South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially informed United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres that South Africa will withdraw its troops from the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).
The decision, the South African Presidency said, is largely due to the financial strain on the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), which has affected its ability to maintain long-term overseas deployments.
South Africa currently has nearly 700 troops in the DRC, making it one of the largest contributors to MONUSCO. The mission, established in 2010 under the name MONUC, was designed to protect civilians, strengthen DRC security institutions, and support peace restoration in the country’s conflict-affected regions, particularly in the east.
MONUSCO itself has been gradually reducing its forces, based on requests from the DRC government and UN security assessments. South African officials said the troop withdrawal will be phased, with completion expected by the end of 2026, to avoid leaving a security vacuum in the areas previously protected by SANDF troops.
The withdrawal comes amid continued instability in eastern DRC, where clashes between government forces and armed groups persist. Analysts say the move reflects a broader UN trend to encourage host nations to take greater responsibility for sustainable, locally led peace and security.
