UN stabilization mission to withdraw from DRC by end of 2024

The UN Group Stabilization Mission within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the federal government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reaffirmed their mutual want for a progressive, accountable, honorable and exemplary withdrawal of the MONUSCO from the DRC on Saturday.

Bintou Keita, head of MONUSCO, introduced at a press convention held on Saturday in Kinshasa the disengagement of MONUSCO from the DRC in accordance with the UN Safety Council Decision 2717 (2023). The disengagement plan contains “three distinct and successive phases and the gradual handover of duty” to the Congolese authorities. Part 1 of disengagement begins with the whole withdrawal of MONUSCO navy and police personnel from South Kivu, which started in December 2023 and is projected to be performed by the top of April 2024. Part 2 and Part 3 of the disengagement contain the withdrawal of personnel from North Kivu and Ituri, respectively. Keita acknowledged that MONUSCO and the Congolese authorities “will be certain that the switch of duties and obligations when it comes to safety and safety of civilians can be efficient earlier than any withdrawal.”

MONUSCO took over in 2010 the features of the UN Group Mission within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), which was established in 1999 by UN Safety Council Decision 1279 (1999) to watch and monitor a ceasefire within the DRC. With the UN peacekeeping operation, MONUSCO and its predecessor have helped with the fights towards rebels, the safety of civilians, and the restoration of peace within the DRC for over 20 years. The withdrawal follows an earlier request by the federal government of the DRC, which was simply elected in a controversial vote in January 2024. Nevertheless, the DRC’s International Minister Christophe Lutundula has informed reporters that “the withdrawal of MONUSCO doesn’t essentially imply the top of the battle we’re enterprise to guard the territorial pursuits of our nation, we should proceed to wrestle.”

The DRC continues to be present process an escalation of preventing between rebels, such because the March 23 Motion (M23) and the DRC’s armed forces. As of June 2023, the conflicts within the jap space of the DRC internally displaced greater than 6.1 million folks.