Brazil’s Approach to UN Peace Operations and Peacebuilding in Africa in the 21st Century

Brazil occupies a unique position compared to other rising powers regarding the maintenance of peace and security on the African continent. Since the late 1990s, Brazil has not deployed any contingents to United Nations (UN) peace operations on the continent. Nevertheless, Brazil’s recurring presence as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and its contributions to UN debates on the development of the organization’s intervention capacity make it a relevant player in international peace and security. After an introduction on the broader aspects of Brazilian foreign policy, the article is structured in two sections, with a conclusion. The article was prepared using archival documents of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as research by leading Brazilian experts on Brazilian peacekeeping in Africa. The first section focuses on Brazil’s responses to UN requests for contributions to peace operations on the African continent, including MINUSMA, UNOCI, UNAMID, MINURCAT, UNMISS, and MINUSCA cases. The second section covers Brazil’s contributions to peace operations and peacebuilding in Africa, focusing on the country’s contribution to security sector reform in Guinea-Bissau and its approach to training for participation in UN missions in Africa, including the deployment of a training team in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The author concludes by highlighting key Brazil’s engagement in UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts on the African continent.