Information and communication technology and cyber conflict: rethinking the role of the United Nations in world peace

The revolution in information and communication technology (ICT) has changed virtually all spheres of life, including the means and methods of warfare. Most aspects of life are now tied to technology, from health to governance. The military has not been left out. Some countries' military organisations now have cyber warfare units. The United Nations (UN), established to promote global peace, now finds it difficult to cope with this new emerging dimension of warfare. It is in this context that the study examines ICT and cyber conflict with a focus on rethinking the role of the United Nations in world peace. The study finds that even though the UN has been applying the laws of armed conflict and some suggested norms to address the possible danger of cyber conflict, they seem not to be sufficient which can hamper state relations and threaten the fragile stability of the international system