Growing pressure on United Nations peacekeeping budgets, driven largely by declining US contributions, is forcing Africa to reconsider how security operations are funded and managed. The continent supplies over half of all UN peacekeepers, but the bulk of funding for their missions comes from the UN. Already, the US owes significant arrears, and its lawmakers are considering even deeper cuts. While China’s financial role has expanded, it is not enough to cover the shortfall. Although the UN recently approved a mechanism that could fund African Union-led missions, implementation remains stalled, and the AU’s own Peace Fund remains too small to support major deployments. As traditional peacekeeping resources shrink, countries increasingly rely on alternative models, including bilateral security arrangements, private military contractors, and partnerships tied to commercial interests. However, such arrangements grant leverage to external powers such as Türkiye, Russia, and the UAE, entrenching another form of dependency. For Africa to enjoy lasting stability, governments across the continent must build self-reliant, locally tailored security systems rather than trading one dependency for another.
ISS Africa
