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1
Politics
will be the dominant player in any operation and needs to be addressed
first in the search for solutions.
Syndicates
were instructed to consider key elements of an operational estimate
and to develop a concept of operations for UNMID that would then
be briefed to the SRSG and his executive staff. Within the context
of the scenario, delegates represented nations contributing to UNMID.
In their deliberations, delegates were asked to consider:
- How
to implement the UN mandate to achieve the designated end state
- Roles
and missions, legal status, ROE
- Command,
control, communications, cooperation, coordination, consultation,
information & intelligence
- Transition,
exit considerations, and "mission creep"
FINDINGS
1
Syndicate
representatives briefed the SRSG on a number of topics relevant
to defining the mission to Darlan. They began with planning assumptions,
followed by a mission analysis and the desired end state. The mission
center of gravity determined where the focus of effort would be
required.
Based
on their assessment, syndicates proceeded to outline the concept
of the total mission plan, including the concept of operations and
the tasks particular to the political, military, civilian, humanitarian
and civilian police components. One syndicate also included judicial
tasks as separate and critical to the success of the civilian police.
Once
having established the work that needed to be done, the working
groups addressed the organizational structures that needed to be
put in place for UNMID, and the command and control arrangements
in order to carry out the tasks identified. Further practical consideration
was given to the deployment orders, timelines, and status of the
forces, rules of engagement, service support, and logistics. Finally,
in additional guidance, the important role of public information
and response to the needs of the media were identified.
The
following points represent the critical considerations borne out
by the syndicates for the implementation of the mission.
-
Identification of the broad strategic political needs within
a peace operation must be accomplished by the international
community. Reductions in influence over, and support for, specific
political and military factions within the affected nation is
required. The elements of this effort include international
diplomacy, sanctions, third party pursuits (client states),
economic thrusts and international legal constructs, among others.
-
It is important to establish military structures to match the
geographical and political boundaries within the affected state.
Avoid splitting borders that already exist or have been established
for humanitarian assistance, host country civil sector, etc.
This permits better integration of the host nation aspects into
the UN mission structure.
-
Unity of effort in the operation is critical. The political
and humanitarian activities are critical to the resolution of
the conflict. The mission tasks may extend far beyond the mandated
time for the UN mission, however, and so planning needs to be
done for the long-term mission requirement, and not just for
the term of the mandate.
-
Transition
of the forces must occur from secure areas to other, less secure
and unstable areas. If the levels of violence, potential conflict,
and fractionalized forces create a high level of risk for deploying
forces, it is important that a secure base of operations be
established and gradual expansion into less secure areas take
place from this secure area.
-
Conditions for a secure environment need to be created. Analyzing
troop-to-task ratios is important for the military as well as
other components.
-
Not all tasks can be tackled at once and phasing may be required.
Phases will not be linear; rather, phases overlap from the start
through to the completion of the mission. Some sectors deploy
more slowly than others, a factor that must be taken into account.
-
Information and psychological operations are truly critical
to a successful mission that has long-term goals that affect
the populations as a whole: scheduling military demobilization
and reintegration, institutional reform, the rule of law, reconstruction
aid development, to name a few. The target audiences for the
information campaign include the population and government in
country, the international community, national (regional) governments,
and the mission sectors and components. Work on establishing
hope.
-
Build on the institutional capacity that remains in the country.
Do not replace or supplant working structures, but rather reinforce
them. Make use of all indigenous capacity to restore aspects
of decision-making structures, economic potential, local labor
and management. Provide credibility and sustainment.
-
Risk
assessments are useful and appropriate for all regions and sectors.
They are vital to the distribution and tasking of the limited
available resources. This leads to better use of military capabilities
and civilian police with executive powers to maintain law and
order.
-
Different parties will have to be dealt with differently and
on multiple levels: the political and military particularly,
both internally and externally. The rules of engagement may
have to be flexible, and apply the use of minimum force, but
must resolve to use necessary force to protect the mandate activities.
-
UN
mission elements' presence may be controversial. Win the conflict
politically and the military operation will be won more easily.
Use all elements that are available to the force and mission.
Analysis of the various party positions and likely reactions
are extremely valuable and necessary.
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