Speaking before the Fourth Committee on Special Political and Decolonisation, Rwanda's Military Advisor Col. Deo Mutabazi expressed concern that peacekeeping missions are being forced to 'achieve less with less' as the UN grapples with a liquidity crisis.
'We are holding this debate when peacekeeping missions are facing a substantial liquidity crisis that has led to major downsizing, with the risk of losing the hard-earned gains on the ground,' Col. Mutabazi said, describing recent percentage cuts to missions as 'unfair and non-transparent.'
Rwanda, which currently ranks among the world's top contributors to UN peace operations, continues to play a vital role in global peacekeeping efforts. According to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, as of May 31, 2025, Rwanda was the second-largest troop-contributing country with 5,886 personnel, following Nepal with 6,119. Other leading contributors include Bangladesh (5,686), India (5,393), and Ghana (2,845).
Addressing root causes of conflict
Col. Mutabazi emphasised that the UN should place greater focus on addressing the root causes of conflict rather than relying heavily on military responses. He noted that sustainable peace depends on tackling governance challenges, corruption, discrimination, and poverty, issues that often fuel instability.
'No amount of capabilities, technologies, and even training to effectively protect civilians than investing in creating conducive conditions for peace through political dialogue for conflict resolution, an area that UN peacekeeping has invested less in,' he stressed.
Unrealistic mandates undermine trust
The Rwandan representative criticised what he termed 'unrealistic mandates', which he said often undermine trust between peacekeeping missions and host nations. He called for a review of the penholdership system, warning that current practices risk turning mission mandates into 'Christmas trees' that serve interests beyond those of the host country.
'It is time to rethink the penholdership that has led to mandates serving other interests than the host nation's,' he said, adding that peacekeeping should not pursue military solutions to inherently political problems.
Col. Mutabazi also backed UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which supports stronger partnerships between the UN and regional forces in peace enforcement operations.
Ensuring legal clarity
Rwanda further called for peacekeeping mandates to undergo legal scrutiny before approval to ensure that missions do not inadvertently associate with sanctioned groups.
'Maintaining legal clarity is essential to uphold both the legitimacy and effectiveness of UN peacekeeping,' Col. Mutabazi stated.
Strengthening community engagement
Addressing the challenge of operating with reduced resources, Rwanda proposed community engagement initiatives as a cost-effective way to enhance civilian protection. The approach includes local partnerships on health, sanitation, environmental protection, and education.
According to Col. Mutabazi, such initiatives 'build trust between peacekeepers, local leaders and communities,' while countering misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech that often fuel tensions in conflict zones.
Concluding his remarks, Col. Mutabazi reaffirmed Rwanda's enduring commitment to peacekeeping and paid tribute to those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of global stability.
'Rwanda remains dedicated to supporting peace efforts and honours the brave peacekeepers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the quest for peace and security,' he said.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
