South Africa has announced plans to withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), bringing to a close a 27-year military engagement.
The phased pullout is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, according to a statement issued by the presidency on Sunday, February 8. President Cyril Ramaphosa conveyed the decision during a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 12 January, citing the need to consolidate and realign the resources of the South African National Defence Force.
South Africa is currently among MONUSCO’s top ten troop- contributing countries, with more than 700 soldiers deployed in support of the mission’s peacekeeping mandate.
Pretoria said it will work closely with the United Nations to finalise withdrawal timelines and operational details, while maintaining strong diplomatic ties with the Congolese government. South Africa also reaffirmed its commitment to regional and multilateral peace initiatives led by the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the UN.
The announcement comes amid continued instability in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group controls significant territory, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, seized earlier in 2025. While the Congolese government and the UN accuse Rwanda of backing the rebels, Kigali denies
the claims.
Efforts to de-escalate the conflict continue, with Congo and the AFC/M23 rebel coalition recently signing an agreement in Qatar to monitor ceasefire terms under the Doha-mediated peace process, supported by the United States, the African Union and other international partners.