Positive, ambiguous or negative? :peacekeeping in the local security fabric

This contribution aims to shed more light on the balance sheet of outside efforts to bring security to African countries, in particular|by peacekeeping troops. After a discussion of general aspects, three case studies two short ones on Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire, and|a more extended one on the Central African Republic ? are presented. It is argued that a realistic assessment must include local|perspectives on peacekeepers and their relations to other (state and non-state) actors in the security arena. Peacekeepers do harm,just as they do good; and they would profit|from a more systematic evaluation of the local perception of their action (or passivity).