Source: UN News: Sunday, July 12, 2026 00:00 AM
UN Special Political Missions have often avoided the escalating violent conflicts by staying out of the limelight. In the organization’s 80-year history, these efforts, which have been “sometimes ordinary, sometimes historic,” have become an important means of maintaining peace. Many of the United Nations’ greatest successes have been in crises that never made headlines. Special political missions around the world work quietly to defuse tensions, broker compromises and assist in delicate political transitions. Negotiation, mediation and diplomacy are their main tools. Unlike peacekeeping missions, which are often more visible, these missions have neither armored vehicles nor armed soldiers. First comprehensive review of missions At the release, Rosemary DeCarlo, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding, described their work as “at times ordinary, at times historic”. He said it “points to an enduring truth – that diplomacy is effective and it works.” These lessons are particularly relevant today. This review covers the period from 1948 to 2025 and shows how the political role of the United Nations has evolved with a changing world. From Palestine to the Present The first such mission was established in May 1948, almost immediately after the founding of the United Nations. © UN Photo Palestinians received aid from the United Nations after World War II. Swedish diplomat Count Folke Bernadotte was appointed UN mediator in Palestine. This was the first time the United Nations deployed a special envoy to help resolve an armed conflict. Today, special political missions perform a variety of roles. These are civilian missions whose responsibilities are to prevent violent conflicts, support peace processes, help build sustainable peace. Some missions facilitate peace negotiations, while others monitor ceasefire agreements. Some missions help determine borders, investigate serious violations or support political reform processes. According to Rosemary DeCarlo, the greatest characteristic of special political missions is their diversity. She said, “These missions include envoys of the Secretary-General, fact-finding and investigation missions, regional offices, security council “Flexibility has always been a strength of these missions,” he said. The same tool that helped bring about a ceasefire can also help in demarcation of borders or help in ending chemical weapons programme. Very few multilateral instruments are so adaptable.”Helping countries become independent One of the most notable early examples is the UN’s role in the liberation of Libya. By the late 1940s, Libya was divided and operating under different administrative systems. The country had been a colony of Italy from 1911 to 1942 and before that had been part of the Ottoman Empire. © UN Photo/SM The United Nations Mission in Libya carried out a wide range of technical assistance projects. The series facilitated the independence of Libya. A UN commission helped resolve political differences, draft a constitution, establish a provisional government, create a unified financial system, and train civil servants. Only two years later, Libya became the first country to achieve independence through a UN-backed process. Similar missions supported decolonization processes elsewhere. UN representatives visited Cameroon, Organized referendums in Equatorial Guinea and Togoland, consulted with the people of Bahrain, and helped newly independent countries build their institutions. Diplomacy during the Cold WarDuring the Cold War, the Security Council’s ability to act was often limited by great power rivalries. In the 1980s, the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative led years of negotiations on Afghanistan. Around the same period, another Special Representative helped continue negotiations between Iran and Iraq. According to Rosemary DeCarlo, this history also offers an important message for the present. “Geopolitical differences cannot be an excuse for inaction,” she said. He reminded that Special Political Missions remained active throughout the Cold War and still achieved successes. New challenges after the Cold War: The end of the bipolar world order brought to the fore the tensions that had been suppressed for a long time. With this the number of political missions increased rapidly. © UN Photo/EW/B Voters in the former French Togoland celebrate the election of a new House of Representatives in 1958. Since the 1990s, these missions have helped countries hold elections, draft new constitutions, reform government institutions, and rebuild trust after civil wars. A notable success was in Tajikistan, where a UN political mission supported the implementation of the 1997 peace agreement and helped the country transition from civil war to peace. © SESG for the Great Lakes region Huang Shiyi, Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, during a visit to DR Congo in 2019. United Nations political missions worked in El Salvador, Guatemala, Burundi, Somalia, Nepal, Angola, Haiti and many other countries. At the same time, expert panels were also established to monitor compliance with Security Council sanctions. Haiti and today’s critical transitions Haiti shows how Special Political Missions are changing over time. Apart from peacekeeping missions, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, BINUHpromoting inclusive political dialogue. It is helping to prepare for elections after years without national elections and helping to coordinate international efforts in a country plagued by insecurity and institutional weakness. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and head of BINUH, said the mission’s work depends on a fundamental element – trust. “The United Nations is trusted,” he said. He said there is also confidence in special political missions that they “can deliver results.” He said this trust needs to be recognised, cherished and strengthened. Away from the headlines, by the end of 2025, there were 40 UN special political missions operating around the world. Today, their focus is on explicitly political work – prevention of violent conflicts, mediation, regional diplomacy and support to peace processes tailored to individual circumstances. Their work is often deliberately carried out behind the scenes. These missions work through quiet diplomacy, confidential contacts and patient dialogue with governments, conflict parties, regional organizations and civil society. Shamala Kandaiah Thompson from the independent publication ‘Security Council Report’ said that these missions are quietly playing a vital role in preventing violent conflicts and advancing political dialogue. According to her, these missions may not look like peacekeeping operations, but their importance is no less. Looking to the future, Rosemary DeCarlo said that this publication is not just a record of the past, but also a reminder of what is possible. “Even in the most difficult circumstances, dialogue can open doors, patience can build trust, and diplomacy can change the course of history,” she said.
