After more than 20 years of peacekeeping efforts, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has officially ended its operations in the South Kivu province. This marks a significant transition for the region, which has seen its share of conflict and unrest.
The mission’s mandate in South Kivu, including the critical responsibility of protecting civilians, ceased as of May 1, 2024. The United Nations has maintained only the essential uniformed personnel needed to ensure the security of UN staff and assets during this period of withdrawal.
Last December, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) signed a note on the accelerated, gradual, orderly and responsible withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission from the country.
To date, the phased disengagement has involved the transfer of two military bases to the DRC’s national authorities. In the coming months, five additional bases—Mikenge, Minembwe, Rutemba, Uvira, and Kavumu—are slated for transfer to the DRC’s armed forces, while two others—Baraka and Sange—will be closed. A further 15 MONUSCO installations are also set for transfer or closure.
Despite some delays in the base closure schedule, the United Nations has committed to repatriating all uniformed personnel by June 30, 2024. A residual team of civilians will remain to facilitate the transition process.
Bintou Keita, the Head of MONUSCO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, has emphasized that the mission’s departure from South Kivu does not equate to the UN’s exit from the DRC. Instead, it represents a reconfiguration of the UN’s presence to continue supporting the people and government of the DRC through various UN agencies, funds, and programs.
Concurrently, the UN standing committee on the DRC has highlighted the dire situation in the region, with escalating violence and displacement causing unprecedented civilian suffering. A recent statement pointed out that the humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by decades of conflict, leading to over 700,000 people being displaced in recent months alone, raising the total number of displaced individuals to a record 7.2 million.
The committee, comprising twenty signatories from the UN Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC) for the DRC, has called for addressing the root causes of the crisis, including conflict, exploitation of natural resources, illicit financial flows, gender inequality, and development deficits, to halt the spiraling humanitarian emergency.
As MONUSCO concludes its chapter in South Kivu, the focus shifts to the continued efforts of the United Nations to foster peace and stability in the DRC, while addressing the complex challenges that have long plagued the region.
Meanwhile, the East African Community (EAC) peacekeeping force ended its mission in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after December 8, according to a statement issued by the regional bloc’s heads of state.
On the other hand, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced this April the extension of the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This move comes as part of South Africa’s commitment to the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission (MONUSCO) and the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) efforts in the region.
The SANDF’s continued presence in the DRC, involving 1,198 personnel, is aimed at neutralising negative forces and restoring peace under Operation Mistral. This deployment, set from 16 April 2024 to 20 December 2024, is expected to cost approximately R805 million.