By Thapelo Molefe
South Africa is to withdraw its soldiers from the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), ending nearly three decades of involvement in UN peacekeeping operations in the country.
The Presidency announced on Sunday that President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally informed United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of the government’s decision to withdraw South Africa’s contingent from MONUSCO, where the country currently has more than 700 soldiers deployed.
According to the Presidency, the decision was conveyed during a telephone conversation between Ramaphosa and Guterres on 12 January 2026.
“The President 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 27 years of South Africa’s support to UN peacekeeping efforts in the DRC,” Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
The withdrawal will not be immediate.
South Africa will work closely with the United Nations to finalise timelines and other logistical arrangements, with the process expected to be completed before the end of 2026, the Presidency said.
The Presidency said Guterres welcomed and appreciated South Africa’s decision, signalling continued cooperation between Pretoria and the UN during the withdrawal process.
South Africa is among the top troop contributing countries to MONUSCO, one of the UN’s largest and most complex operations, and has been a long-standing contributor to peacekeeping efforts in the DRC.
MONUSCO traces its roots to the UN mission established in 1999 after the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, known as MONUC, which was later reconfigured and renamed MONUSCO in 2010.
Over the years, the mission’s mandate has expanded to include the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and human rights defenders, as well as support for the Congolese government’s peace and stabilisation efforts.
South Africa’s involvement in peacekeeping in the DRC has been one of its most significant international military commitments since the advent of democracy.
SANDF troops have played various roles within MONUSCO, including infantry deployment, force protection and support to civilian populations affected by ongoing violence in the eastern parts of the country.
Despite the withdrawal from MONUSCO, the government stressed that South Africa remains committed to peace and stability in the DRC and the broader region.
“The South African government will continue to maintain close bilateral relations with the government of the DRC, as well as provide ongoing support to other multilateral efforts by the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations aimed at bringing lasting peace to the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Magwenya said.
The decision comes amid increasing pressure on the SANDF, which has faced budget constraints, ageing equipment and multiple deployment demands both locally and across the continent.
MONUSCO itself has faced growing criticism within the DRC, with sections of the Congolese population accusing the mission of failing to protect civilians from armed groups, amid a UN-backed process to draw down the mission.
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