President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed United Nations secretary general António Guterres that South Africa will withdraw its troops from the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), ending more than two decades of military support to the operation.
South Africa is currently among the top 10 troop contributors to MONUSCO, with more than 700 soldiers deployed in the DRC.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa communicated the decision during a telephone call with Guterres on 12 January, citing the need to consolidate and realign the resources of the South African National Defence Force after 27 years of continuous deployment in the country.
“South Africa will work jointly with the UN to finalise the timelines and other modalities of the withdrawal, which will be completed before the end of 2026,” Magwenya said late Saturday.
MONUSCO was established in 1999 to support the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement and has since evolved into one of the UN’s largest and longest‑running peacekeeping missions.
Its mandate includes protecting civilians, safeguarding humanitarian operations and supporting the Congolese government’s stabilisation efforts amid persistent conflict in the eastern provinces.
Magwenya said Ramaphosa welcomed “the appreciation expressed by the UN secretary general regarding South Africa’s decision.”
Despite the withdrawal, the official said Pretoria would maintain close bilateral ties with the DRC and continue supporting regional and multilateral initiatives led by the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the UN aimed at securing lasting peace in the country.
JN/APA