| This study assesses why the organization of African unity's (OAU) peacekeeping force in Chad failed to resolve the conflict and end the 1981--82 civil war. A questionnaire consisting of 29 items concerning the reasons for the failure of the peacekeeping mission was developed. Forty-four questionnaires were sent to all African embassies in Washington, DC, and 33 responded to the questionnaires. In addition, questionnaires were mailed to and returned from the OAU office and the Department of UN Peacekeeping in New York. Structured interviews were also conducted with 3 African embassy diplomats, 3 OAU officials, and a former UNIFIL's force commander. Relevant documentary evidence was also examined. The analyzed data indicated that the OAU Force failed because OAU member states were not neutral, the mission lacked adequate financial and logistical support, and the OAU did not have peacekeeping experience. The study recommends that before the deployment of any future OAU mission there should be a ceasefire, a clear and precise mandate, and the OAU should have the consent of the main parties. The OAU should mount joint OAU/UN peacekeeping mission and small-scale military observer missions, and work toward the deployment of independent peacekeeping missions in the future. Future studies should examine how to continue to build on the political goodwill of OAU member states. |
