South Africa to withdraw troops from DRC peacekeeping mission by year-end

Johannesburg
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8 February 2026 | 6:40

South Africa has been contributing its soldiers to the UN mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, since 1999.

South Africa to withdraw troops from DRC peacekeeping mission by year-end

Armored vehicles belonging to the South Africa National Defence Forces (SANDF) contingent of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) drive towards deploy along the road leading to the entrance of the town of Sake, 25km north-west of Goma, on 23 January 2025. Picture: Michael Lunanga/AFP

South Africa has announced its withdrawal of troops from a United Nations (UN) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to the Presidency, South Africa will work jointly with the UN to finalise the timelines and other modalities of the withdrawal, which will be completed before the end of this year.

South Africa has been contributing its soldiers to the UN mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, since 1999.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated, "In a telephone conversation held on 12 January 2026, President Ramaphosa indicated that South Africa’s unilateral withdrawal decision from MONUSCO is influenced by the need to consolidate and realign the resources of the South African National Defence Force, following twenty-seven years of South Africa’s support to U.N. peacekeeping efforts in the DRC."

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