What does ‘stabilisation’ mean in a UN Peacekeeping context?

The essential difference between peacekeeping and stabilisation seems to be that in peacekeeping the aim is to arrive at, and then maintain a cease-fire and implement a peace agreement, among the parties to a conflict, whilst in stabilisation, the theory of change is to restore and maintain order by managing or containing aggressors and spoilers. So, in peacekeeping the aim is Conflict Resolution, whilst in stabilisation the objective is limited to Conflict Management or containment.

Is there an African Model of Peace Operations?

The African model that has emerged over the past decade is one of stabilisation missions, undertaken alongside UN special political missions and other political, humanitarian and development initiatives, that are relatively short-lived before they are handed-over to UN peacekeeping missions. These missions are financed and supported by the international community, which considerably limit the ability of the AU or RECs/RMs to independently determine their mandates, scope, size and duration.