This March, some 35 years after the United Nations closed a landmark chapter in peacekeeping, Namibia inaugurated President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the country’s first democratically elected woman head of state.
In 1989, despite rising global instability and a liquidity crisis at the U.N., member states came together to launch the United Nations Transition Assistance Group, or UNTAG — a multidimensional peacekeeping mission that helped usher in Namibia’s independence.
UNTAG didn’t just monitor a ceasefire in Namibia. It helped organize and secure the country’s first free and fair elections, protected civilians, verified troop withdrawals, and supported democratic transition across a vast and remote territory. It pioneered approaches that are now cornerstones of modern peacekeeping, from U.N. policing and human rights monitoring to electoral support and a robust public information campaign.
About the author
Jean-Pierre Lacroix
Jean-Pierre Lacroix is the United Nations under-secretary-general for peace operations. He brings to the position over 25 years of political and diplomatic experience, with a focus on multilateral organizations and on U.N. activities and programs. From 2014 to 2017, Lacroix served as director for United Nations, international organizations, human rights, and francophonie at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His previous appointments include ambassador of France to Sweden, deputy permanent representative at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in New York, and first secretary, then second counsellor at the French Embassy in Washington.
