Command and Control of Military Components in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations

General Concept of Command in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations

12. Military personnel contributed by the Member States to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations remain members of their national defence forces. However, the operational authority (including the operational control) over such forces and personnel is transferred to United Nations, and vested in the Secretary-General, under the authority of Security Council^[3]. Various aspects of political direction and military command and control of peacekeeping operations are covered in the Secretary-General’s Report to the General Assembly ‘Comprehensive Review of the Whole Question of Peacekeeping Operations in all their Aspects - Command and Control of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations [A/49/681], dated 21 November 1994’ and ‘General Guidelines for Peacekeeping Operations’ issued by the United Nations Headquarters in October 1995. Additional information on this subject is outlined in a Policy Paper on ‘Command and Control of Military Components in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations’, [MPS/MD/DPKO/658], dated 2 October 2001, issued by the United Nations Headquarters, which is attached, as Annex A, to these ‘Guidelines’.

 

Levels of Command

 

13. In United Nations Peacekeeping Operations there are three distinct levels of command^[4], as mentioned below:

 

a. Overall political direction, which is the purview of the Security Council,

 

b. Executive direction and control, which is provided by the

Secretary-General, and

 

c. Command in the field, which resides in the Head of Mission.

 

United Nations Chain of Command

 

14. An unambiguous chain of command, from the highest political level – the Security Council – to the troops and military observers in field, is essential for coherence in the direction of the mission and the successful conduct of military activities in support of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. In light of the ‘Secretary-General’s Report on United Nations Command and Control’ and ‘General Guidelines on Peacekeeping Operations’ the chain of command in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations is as follows:

 

a. Security Council. The Security Council is responsible for overall political direction of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. It authorizes the mandate of the mission.

 

b. Secretary-General. The Secretary General is responsible for executive direction and control of the missions. Member States transfer the ‘Operational Authority’ over their military forces and personnel to the United Nations. This authority is vested in the Secretary-General, who exercises it on behalf of the Security Council.

 

c. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. The

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations is accountable to he Secretary- General. On behalf of the Secretary-General, the Under-Secretary-General directs and controls United Nations Peacekeeping Operations; formulates policies for peacekeeping operations and operational guidelines based on Security Council mandates; prepares reports of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on each peacekeeping operation, with appropriate observations and recommendations; and advises the Secretary-General on all matters related to the planning, establishment and conduct of United Nations peacekeeping missions^[5].

 

d. Military Adviser. The Military Adviser is accountable to the

Under-Secretary-General and advises him on military matters, reporting through the Assistant Secretaries- General for the Office of Operations and the Office of Mission Support ^[6].

соколов

e. Head of Mission. The Head of Mission is responsible, through the Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, for implementation of the mission mandate. He/she exercises ‘Operational Authority’, in the field, on behalf of the Secretary-General.

 

f. Force Commander. Force Commander, when not serving as the Head of Mission, reports to the Head of Mission. The Force Commander exercises ‘Operation Control’ over all military personnel, including Military Observers, in the mission. The Force Commander will, normally, delegate ‘Operational Control’ of Military Observes to the Chief Military Observer. Further delegation of authority will depend on composition and structure of the Mission.

 

g. Chief Military Observer. If the Chief Military Observer is the head of the military component, he/she reports directly to the Head of Mission and exercises ‘Operational Control’ over all Military Observers. The Chief Military Observer will establish his/her chain of command for further delegate of authority depending upon the composition and structure of the Mission.

 

United Nations Operational Control

 

15. As explained in paragraph 14 f and g above, the Head of Mission exercises ‘Operational Authority’ in the field, on behalf of the Secretary-General. He/she determines the further delegation of authority in consultation with United Nations Headquarters. Depending upon the composition of the Mission, the Force Commander or the Chief Military Observer exercises ‘Operational Control’ over all military personnel assigned to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.

 

CHAPTER III

 

COMPOSITION OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS