Following the end of the brutal 1998-99 war between Kosovo and Serbia, United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was launched to help establish a Kosovar government with legitimate authority and capacity. The original mandate was set out to disarm groups, maintain peaceful communities, and promote human rights. Once the national government was established and officially independent from Serbia, UNMIK transferred governmental authority over to Kosovo in 2008.
Today, UNMIK continues to deploy a small number of troops to maintain peace and facilitate an inclusive society for all ethnic groups.