore the fact that over the last half decade the African Union undertook two major peacekeeping operations in Burundi and Sudan - operations that paved the way for larger UN multidimensional operations. Finally, Africa’s contemporary position and peacekeeping requirements will be appraised in the context of geo-political dynamics and related international peacekeeping trends. The issue of burden-sharing or new partnerships between the UN and the Africa Union will be highlighted, specifically in view of current efforts to establish a Pan African military standby force with a view to intervening in serious conflicts around the continent. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]