This chapter looks at the emerging trends in the field of peace support operations (PSOs) particularly in Africa, while highlighting some of the challenges that actors in PSO missions face when implementing disarmament programmes in post-conflict situations. With globalization and increasing diversity of threats to security, how will the role of the military evolve to respond to these challenges? In a world being defined by increasing wars, collapsing states, degenerating human rights and declining respect for humanitarian and international law, one cannot avoid turning to a promise of hope and solace. Such is the idea behind peacekeeping missions. The evolution of PSOs Today peacekeeping goes beyond the confines of just monitoring demilitarized zones, to include strengthening the rule of law, monitoring human rights violations, tackling issues related to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR); and repatriation and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons. Peacekeepers and United Nations agencies are increasingly working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in peace building processes. The expansion in the role of peacekeepers was first underscored by the then United Nations Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali and reflected in the Supplement to an Agenda for Peace in 1995. 1 In what he called second generation operations, Boutros-Ghali outlined the expanded role of peacekeepers as being: i) supervising ceasefires, demobilizing forces and reintegrating them into civilian life; ii) designing and implementing demining programmes; iii) returning refugees and internally displaced persons; iv) providing humanitarian assistance; v) supervising existing administrative structures; vi) establishing new police forces; vii) verifying the respect for human rights; viii) designing and supervising constitutional, electoral and judicial reforms; ix) conducting, observing, organizing and supervising elections; and x) coordinating support for economic rehabilitation and reconstruction. CHAPTER 2 THE DYNAMICS OF PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS Nelson Alusala 33