South Africa Announces Exit From UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo
South Africa will end 27 years of peacekeeping in the DRC, withdrawing over 700 troops and coordinating with the UN to complete the process by the end of 2026.
- On Saturday, South Africa announced it will withdraw its troops from MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the presidency said late on Saturday, 7 February 2026.
- In a January 12, 2026 telephone conversation, President Cyril Ramaphosa told António Guterres the decision was driven to consolidate and realign the resources of the South African National Defence Force.
- The mission's mandate focuses on countering rebel groups and involves more than 700 soldiers deployed in eastern DRC.
- The government said it will work with the UN to finalize timelines and complete the withdrawal before the end of 2026, while maintaining regional peace support through SADC and the AU.
- The move ends 27 years of South African peacekeeping support and is notable amid persistent eastern DRC violence and rebel groups under MONUSCO's protection and stabilisation mandate.
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30 Articles
South Africa to withdraw troops from UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo after 27 years
South Africa, one of top 10 troop contributors to MONUSCO, currently has over 700 soldiers deployed to support UN mission, expected to completely pull out by 2026 end, says presidency - Anadolu Ajansı
SA ends decades-long UN peacekeeping role in the DRC
South Africa has announced it will withdraw its troops from the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Monusco), ending nearly three decades of continuous peacekeeping in the conflict-wracked country.
South Africa to withdraw troops from UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo
South Africa has decided to withdraw its troop contribution from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the South African Presidency said in a statement on Sunday.
South Africa announces exit from UN Peacekeeping mission in Congo
South Africa has announced plans to withdraw its troops from the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ending a 27-year deployment. The decision, driven by resource realignment, will be carried out in coordination with the UN and completed before the end of 2026.
South Africa to withdraw 700 troops from UN peacekeeping in Congo
South Africa will withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Cyril Ramaphosa's office said in a statement late on Saturday.
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