Dedicated peacekeeper

Daniel Maier is fascinated by the Congo and its rich history, natural resources and diversity. Its hundreds of ethnic groups and more than 200 spoken languages make the Congo one of the world’s most diverse countries. In addition to this, the country is also characterised by its breathtaking natural beauty with the Congo River as Africa’s second-longest river and its tropical forests that are home to thousands of endemic species, such as okapis and mountain gorillas. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a lot to offer. However, the country has been suffering from decades of conflict and military confrontations. 

In charge of strategic planning

This is the reason, why Daniel Maier has lived in the African country for almost 15 years. He is part of the MONUSCOpeacekeeping mission (Mission de l´Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en République démocratique du Congo), formerly known as MONUC, where he is the leader of the strategic planning unit. His job is to make sure that the right resources are used in the right way to enable the around 12,000 members of the mission to do their jobs. 

It’s not an easy task and that is in part due to the fact that the immediate environment is rather challenging. Militant groups such as M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces keep shattering any hopes of peace and development. Daniel Maier is also struggling because of the limited resources, as the UN is affected by a financial crisis that is also impacting its peacekeeping missions. “We only plan for a month at a time, hoping for the best,” he says. 

Dedicated to UN despite challenges

The MONUSCO “Blue Helmets” have achieved quite a lot since the start of their deployment back in 2010, Maier explains: there have been democratic elections, peace and disarmament were achieved in a number of regions, and violence against women has been reduced. The situation in the country remains unsettled, nevertheless, and the mission is not yet complete. Those in charge at MONUSCO keep being held back by the limits of what is possible in consideration of scarce resources and the political environment. “Those bottlenecks are making quick and efficient action impossible.”

However, 20 years ago, Daniel Maier deliberately chose a role with the UN and also to work in a country affected by crises. He is convinced that the UN and its peacekeeping missions are indispensable. “Where would we be in this world without them?” he asks. He has been passionate about international understanding ever since he was a student. At the time this was still about German-French relations. This is why he finds it hurtful that the UN is being attacked from various directions, putting him “in constant defence mode”. Despite all of this, he is fascinated anew by his work every day. “I feel privileged, because I am able to make a small contribution towards a hopefully peaceful future world,” he says.