Peacekeeping abroad, trouble making at home: Mutinies in West Africa

Abstract

This article draws attention to a trend in which military deployments as part of peacekeeping missions have triggered army mutinies in some West African countries. It explains how participation in peacekeeping missions created new material grievances and a sense of injustice amongst the peacekeepers, which under certain conditions sparked domestic mutinies. These uprisings in West Africa follow a history of military disobedience in the region, and the article places them into the context of long-standing tensions within military organizations. Mutinies often symbolize and intensify divisions within armed forces, which can lead to further instability even after the mutiny is resolved. Therefore, it is important for those interested in building and maintaining effective militaries to understand the ways in which deployments and peacekeeping participation can contribute to unrest within the armed forces. The article draws on interviews with former mutineers, including peacekeepers, and others military personnel in West Africa, as well as media reporting including public statements made by mutineers, academic writings, and archival research.PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS IN AFRICA by the United Nations, regional organizations, and subregional organizations increased dramatically after the end of the Cold War. Between 1990 and 2009 approximately sixty different peacekeeping operations were deployed in Africa and the majority of African states have contributed troops to one or more peacekeeping mission. 1 Although there are a wide variety of types of peace operations, the overall goal of peacekeeping is to help create the conditions in which conflicts can be managed and ultimately resolved. However, there has been a growing awareness of unintended consequences of these missions, some of which threaten to undermine the goals of the peace operations. 2 Scholars and international organizations have raised awareness regarding peacekeeper involvement in sexual exploitation, trading in conflict minerals, and arms trafficking, while studies on peacekeeping economies have noted rises in commodity prices and disparities of incomes related to peacekeeping missions. 3 This article identifies and examines an unintended consequence of peacekeeping missions that has not yet received attention: peacekeeping-related mutinies. While peacekeepers are meant to contribute to the resolution of foreign conflicts, a pattern of mutinies following peacekeeping missions indicates that at times their participation can lead to new grievances and exacerbate existing tensions within the contributing country's military. Thus, peacekeeping abroad may contribute to new problems at home bases.

Backdoor peacekeeping

“…What are the consequences for the political stability of contributing states? Oddly neglected in conventional peacekeeping research, these questions are at the center of an emergent literature on participation effects (Sotomayor, 2013; Levin et al, 2016; Savage & Caverley, 2014; Zaman & Biswas, 2014; Dwyer, 2015). In this literature, there is consensus that peacekeeping service abroad affects civil–military relations at home, but the nature and direction of the effect remains in dispute: claims that participation reduces military insubordination stand against claims that it contributes to instability or illiberal entrenchment.…”

Foreign Policy and Afrocentricism: An Appraisal of Nigeria’s Role

“…International Recognition and Clout International Recognition and Clout: This is another benefit derived by Nigeria from its Afrocentric policy of foreign policy toward the continent. Many countries that Nigeria has in one way or the other assisted will always accord certain regards/respect for the country in all his aspiration (Dwyer, 2015). This according to Folarin (2013), Ashiru (2014), Fayomi, Chidozie and Ajayi (2015) canvassed for the recognition attached to Nigeria by the international community which invariably promote the global image of the country.…”

Missões De Paz E Relações Civis-Militares: Reflexões Sobre O Caso Brasileiro

“…Os países do oeste da África contribuem substantivamente com tropas para as missões da ONU mas isso parece ter um efeito bastante limitado na reforma da instituições militares africanas. Os motins estudados por Dwyer resultam de uma interação entre queixas materiais e um sentimento de injustiça, em geral essas questões estão relacionadas à corrupção dos oficiais que lideram as tropas e ficam com parte dos salários dos subordinados (Dwyer 2015).…”