South Africa plans to withdraw its troops from the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office announced in a statement late on Saturday that South Africa will withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ramaphosa informed U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the decision, which was shaped by the necessity to “realign” the resources of South Africa’s armed forces, according to the statement.
For 27 years, South Africa has been a steadfast supporter of U.N. peacekeeping efforts in Congo, with over 700 soldiers currently deployed in the region.
When its mandate was extended in December, the U.N. mission had nearly 11,000 troops and police deployed in total.
The U.N. mission is tasked with addressing the numerous rebel factions operating in the turbulent eastern region of Congo, where violence has persisted for decades and recent hostilities have intensified.South Africa will collaborate with the U.N. to finalize the timelines and other details of the withdrawal, which is set to be completed before the end of 2026,” the statement noted.
According to Ramaphosa’s office, South Africa will persist in fostering strong bilateral relations with the government of Congo and will back various multilateral initiatives aimed at achieving enduring peace in the region.
