UN plans to withdraw peacekeeping force in Democratic Republic of Congo

In a report to the UN Security Council, Mr. Guterres highlighted the bleak situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and outlined plans for a rapid and responsible withdrawal of MONUSCO troops after nearly 25 years of operations in the Central African country. The 15-page report, released on August 10, highlighted the escalating trend of tensions in the region and the worsening humanitarian situation over the past year, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee their homes. The eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, the two areas hardest hit by the violence, recorded 28% and 39% of the population, or 4 million people, respectively, displaced. At the heart of the conflict is the rise of the M23 rebel group, which has now seized large swathes of territory.

Over the years, MONUSCO’s withdrawal from the DRC has been at the center of debate in the country. In September 2022, President Felix Tshisekedi said there was no reason for MONUSCO to maintain a presence there after the presidential election in December 2023.

In response to the wishes of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN reaffirmed that it would withdraw MONUSCO, while warning that withdrawing staff too soon would have consequences for civilians who depend on this force for their safety.

According to VNA