Whether in the wake of internal con{\textordmasculine}ict or foreign military intervention, the reconstruction of public institutions in failed and collapsed states has become a key priority of the in-ternational community. Unlike traditional peacekeeping operations, which fo-cus on preventing a resumption of hostilities, state reconstruction focuses on restoring the state's monopoly over the means of coercion. Other objectives include the reestablishment of political institutions (governments, ministries, local administration, national armies, police forces, judiciaries, etc.), the pro-motion of political participation (e.g., the holding of elections) and human rights, the provision of social services, and economic recovery. The United Nations has conducted nineteen  complex peace operations " since the end of the Cold War. Ten of these have taken place in Africa. 1 Not-withstanding quali{\textordfeminine}ed successes such as Namibia