South Africa has announced it will withdraw its troops from
the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo ending
nearly 27 years of military support. President Cyril Ramaphosa informed U.N.
Secretary General Antonio Guterres of the decision which affects over 700 South
African soldiers currently deployed under MONUSCO one of the U.N.’s longest running
missions.
Officials say the pullout is part of a broader effort to
realign resources of the South African National Defence Force allowing troops
and funding to be directed toward other national and regional priorities. South
Africa has consistently been among the top troop contributors to MONUSCO which
has nearly 11,000 military and police personnel tasked with protecting
civilians and countering armed groups in eastern Congo.
The withdrawal comes amid ongoing violence including attacks
by groups such as the M23 rebels which have displaced millions and fueled
international concern over regional stability. Pretoria says it will work
closely with the U.N. to finalize timelines and procedures for the exit expected
to be completed before the end of 2026.
Despite pulling its troops South Africa pledges to maintain
close cooperation with Kinshasa and support regional peace initiatives including
those led by the African Union. Analysts say the decision marks a significant
shift in South Africa’s peacekeeping role in Africa closing a major chapter in
its long standing engagement in Congo’s complex conflict.
