Drawing on experiences in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and South Sudan, this seminar examines how UN peacekeeping in Africa can adapt, innovate, and stay effective amid a fragmented global order

Friday 27 February 2026, 14.00-17.45
DIIS – Danish Institute for International Studies & The Danish Foreign Policy Society
University of Copenhagen, CSS 35.01.05
Gammeltoftsgade 15, 1355 Copenhagen

The global rules-based order is being openly challenged. Multilateralism, international law, and civilian protection are being questioned by powerful states and nationalist governments alike. Nowhere are the consequences more visible than in UN peacekeeping. 

Africa sits at the centre of this transformation. As the main arena for UN peacekeeping and a hub for evolving partnerships between the UN, the African Union, and bilateral actors, the continent has become a testing ground for the future of multilateral conflict management. 

Wars in Ukraine and Gaza have laid bare deep geopolitical divisions, leaving the UN Security Council fragmented. Despite rising violence worldwide, no large UN peacekeeping mission has been launched in a decade. Instead, states are turning to alternative models, from ad hoc coalitions to force-heavy operations outside the UN framework.

Through cases on The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and South Sudan, this seminar explores how UN peacekeeping in Africa can adapt, innovate, and remain effective in an increasingly fragmented global order. 

Speakers

Charlotte Flindt Pedersen, Director, Danish Foreign Policy Society

Peter Albrecht, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)

Charlotte Slente, Secretary General, Danish Refugee Council

Arthur Boutellis, Non-resident Senior Adviser, International Peace Institute

Fiifi Edu-Afful, Senior Researcher, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)

Kwesi Aning, Professor, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre

Dawit Yohannes, Project Manager and Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies

Katja Lindskov Jacobsen, Director, Centre for Military Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen

Programme

14.00-14.05     Welcome and introduction, Charlotte Flindt Pedersen 
14.05-14.20     Historical context of UN peacekeeping missions, Peter Albrecht
14.20-14.45     Case 1: The Democratic Republic of Congo, Charlotte Slente
14.45-15.10     Case 2: Mali, Arthur Boutellis
15.10-15.35     Case 3: South Sudan, Fiifi Edu-Afful
15.35-15.55     Break
15.55-16.15     Impact of geopolitical shifts on peacekeeping missions, Kwesi Aning
16.15-16.35     The ad hoc turn: Diminishing interest in multilateral frameworks and the emergence of ad hoc coalitions, Dawit Yohannes
16.35-17.15     Looking ahead: The future of UN peacekeeping, moderated by Katja Lindskov Jacobsen
17.15-17.45     Q&A, moderated by Katja Lindskov Jacobsen 

Practical information

The seminar will be held in English. Participation is free of charge but registration is required. The seminar will take place at CSS 35.01.05, University of Copenhagen, Gammeltoftsgade 15, 1355 Copenhagen.