Brazil´'s projection of power as a peacekeeping force of the United Nations (UN) in Africa

Abstract

The main objective of this article is prompting discussion about the effects of the current Brazilian foreign policy of Brazil’s participation in the international scenario by sending troops to join the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force in Africa. The central question of the study is to identify, discuss and validate the existence of intrinsic aspects of Africa, which should be considered in the decision making process for the use of Brazilian troops in peacekeeping operations on the continent. For this purpose, bibliographic research on the foreign policy of Brazil, the Brazilian participation as a UN peacekeeping force, and UN peacekeeping missions in Rwanda, Mozambique, Angola, South Sudan and Haiti were performed. A field survey with armed forces personnel was carried out as well. The survey involved former members of recent and / or ongoing peacekeeping missions in order to identify and validate the most important aspects for planning military operations on the African continent in the context of UN peacekeeping operations, and yet the experiences and lessons learned in Haiti with the United Nations Stabilization Mission In Haiti (UNSTAMIH). From the performed study, it was noted that Africa has intrinsic aspects in the cultural and infrastructural fields, which, in addition to policies of management operations implemented by the UN, strongly impact the planning and risk analysis for possible employment of Brazilian troops on that continent, particularly in actions of “protection of civilians”. In conclusion, some key points are highlighted as a problem of tribal culture of the society, the training of national armies on the continent, poor infrastructure and conduction policy of UN missions. Some thoughts on the Brazilian Army as a foreign policy tool and its most significant entry in Africa through the UN Peacekeeping Forces are also featured here.