The United States on Wednesday called for United Nations peacekeeping missions to adapt to changing conditions or shut down, warning that some operations have become open-ended commitments with limited results.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing, U.S. Ambassador Jennifer Locetta said peacekeeping missions should remain temporary tools to help governments manage crises, not long-term substitutes for political solutions.
“When conditions change, peacekeeping missions need to adapt or close,” she said.
Locetta said some missions had drifted beyond their original purpose, consuming billions of dollars and risking peacekeepers’ lives while host governments failed to meet their obligations.
She cited the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) as an example, describing it as an “interim” mission that has operated for 15 years with little political progress.
UNISFA was established in 2011 following clashes between Sudan and South Sudan over the disputed Abyei region. Its mandate includes monitoring a demilitarized zone, facilitating humanitarian access and supporting efforts to resolve the area’s final status.
According to the United States, Sudan and South Sudan have made little headway on key issues, including border demarcation, the demilitarization of Abyei and a final agreement on the disputed region’s status.
She also accused both governments of obstructing the mission’s work, including by delaying the appointment of a civilian deputy head and denying visas to personnel.
Locetta said Sudan and South Sudan must show clear progress on these benchmarks if they want the mission’s mandate renewed.
“Consent cannot become a shield for inaction,” she said, urging council members and regional partners to push for greater cooperation from host governments.
She added that peacekeeping operations should aim to complete their mandates and eventually close, rather than persist indefinitely.
The United States also pointed to the UN mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) as a more positive example, citing efforts to reposition forces following elections in December and to scale back deployments in more stable areas such as the capital, Bangui.
Locetta said the Security Council should adopt more rigorous standards when renewing mandates, warning against approving extensions with only minor changes despite poor performance.
“If we are serious about peacekeeping and reform, renewal must be earned — never assumed,” she said.
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