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 1960
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Peacekeeping forces are sent to the Congo. United Nations Operations in the Congo -- known by its acronym in French, ONUC -- is established in July 1960 to ensure the withdrawal of the former colonial power, Belgium, and maintain law and order. The mission was deployed within 48 hours of the request from the Congolese government and at its peak included nearly 20,000 personnel. The mandate rapidly expanded to prevent civil war and the break-up of the country because of the internal political chaos in the Congo. The operation ended on June 30, 1960.
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ONUC
United Nations Operations in the Congo
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1960
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Largest increase in UN membership when 17 newly created countries join -- 16 are from Africa.
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1960
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Soviet President Nikita Krushchev pounds his shoe on his desk at the UN and makes his famous proclamation, "We will bury you!"
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1961
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Dag Hammarskjöld dies in a plane crash while on mission to negotiate a cease-fire in the Congo.
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1961
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U Thant of Burma (now Myanmar) is named Secretary-General.
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1963
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Security Council votes for a voluntary arms embargo against South Africa because of its policy of apartheid.
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1964
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Peacekeepers sent to Cyprus. The UN Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was set up in 1964 to prevent fighting between the Greek and Turkish communities on the island. Though outright hostilities ended in 1974, the mission remains to supervise the ceasefire, maintain a buffer zone and do humanitarian work. It is the UN's long running peace operation.
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UNFICYP
The UN Force in Cyprus
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