Honorary Vice President IMANI-Africa, Bright Simons, has raised concerns about the credibility and continued viability of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon following a missile strike that injured two Ghanaian soldiers serving under the UN mission.
The incident occurred within the operational area of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which was established after Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon to act as a neutral buffer between Israel and Lebanon and help reduce hostilities along the border.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News’ Newsfile on Saturday, Mr Simons strongly condemned the attack but argued that the development also raises fundamental questions about the relevance of the peacekeeping mission.
According to him, UNIFIL was originally designed to prevent further Israeli incursions into Lebanese territory and ensure the disarmament of Hezbollah militants. However, both of these core objectives, it said, remain unfulfilled.
“The action is utterly condemnable, and I agree with everything that has been said by the preceding speakers. But we must also ask fundamental questions about the credibility and viability of this particular UNIFIL contingent,” he stated.
The mission operates under the framework of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah following the 2006 conflict.
The resolution required both sides to refrain from hostilities and outlined the disarmament of Hezbollah while mandating UN peacekeepers to support the Lebanese Armed Forces in maintaining stability in the region.
However, IMANI Africa argues that neither of the resolution’s key provisions has been effectively implemented. Israeli military incursions into southern Lebanon have continued, while Hezbollah remains armed and operational.
Mr Simons noted that preventing Israeli incursions would largely depend on pressure from the United States, which he suggested has shown limited willingness to enforce such measures.
He also questioned whether any international actor other than Iran could realistically influence the disarmament of Hezbollah. Given these constraints, IMANI Africa questioned what role UN peacekeepers are still playing in the region.
Mr Simons further noted that the mission was already expected to wind down by the end of September, raising concerns about the risks peacekeepers continue to face in the meantime.
“What exactly are UN forces still doing there as auxiliaries of the Lebanese army, which was their original mandate?” he asked.
In light of the recent attack on Ghanaian troops, IMANI Africa urged the government to consider expediting the country’s disengagement from the mission.
It described the situation as “double unfortunate,” warning that UNIFIL may no longer represent a credible international peacekeeping force under the current geopolitical realities.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
