Appendix 3A. Multilateral peace operations, 2008

KIRSTEN SODER

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Summary

In 2008, as in 2007, 60 multilateral peace operations were conducted. A record 187 586 personnel were deployed, an 11 per cent increase over 2007. Of these, 166 146 were military and 21 440 civilian, including police.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan continued to be the largest peace operation, with 51 356 troops, an increase of around 9600 over the 2007 figure. MONUC in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and UNAMID in Darfur, Sudan, were the second and third largest missions.

Peace operations, by region, 2008

	No. of operations	Total personnel deployed
Africa	19	78 975
Americas	2	9 621
Asia	10	55 542
Europe	19	26 797
Middle East	10	16 651
Total	60	187 586

As of the end of December 2008, a total of 137 countries contributed uniformed personnel (i.e. troops, military observers and civilian police) to peace operations. Of those countries, 115 contributed military personnel, with the top 10 contributors, in descending order, being the USA, France, Pakistan, the UK, Bangladesh, India, Italy, Germany, Nigeria and Rwanda. The top Asian and African contributors sent their military personnel exclusively to UN operations (including UNAMID).

Peace operations, by conducting organization, 2008

	No. of operations	No. of deployed personnel
United Nations	23*	98 614
African Union	2	3 560
CEEAC	1	504
CIS	3	5 349
European Union	12	7 932
NATO	3	65 978
OAS	1	40
OSCE	9	461
Ad hoc coalitions	6	5 148
Total	60	187 586

* Including UNAMID

The annual total of active peace operations has risen steadily since 2002. Total personnel deployments have also increased, from a low of 110 789 in 2003.