“The complexities we face today are defined by the growing influence of non-state actors, the use of artificial intelligence in combat, and severe challenges to human rights and humanitarian norms,” she said.

Ms Tetteh was speaking at the opening of the 2025 Challenges Annual Forum (CAF25), organised by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra last Tuesday (October 14, 2025).

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs said the review of all forms of UN peace operations must go beyond rhetoric to create a smarter and more agile toolbox capable of effectively responding to the complexities of modern conflicts, particularly across West Africa and the Sahel.

Africa

Ms Tetteh, who also heads the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), added that the success of peace operations across Africa depended on clear mandates, adequate financing, and strategic partnerships, as violent extremism, transnational crime, and political instability were interlinked.

She warned against overstretching missions through unrealistic mandates, adding that without the necessary resources, peace operations could not achieve their intended outcomes.

Ms Tetteh said there was also the need for smarter communication strategies, emphasising that misinformation and the weaponisation of social media were worsening instability and undermining trust in the UN.

She observed that states, in collaboration with the UN, must act faster to counter the speed at which regional integration among violent groups was advancing.

Ms Tetteh added that reforming peace operations must include realistic financing mechanisms, stronger cooperation with regional actors such as the African Union and ECOWAS, and an unwavering commitment to the protection of civilians.

Forum

The three-day CAF25, jointly pledged by Ghana and Sweden at the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, is being hosted at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra.

The forum supports the UN Secretary-General’s ongoing Review of All Forms of Peace Operations, focusing on how peacekeeping can evolve to address new threats and promote sustainable stability, particularly in Africa.

CAF25, which is supported by Ghana, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, has brought together policymakers, security experts, and academics to explore innovations in technology, regional collaboration, and long-term peacebuilding.

Also speaking at the event, the Acting Commandant of KAIPTC, Air Commodore David Akrong, described CAF25 as a “strategic and dynamic platform” to generate ideas that could reposition peace operations to build resilience, prevent conflict, and promote lasting stability.

He stressed that modern peacekeepers were increasingly deployed in environments where traditional ceasefires no longer held, demanding innovative approaches and adaptable doctrines.

The Director-General of the Folke Bernadotte Academy and Chair of the Challenges Forum Partner Meeting, Per Olsson Fridh, said UN peace operations stood at a critical crossroads and must be redefined to remain effective and relevant.

He called for stronger partnerships with regional and national actors and urged all member states to meet their financial obligations to ensure the sustainability of peace operations.

Commitment

The Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, reaffirmed the country’s longstanding commitment to peacekeeping, which it has participated in since 1960, and to ensuring lasting peace in various countries across the world.

Mr Genfi said climate change had also become a security priority that fuelled displacement and conflict. According to him, this prompted President Mahama’s administration to create the Ministry of Climate Change and Sustainability.

“The burning question before us is how to adapt and advance to ensure peace operations remain credible, effective, and relevant,” he said.