UN Security Council grants accelerated withdrawal of peacekeepers from DR Congo
The UN Security Council voted to fulfill the Democratic Republic of Congo’s demand for an early withdrawal of UN peacekeepers, diverging from the initially planned timeline.
The resolution, extending the mandate of the peacekeeping mission for another year, outlines a phased departure from South Kivu province by the end of April, coinciding with high-risk elections and escalating violence in the country.
Despite the UN’s reservations about the persisting violence in the eastern region of DR Congo, the government has persistently advocated for a quicker withdrawal, citing ineffectiveness in protecting civilians from decades-long armed conflicts.
This echoes sentiments expressed by other African nations, including Mali, which has called for the emergency departure of UN peacekeeping missions.
The Congolese government’s push for an accelerated withdrawal prompted the Security Council’s decision, with some members, notably the United States, expressing doubts about the readiness of DR Congo forces to take over security responsibilities.
United States Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, cautioned, “Members of this council will be watching very closely as the DRC government looks to assume full responsibility for the protection of its civilians as Monusco draws down.”
The phased withdrawal plan, agreed upon in November between Kinshasa and Monusco, begins with the exit of peacekeepers from South Kivu province before the end of 2023, setting the stage for a reduced Monusco presence in North Kivu and Ituri from May 2024. By July 1, the mission’s strength will be cut by 2,350 personnel.
The Security Council emphasizes that further withdrawals will hinge on the evaluation report of the initial phase, expected by the end of June 2024.
The UN peacekeeping force, a fixture in DR Congo since 1999, has witnessed a gradual disengagement, setting broader parameters for transferring responsibilities to Congolese forces, with the ultimate goal of commencing withdrawal by 2024.
While concerns mount over a potential “direct military confrontation” between DR Congo and Rwanda, the resolution calls for “calm and dialogue” between the two nations.
Without naming specific parties, it condemns external support for armed groups like the M23 and FDLR, urging the withdrawal of these external entities from Congolese territory.
In a June report, experts mandated by the Security Council presented “new evidence of direct intervention by Rwandan defense forces” in support of M23 and FDLR, adding a layer of complexity to the geopolitical dynamics in the region.
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