NEWS & POLITICS
South Africa to withdraw UN peacekeeping troops from DRC
South Africa will withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo by 2026, signaling a major recalibration of Pretoria’s regional security commitments after nearly three decades of continuous deployment.
Enos Denhere
PRETORIA, South Africa | February 9 (Running Africa) — The decision was announced late Saturday by the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa and formally communicated to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The presidency said the move is driven by the need to realign resources and operational priorities within the South African National Defense Force.
Nearly Three Decades in the DRC
image: businessday.co.za
South Africa has participated in UN peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 27 years. More than 700 South African troops are currently deployed as part of the UN force, which totals close to 11,000 personnel tasked with stabilizing the conflict-affected eastern regions of the country.
The deployment has taken place against the backdrop of long-running violence involving dozens of armed groups, with fighting intensifying again in recent months in eastern DRC, particularly around North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Mandate of the UN Mission
The UN mission, known as MONUSCO, was established in 1999 by the United Nations Security Council to support the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement that sought to end the Second Congo War.
Over time, its mandate has expanded beyond ceasefire monitoring to include the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and human rights defenders facing imminent threats, as well as support for the Congolese government’s efforts to restore state authority and promote long-term peace.
Phased Withdrawal, Continued Engagement
Image: thegreatlakeseye.com
The presidency emphasized that South Africa’s withdrawal will be gradual rather than abrupt. Pretoria will work closely with the United Nations to establish a phased timetable and manage the logistical aspects of the drawdown, with full withdrawal expected by 2026.
Officials stressed that the move does not represent a retreat from regional diplomacy or a breakdown in relations with Kinshasa. South Africa said it would continue to support diplomatic, political, and peace-building initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable stability in the DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.
Regional Security Context
The announcement comes less than a year after South Africa ended its participation in the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), following the mission’s mandate expiring in mid-March 2025.
Together, the withdrawals underscore growing debates within South Africa over the cost, effectiveness, and strategic value of long-term military deployments abroad, as pressure mounts to prioritize domestic defense readiness amid evolving regional security challenges.
